Your search found 17 records
1 Sison, A. J. G. 2009. Water and wisdom as embodied in the works of Thales of Miletus. In Llamas, M. R.; Martinez-Cortina, L.; Mukherji, Aditi. (Eds.). Water ethics: Marcelino Botin Water Forum 2007. Leiden, Netherlands: CRC Press. pp.3-12.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: 333.91 G000 LLA Record No: H042069)
2 Keller, A.; Weight, Elizabeth; Taylor, S. 2013. Rapid assessment of water availability and appropriate technologies for small-scale farming: guidelines for practitioners. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 61p. (IWMI Working Paper 156) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2014.207]
Water availability ; Small scale farming ; Agriculture ; Water management ; Groundwater ; Water resources ; Gender ; Farmers ; Pumps ; Wells ; Drilling ; Reservoirs ; Rivers ; Irrigation ; Soils ; Living standards ; Public sector ; Private sector ; Non governmental organizations ; Poverty ; Data collection ; Guidelines ; Technology assessment ; Farmer-led irrigation ; Case studies / Ghana
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046752)
Limited access to water is a key reason why millions of poor farmers struggle to grow enough food and marketable crops to improve their lives. Public sector agencies, civil society organizations and donors seeking to improve small-scale farmers’ access to water resources face limited data on the location and accessibility of water resources. This paper addresses this gap by providing a tested method to assess water resources that small-scale farmers can access affordably and sustainably. This paper also supports the selection of appropriate water access and application technologies for available water resources. The method described is rapid and relatively inexpensive; it uses a phased approach to assess a broad-scale area (e.g., a country or region); and then gathers more information in locations that have higher potential for affordable water access by small-scale farmers.
3 Keller, A.; Weight, Elizabeth; Taylor, S. 2013. Evaluation rapide de la disponibilite en eau et des technologies appropriees pour la petite agriculture: directives pour les acteurs de terrain. In French. [Rapid assessment of water availability and appropriate technologies for small-scale farming: guidelines for practitioners]. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 64p. (Also in English) (IWMI Working Paper 156 / Document de travail IWMI 156) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2014.227]
Water availability ; Small scale farming ; Agriculture ; Water management ; Groundwater ; Water resources ; Gender ; Farmers ; Pumps ; Wells ; Drilling ; Reservoirs ; Rivers ; Irrigation ; Soils ; Living standards ; Public sector ; Private sector ; Non governmental organizations ; Poverty ; Data collection ; Guidelines ; Technology assessment ; Farmer-led irrigation ; Case studies / Ghana
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046776)
(2 MB)
Les restrictions sur l’acces a l’eau sont la principale raison des difficultes qu’eprouvent des millions d’agriculteurs pauvres a faire pousser suffisamment de cultures alimentaires et commerciales pour ameliorer leurs conditions de vie. Les organismes du secteur prive, les organisations de la societe civile et les bailleurs de fonds qui cherchent a ameliorer l’acces des petits agriculteurs aux ressources en eau sont confrontes a une insuffisance des donnees sur l’emplacement et l’accessibilite des ressources en eau. Cet article comble cette lacune en proposant une methode eprouvee d’evaluation des ressources en eau auxquelles les petits agriculteurs pourraient acceder de maniere durable et abordable. Il facilite egalement le choix de technologies appropriees pour acceder aux ressources en eau disponibles et les appliquer. La methode decrite est rapide et relativement peu onereuse, elle se fonde sur une approche progressive pour l’evaluation d’une zone a grande echelle (ex.: un pays ou une region), puis rassemble davantage d’informations sur les emplacements les plus favorables a un acces abordable a l’eau pour les petits agriculteurs.
