Your search found 4 records
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: P 2798 Record No: H012635)
2 Clarke, N.; Bizimana, J.-C.; Dile, Y.; Worqlul, A.; Osorio, J.; Herbst, B.; Richardson, J. W.; Srinivasan, R.; Gerik, T. J.; Williams, J.; Jones, C. A.; Jeong, J. 2017. Evaluation of new farming technologies in Ethiopia using the Integrated Decision Support System (IDSS). Agricultural Water Management, 180(Part B):267-279. (Special issue: Agricultural Water and Nonpoint Source Pollution Management at a Watershed Scale Part II Overseen by: Dr. Brent Clothier). [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.07.023]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047957)
(3.19 MB) (3.19 MB)
This study investigates multi-dimensional impacts of adopting new technology in agriculture at the farm/village and watershed scale in sub-Saharan Africa using the Integrated Decision Support System (IDSS). Application of IDSS as an integrated modeling tool helps solve complex issues in agricultural systems by simultaneously assessing production, environmental, economic, and nutritional consequences of adopting agricultural technologies for sustainable increases in food production and use of scarce natural resources. The IDSS approach was applied to the Amhara region of Ethiopia, where the scarcity of resources and agro-environmental consequences are critical to agricultural productivity of small farm, to analyze the impacts of alternative agricultural technology interventions. Results show significant improvements in family income and nutrition, achieved through the adoption of irrigation technologies, proper use of fertilizer, and improved seed varieties while preserving environmental indicators in terms of soil erosion and sediment loadings. These pilot studies demonstrate the usefulness of the IDSS approach as a tool that can be used to predict and evaluate the economic and environmental consequences of adopting new agricultural technologies that aim to improve the livelihoods of subsistence farmers.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049159)
(2.64 MB)
Small-scale irrigation (SSI) technologies can be useful not only to increase crop productivity and income but also as a viable adaptation practice to climate variability. A farm simulation model (FARMSIM) and data from selected SSI technologies piloted in northern Ghana under the ‘Feed the Future-Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation’ (ILSSI) project were used to assess the economic feasibility of the SSI technologies and their potential to improve income and nutrition of smallholder farm households. Three dry season irrigated crops (onion, corchorus, amaranthus) grown under three agricultural water management regimes were analysed. Results show that adoption of the SSI technologies could increase the net farm profit by 154%–608% against the baseline depending on the ‘crop type - SSI technology’ combination. Nutrition levels also improved significantly as a result of the improvements in crop yields due to irrigation and use of complementary inputs. However, the results further reveal that the options that utilize capital-intensive SSI technologies such as solar-powered water pumps to grow high value cash crops are constrained by the high investment cost. Currently, farmers tend to choose low-cost SSI technologies such as a traditional watering-cans, which generate low economic returns. Improving access to credit or alternative financing schemes could mitigate the capital constraints and enable smallholders to gain more benefits from participating in market-oriented high-value irrigated production.
4 Xie, H.; You, L.; Dile, Y. T.; Worqlul, A. W.; Bizimana, J.- C.; Srinivasan, R.; Richardson, J. W.; Thomas, G.; Neville, C. 2021. Mapping development potential of dry-season small-scale irrigation in Sub-Saharan African countries under joint biophysical and economic constraints - an agent-based modeling approach with an application to Ethiopia. Agricultural Systems, 186:102987. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2020.102987]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050097)
(4.40 MB) (4.40 MB)
Sub-Saharan Africa has long been beset with food insecurity. Investment in small-scale irrigation may provide a solution to address the challenge by extending crop production into the dry season. We present an agent-based modeling system to assess the potential of dry-season small-irrigation development in Sub-Saharan Africa with an application to Ethiopia. We identify significant potential for investing in dry-season small-scale irrigation in Ethiopia and map geographic domains with highest investment opportunities.
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