4 Kuppannan, Palanisami; Kakumanu, Krishna Reddy; Ranganathan, C. R.; Sekhar, N. U. 2015. Farm-level cost of adaptation and expected cost of uncertainty associated with climate change impacts in major river basins in India. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 7(1):76-96. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-04-2013-0059]
Climate change ; Adaptation ; Technology assessment ; Farmers ; Economic analysis ; Cost analysis ; Farm income ; Uncertainty ; River basins ; Crop production ; Rice ; Rain ; Irrigation / India
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046884)
(0.18 MB)
Purpose – Researchers and policymakers are figuring out the adaptation technologies to cope with the changing climate. Adaptation strategies for crop production followed by the farmers at selected study locations had ranged from 6-30 per cent only, and this was mainly due to lack of awareness about the actual cost associated with adaptation and non-adaptation of these strategies.
Design/methodology/approach – Hence, this study aims to address the cost of adaptation for rice using joint probability distribution of rainfall and crop prices.
Findings – Cost of adaptation varied from INR2,389 to 4,395/ha for System of Rice Intensification (SRI); INR646 to 1,121/ha for alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and INR8,144 to 8,677/ha for well irrigation (WI), whereas expected cost for not using these technologies has ranged from INR6,976 to 9,172/ha for SRI; INR4,123 7,764/ha for AWD and INR10,825 to 17,270/ha for WI. Hence, promotion of the adaptation technologies itself will minimize the income losses to the farmers.
Research limitations/implications – Even though, there are many ways for farmers (other than technology), to adapt to climate change (such as out-migration to cities, selling farm assets, focus on children’s education, etc.), this report, given the framework of the major research study undertaken, addresses only farm-level adaptation of the technologies to enhance farm income.
Originality/value – Public–private partnership in providing the technologies at cheaper costs, capacity building in handling the technologies and creating awareness about the technologies to minimize the expected cost of adaptation are suggested to improve the adoption level.
Design/methodology/approach – Hence, this study aims to address the cost of adaptation for rice using joint probability distribution of rainfall and crop prices.
Findings – Cost of adaptation varied from INR2,389 to 4,395/ha for System of Rice Intensification (SRI); INR646 to 1,121/ha for alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and INR8,144 to 8,677/ha for well irrigation (WI), whereas expected cost for not using these technologies has ranged from INR6,976 to 9,172/ha for SRI; INR4,123 7,764/ha for AWD and INR10,825 to 17,270/ha for WI. Hence, promotion of the adaptation technologies itself will minimize the income losses to the farmers.
Research limitations/implications – Even though, there are many ways for farmers (other than technology), to adapt to climate change (such as out-migration to cities, selling farm assets, focus on children’s education, etc.), this report, given the framework of the major research study undertaken, addresses only farm-level adaptation of the technologies to enhance farm income.
Originality/value – Public–private partnership in providing the technologies at cheaper costs, capacity building in handling the technologies and creating awareness about the technologies to minimize the expected cost of adaptation are suggested to improve the adoption level.
5 Kundu, D. K.; Gupta, A.; Mol, A. P. J.; Nasreen, M. 2016. Understanding social acceptability of arsenic-safe technologies in rural Bangladesh: a user-oriented analysis. Water Policy, 18(2):318-334. [doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2015.026]
Arsenic ; Contamination ; Groundwater ; Deep tube wells ; Drinking water ; Water quality ; Filters ; Water users ; Social aspects ; Acceptability ; Technology assessment ; Consumer behaviour ; Health hazards ; Rural communities ; Households / Bangladesh / Chandpur / Kushtia / Manikganj
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047664)
(0.28 MB)
Contamination of shallow tube well drinking water by naturally occurring arsenic is a severe societal and human health challenge in Bangladesh. Multiple technological interventions seeking to ameliorate the problem face hurdles in securing social acceptance, i.e. the willingness of users to receive and use a technology. While most papers focus on expert understanding of social acceptability, this paper analyzes how users themselves understand the factors shaping the social acceptability of safe drinking water options in rural Bangladesh. We then deploy such understanding to comparatively assess which factors users see as most important in securing social acceptance for three safe drinking water options in rural Bangladesh: the arsenic removal household (Sono) filter; the deep tube well; and an improved dug well. We draw on focus groups and semi-structured interviews with technology users in six villages across three districts to analyze how users assess the social acceptability of specific arsenic-safe technologies. Our findings highlight that factors such as availability, affordability and compatibility with existing water use practices, as understood by users, are key to securing users’ acceptance of a specific arsenic-safe option. In concluding, we point to a future research agenda to analyze user-oriented social acceptability of arsenic-safe technologies in developing country contexts.
6 Kakumanu, Krishna Reddy; Palanisami, Kuppanan; Ranganathan, C. R.; Haileslassie, Amare. 2016. Assessment of risk premium in farm technology adoption as a climate change adaptation strategy in the dryland systems of India. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 8(5):689-717. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-10-2015-0149]
Climate change adaptation ; Arid zones ; Farming systems ; Farmers ; Households ; Technology assessment ; Socioeconomic environment ; Irrigation systems ; Supplemental irrigation ; Irrigation water ; Investment / India / Karnataka / Rajasthan / Andhra Pradesh
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047792)
Purpose: Changing climate has increasingly become a challenge for smallholder farmers. Identification of technical, institutional and policy interventions as coping and adaptation strategies, and exploring risks of their adoption for smallholder farms, are the important areas to consider. The present study carried out an in-depth analysis of adaptation strategies followed and the associated risk premium in technology adoption.
Design/methodology/approach: The study was carried out in the dryland systems of three Indian states - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan, and was based on a survey of 1,019 households in 2013. The flexible moment-based approach was used for estimating the stochastic production function, which allowed estimation of the relative risk premium that farmers are willing to pay while adopting the technologies to avoid crop production risks.
Findings: In all three states, the risk premium (INR ha-1) was higher for farm mechanization compared to supplemental irrigation, except in the case of Andhra Pradesh. The higher the level of technology adoption, the higher the risk premium that households have to pay. This can be estimated by the higher investment needed to build infrastructure for farm mechanization and supplemental irrigation in the regions. The key determinants of technology adoption in the context of smallholder farmers were climatic shocks, investment in farm infrastructure, location of the farm, farm size, household health status, level of education, married years, expected profit and livestock ownership.
Originality/value: Quantification of the risk premium in technology adoption, and conducting associated awareness programs for farmers and decision makers are important to strengthen evidence-based adoption decisions in the dryland systems of India.
Design/methodology/approach: The study was carried out in the dryland systems of three Indian states - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan, and was based on a survey of 1,019 households in 2013. The flexible moment-based approach was used for estimating the stochastic production function, which allowed estimation of the relative risk premium that farmers are willing to pay while adopting the technologies to avoid crop production risks.
Findings: In all three states, the risk premium (INR ha-1) was higher for farm mechanization compared to supplemental irrigation, except in the case of Andhra Pradesh. The higher the level of technology adoption, the higher the risk premium that households have to pay. This can be estimated by the higher investment needed to build infrastructure for farm mechanization and supplemental irrigation in the regions. The key determinants of technology adoption in the context of smallholder farmers were climatic shocks, investment in farm infrastructure, location of the farm, farm size, household health status, level of education, married years, expected profit and livestock ownership.
Originality/value: Quantification of the risk premium in technology adoption, and conducting associated awareness programs for farmers and decision makers are important to strengthen evidence-based adoption decisions in the dryland systems of India.
7 Aslam, Muhammad. 2016. Agricultural productivity current scenario, constraints and future prospects in Pakistan. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 32(4):289-303. [doi: https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.sja/2016.32.4.289.303]
Agricultural production ; Productivity ; Seed production ; Crop yield ; Cropping systems ; Wheat ; Cotton ; Rice ; Maize ; Sugarcane ; Agricultural research ; Agronomic practices ; Irrigation management ; Environmental effects ; Technology assessment ; Corporate culture ; Socioeconomic environment ; Drainage systems / Pakistan
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047873)
http://smithandfranklin.com/base/downloads.php?jid=14&aid=256&acid=8&path=pdf&file=1476377779SJA_32_4_289-303.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H047873.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H047873.pdf
(218 KB)
This review paper intends to portray current scenario of agricultural productivity through yields and gaps of five major crops; wheat, cotton, rice, maize and sugarcane. The review discusses major constraints, identifies future prospects and makes policy recommendations for enhanced agricultural productivity in Pakistan. The review revealed that in Pakistan, on average current yield of wheat, cotton, rice, maize and sugarcane is 2.26, 1.87, 2.88, 1.77 and 48.06 tons per hectare, respectively against 6.80, 4.30, 5.20, 9.20 and 300 tons per hectare potential yield of wheat, cotton, rice, maize and sugarcane, respectively, obtained through research. This reflects a yield gap of 67, 57, 45, 81 and 84 % between average and potential yield of wheat, cotton, rice, maize and sugarcane, respectively. The review also informed that current Pakistan’s average yield of wheat, cotton, rice, maize and sugarcane is 70, 53, 61, 82 and 60%, respectively lower than the average yields obtained internationally. Major constraints include agronomic, irrigation management, environmental, technological, institutional and socio-economic constraints. Future prospects include upscaling of modern technology, enhanced seed production, improved inputs availability and use, improved irrigation, improved agriculture-education-training-research- extension-nexus, reclamation of salinized lands, improved agricultural credit and support price policies. Recommendations include improving agricultural research and extension systems, accelerating diffusion and adoption of latest agriculture technologies and inputs, enhancing good quality seed production, improving irrigation water management and improving reclamation and drainage.
8 Taylor, S.; Asimah, S. A.; Buamah, R.; Nyarko, K.; Sekuma, S. P.; Coulibaly, Y. N.; Wozuame, A.; Jeffrey, P.; Parker, A. H. 2017. Towards sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene technology use in Sub-Saharan Africa: the learning alliance approach. Water Policy, 19(1):69-85. [doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2016.252]
Water supply ; Sanitation ; Hygiene ; Sustainability ; Technology assessment ; Stakeholders ; Capacity building ; Learning ; Attitudes ; Project design ; Innovation adoption ; Institutional development / Africa South of Sahara / Uganda / Ghana / Burkina Faso
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048025)
(0.21 MB)
To extend water, sanitation and hygiene services to all, technological innovations are required which take into account a diverse range of stakeholder perspectives. We report the experiences of an intervention which sought to build capacity in the assessment and introduction of technologies in Uganda, Ghana and Burkina Faso by developing the Technology Applicability Framework (TAF), a tool which culminates in a multi-stakeholder scoring workshop. The project also used Learning Alliances to build capacity around technology introduction. This paper explores how stakeholder attitudes changed through the project and evaluates the Learning Alliance approach. It finds that whilst the intervention did manage to connect stakeholders in a novel way, uptake of the TAF may be hampered by a lack of government involvement in the earliest stages of the project.
9 Otoo, Miriam; Rao, Krishna; Taron, Avinandan. 2015. Synthesis report on feasibility assessment for the implementation of RRR [resource recovery and reuse] business models proposed for Lima. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 73p.
Feasibility studies ; Assessment ; Resource recovery ; Business management ; Health hazards ; Public health ; Environmental policy ; Environmental impact assessment ; Risk assessment ; Wastewater treatment ; Wastewater irrigation ; Urban wastes ; Industrial wastes ; Water reuse ; Sanitation ; Faecal sludge ; Energy generation ; Socioeconomic environment ; Nutrients ; Cost recovery ; Market economics ; Aquaculture ; Organic fertilizers ; Corporate culture ; Legal aspects ; Technology assessment ; Composting / Peru / Lima
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048073)
(2.09 MB)
10 Musiyiwa, K.; Harris, D.; Filho, W. L.; Gwenzi, W.; Nyamangara, J. 2017. An assessment of smallholder soil and water conservation practices and perceptions in contrasting agro-ecological regions in Zimbabwe. Water Resources and Rural Development, 9:1-11. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wrr.2016.09.001]
Water conservation ; Soil conservation ; Smallholders ; Farmers attitudes ; Water management ; Technology assessment ; Information services ; Constraints ; Climate change ; Agroecological zones ; Subhumid zones ; Semiarid zones ; Households ; Gender ; Socioeconomic environment / Africa South of Sahara / Zimbabwe / Mazowe / Goromonzi / Kadoma / Matobo / Chiredzi
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048197)
(0.59 MB)
Improved soil and water management practices can reduce moisture stress and crop failures associated with rain-fed cropping systems. Little information exists on soil and water management technologies requirements for male and female farmers in different agro-ecological regions. The objective of current study was to investigate farmers’ sources of information and perceptions on soil and water management technologies. Four sites selected from different agro-ecological regions (AERs), sub-humid (Mazowe/Goromonzi, and Kadoma) and semi-arid (Matobo and Chiredzi). Data on sources of information on soil and water management, types of technologies preferred by farmers and constraints to adoption of technologies were collected through household interviews and focus group discussions. Results showed that government extension agents, farmer-to farmer extension and non-governmental organizations were the main sources of information on soil and water management technologies at all the sites. NGOs mainly provide information on reduced tillage methods. Main technologies were mulching (61%), reduced tillage methods (53%), and contour ridges (33%) in Mazowe/Goromonzi district, reduced tillage method (83) and mulching (64%) in Kadoma, and reduced tillage methods (54%) and contour ridges (47%) in Matobo. More farmers used soil and water management technologies at the sub-humid sites than at the semi-arid sites. Soil and water conservation technologies used were similar between male-headed (MHH) and female-headed households (FHH). Soil and water conservation technologies used by farmers matched their preferences in two of the four study sites. The findings are important for targeting soil and water management practices in the various agro-ecological zones.
11 Buurman, J.; Santhanakrishnan, D. 2017. Opportunities and barriers in scaling up of 24/7 urban water supply: the case of Karnataka, India. Water Policy, 19(6):1189-1205. [doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2017.191]
Water supply ; Urban areas ; Water policy ; Pilot projects ; Project design ; Barriers ; Stakeholders ; Public-private cooperation ; Institutions ; Technology assessment ; Environmental factors ; Case studies / India / Karnataka Urban Water Sector Improvement Project
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048379)
(0.37 MB)
Scaling up pilot projects providing continuous water supply to households in Indian cities has proved challenging. This study identifies opportunities and barriers in scaling up, in order to derive recommendations for bridging the gap between testing policy innovations and bringing projects to scale. We analyse pilot design, required resources, and drivers of stakeholders, institutions and the environment for a case study in Karnataka and find a wide range of factors that affect adoption of 24/7 water supply. Upscaling should be tailor-made for each area, which requires space, scope and capacity to be created for local involvement.
12 Bassi, N. 2018. Solarizing groundwater irrigation in India: a growing debate. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 34(1):132-145. (Special issue: Politics and Policies for Water Resources Management in India). [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2017.1329137]
Groundwater irrigation ; Solar energy ; Pumps ; Photovoltaic systems ; Carbon dioxide ; Emission ; Economic viability ; Technology assessment ; Metering ; Subsidies ; Social aspects ; Policy / India
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048481)
(1.22 MB)
India is on a path to reduce its carbon emission intensity with a major thrust on increasing the grid-connected solar photovoltaic capacity. However, the carbon footprint in agriculture is on the rise. Heavy subsidies for electricity and diesel to pump groundwater for irrigated agriculture, combined with lack of regulations on water withdrawal, are resulting in both groundwater over-exploitation and increased carbon emissions. Some researchers and practitioners have suggested large-scale promotion of solar pumps for well irrigation as a way to make agricultural growth carbon-neutral and groundwater use in farming sustainable. This article examines whether solar pumps for groundwater irrigation are technically feasible and economically viable in India.
13 Otoo, Miriam. (Ed.) 2018. Nutrient and organic matter recovery - Section III. In Otoo, Miriam; Drechsel, Pay (Eds.). Resource recovery from waste: business models for energy, nutrient and water reuse in low- and middle-income countries. Oxon, UK: Routledge - Earthscan. pp.316-546.
Organic matter ; Resource recovery ; Nutrients ; Business management ; Business models ; Agricultural waste management ; Industrial wastes ; Municipal wastes ; Solid wastes ; Composting ; Cost recovery ; Market economics ; Carbon credits ; Macroeconomics ; Financing ; Supply chain ; Corporate culture ; Technology assessment ; Financing ; Socioeconomic environment ; Environmental impact ; Health hazards ; Sanitation ; Public-private cooperation ; Partnerships ; Faecal sludge ; Inorganic fertilizers ; Organic fertilizers ; Liquid fertilizers ; Subsidies ; Risk reduction ; Waste management ; Biogas ; Livestock wastes ; Vermicomposting ; Sugar industry ; Sustainability ; Toilets ; Urine ; Excreta ; Septic tanks ; Soil conditioners ; On-farm consumption ; Wastewater treatment ; Phosphorus ; Sewage sludge / Uganda / Sri Lanka / Kenya / India / Bangladesh / Mexico / Rwanda / Burkina Faso / Mbale / Matara / Balangoda / Ludhiana / Okhla / Bangalore / Karnataka / Dhaka / Naivasha / Puducherry / Sinaloa / Culiacan / Kigali / Ouagadougou
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H048653)
(8.29 MB)
14 Ainembabazi, J. H.; Abdoulaye, T.; Feleke, S.; Alene, A.; Dontsop-Nguezet, P. M.; Ndayisaba, P. C.; Hicintuka, C.; Mapatano, S.; Manyong, V. 2018. Who benefits from which agricultural research-for-development technologies?: evidence from farm household poverty analysis in Central Africa. World Development, 108:28-46. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.03.013]
Agricultural research for development ; Technology assessment ; Innovation adoption ; Farmers ; Households ; Poverty ; Impact assessment ; Social welfare ; Crop production ; Varieties / Central Africa / Burundi / Democratic Republic of the Congo / Rwanda
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048852)
(1.37 MB)
It remains a challenge for agricultural research-for-development (AR4D) institutions to demonstrate to donors which technologies contribute significantly to poverty reduction due to a multitude of impact pathways. We attempt to overcome this challenge by utilizing the potential outcomes framework and quantile treatment effects analytical approaches applied on panel household data collected from Central Africa. Our findings show that adoption of AR4D technologies reduced the probability of being poor by 13 percentage points. A large share of this poverty reduction is causally attributable to adoption of improved crop varieties (32%) followed by adoption of post-harvest technologies (28%) and crop and natural resource management (26%), with the rest 14% attributable to unidentified and/or unmeasured intermediate outcomes or factors. The findings further indicate that relatively poor farm households benefit from adopting improved crop varieties more than the relatively better-off households. Correspondingly, the relatively better off households benefit from adopting post-harvest technologies enhancing crop commercialization much more than the relatively poor households. The findings reveal interesting policy implications for successful targeting of agricultural interventions aimed at reducing rural poverty.
15 Kumar, S.; Craufurd, P.; Haileslassie, Amare; Ramilan, T.; Rathore, A.; Whitbread, A. 2019. Farm typology analysis and technology assessment: an application in an arid region of South Asia. Land Use Policy, 88:104149. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104149]
Farming systems ; Technology assessment ; Intensification ; Crop yield ; Arid zones ; Semiarid zones ; Resilience ; Living standards ; Households ; Socioeconomic environment ; Farmers ; Constraints ; Villages / South Asia / India / Rajasthan / Jaisalmer / Barmer / Jodhpur
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049314)
(1.92 MB)
The design and diffusion of context-specific technologies is centrally important in the multi-dimensional, complex farming systems in arid and semi-arid regions. This paper uses a mixed-method framework to characterize the complexity and heterogeneity of smallholder farming systems and identifies constraints to and opportunities for sustainable intensification. Specifically, the study: (i) characterized farm household typologies based on the diversity of livelihood assets; (ii) co-designed context- specific interventions through an iterative participatory process; and (iii) ex-ante evaluated such interventions to inform multiple stakeholders. We explored farming system diversity using data from 224 farm households in western Rajasthan, India. Employing multivariate statistical techniques and participatory validation, we identified 7 distinct farm household types. Participatory appraisal with multiple stakeholders revealed heterogeneity across farm household types. For instance, the interest of farmers in integrating perennial fruit trees even among the rainfed farm household types markedly varied: household type 1 preferred the multipurpose forestry tree, khejri which requires low labor inputs; household type 2 preferred market-oriented horticulture production; household type 3 did not opt for perennials but for small ruminants; and household type 4 (dominated by women) opted for small horticulture kitchen gardens. The study demonstrated the utility of a mixed-methods approach that addresses multi-dimensional heterogeneity to generate insights and assist in co-designing locally appropriate technologies across different farm types and agro-ecological regions to achieve sustainable intensification.
16 Andriessen, N.; Ward, B. J.; Strande, L. 2019. To char or not to char?: review of technologies to produce solid fuels for resource recovery from faecal sludge. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 9(2):210-224. [doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2019.184]
Resource recovery ; Solid fuels ; Faecal sludge ; Technology assessment ; Resource management ; Energy recovery ; Pellets ; Pyrolysis ; Sanitation
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049304)
https://iwaponline.com/washdev/article-pdf/9/2/210/583217/washdev0090210.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049304.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049304.pdf
(0.57 MB) (580 KB)
Resource recovery from faecal sludge can take many forms, including as a fuel, soil amendment, building material, protein, animal fodder, and water for irrigation. Resource recovery as a solid fuel has been found to have high market potential in Sub-Saharan Africa. Laboratory- and pilot-scale research on faecal sludge solid fuel production exists, but it is unclear which technology option is most suitable in which conditions. This review offers an overview and critical analysis of the current state of technologies that can produce a dried or carbonized solid fuel, including drying, pelletizing, hydrothermal carbonization, and slow-pyrolysis. Carbonization alters fuel properties, and in faecal sludge, it concentrates the ash content and decreases the calorific value. Overall, a non-carbonized faecal sludge fuel is recommended, unless a carbonized product is specifically required by the combustion technology or end user. Carbonized and non-carbonized fuels have distinct characteristics, and deciding whether to char or not to char is a key judgement in determining the optimal solid fuel technology option. Based on the existing evidence, this review provides a decision-making structure for selecting the optimal technology to produce a faecal sludge solid fuel and identifies the top research needs prior to full-scale implementation.
17 Pavelic, Paul. 2020. Mitigating floods for managing droughts through aquifer storage: an examination of two complementary approaches. Washington, DC, USA: World Bank. 16p. (Water Knowledge Note)
Groundwater recharge ; Aquifers ; Water storage ; Water management ; Flood control ; Drought ; Flood irrigation ; Technology assessment ; Performance evaluation ; Sustainability ; Economic aspects ; Environmental effects ; Social aspects ; Institutions ; Community involvement ; Farmers ; Gender ; Women's participation ; Villages ; Case studies / South Asia / India / Gujarat / Uttar Pradesh
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049595)
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/33244/Mitigating-Floods-for-Managing-Droughts-through-Aquifer-Storage-An-Examination-of-Two-ComplementaryApproaches.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049595.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049595.pdf
(1.19 MB) (1.19 MB)
Interventions that are robust, cost effective, and scalable are in critical demand throughout South Asia to offset growing water scarcity and avert increasingly frequent water-related disasters. This case study presents two complementary forms of intervention that transform water hazards (floodwater) into a resource (groundwater) to boost agricultural productivity and enhance livelihoods. The first intervention, holiya, is simple and operated by individual farmers at the plot/farm scale to control local flooding in semiarid climates. The second is the underground transfer of floods for irrigation (UTFI) and operates at the village scale to offset seasonal floods from upstream in humid climates. Rapid assessments indicate that holiyas have been established at more than 300 sites across two districts in North Gujarat since the 1990s, extending the crop growing season and improving water quality. UTFI knowledge and experience has grown rapidly since implementation of a pilot trial in western Uttar Pradesh in 2015 and is now embedded within government programs with commitments for modest scaling up. Both approaches can help farmers redress the multiple impacts associated with floods, droughts, and groundwater overexploitation at a range of scales from farm plot to the river basin. The potential for wider uptake across South Asia depends on setting up demonstration sites beyond India and overcoming gaps in technical knowledge and institutional capacity.
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