Your search found 21 records
1 Mekong River Commission Secretariat. 1994. Irrigation rehabilitation study in Cambodia: inventory and analyses of existing systems. Vol. 1 - Main report. Bangkok, Thailand: Sir William Halcrow and Partners. 19p. + appendixes.
Irrigation systems ; Rehabilitation ; Irrigated sites ; Irrigated farming ; Water resources ; Water availability ; Soils ; Rice ; Agricultural production ; Cropping systems ; Cropping patterns ; Reservoir, ; Canals ; Catchment areas ; Runoff ; Assessment ; Land suitability ; Land use ; Dry season ; Wet season ; Development projects ; Soils ; Organizations ; Economic aspects / Cambodia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045738)
(2.72 MB)
2 Muthuwatta, Lal; Rientjes, T. H. M.; Bos, M. G. 2013. Strategies to increase wheat production in the water scarce Karkheh River Basin, Iran. Agricultural Water Management, 124:1-10. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2013.03.013]
Irrigated farming ; Rainfed farming ; Wheat ; River basins ; Water productivity ; Water consumption ; Evapotranspiration ; Remote sensing ; Satellite surveys ; Rangelands ; Land use ; Land suitability / Iran / Karkheh River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: PER Record No: H045834)
(2.15 MB)
Two strategies are assessed to increase wheat production in the water-scarce Karkheh River Basin (KRB) in Iran to meet targets by the year 2025. The strategies proposed are (a) to increase yields in the current irrigated and rainfed wheat areas and (b) to increase the area under rainfed wheat through land conversion. Crop water consumption, based on satellite remote sensing and crop yield data, was used to estimate crop water productivity (CWP) in irrigated and rainfed wheat areas in five sub-basins. CWP for wheat ranges from 0.5–1.63 kg m-3 in irrigated areas to 0.37–0.62 kg m-3 in rainfed areas. Conditions indicating water-stress in wheat areas were assessed by relative evapotranspiration (ETa/ETp) and showed that water-stress only had a minimal effect for about 154,000 ha of irrigated wheat (57%). Land suitability analysis showed that about 71,000 ha of rangelands can be converted into rainfed wheat areas without harming the current water balance in the basin. Statistical analyses showed that more than 70% of the variation in irrigated and rainfed wheat yield at plot level can be explained by water, fertilizer and seed rates. This suggests that wheat production can be increased by improving inputs other than water. Results from this study indicate that it is possible to meet approximately 85% of the wheat production targets in the year 2025 when strategies are combined.
3 Kiptala, J. K.; Mohamed, Y.; Mul, Marloes L.; Cheema, M. J. M.; Van der Zaag, P. 2013. Land use and land cover classification using phenological variability from MODIS vegetation in the Upper Pangani River Basin, eastern Africa. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 66:112-122. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2013.08.002]
Land use ; Land cover ; Mapping ; Land classification ; Land suitability ; Phenology ; Vegetation ; River basins ; Water resources ; International waters ; Rain ; Remote sensing ; Irrigated farming ; Rainfed farming ; Calibration / Eastern Africa / Tanzania / Kenya / Upper Pangani River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046232)
(3.30 MB)
In arid and semi-arid areas, evaporation fluxes are the largest component of the hydrological cycle, with runoff coefficient rarely exceeding 10%. These fluxes are a function of land use and land management and as such an essential component for integrated water resources management. Spatially distributed land use and land cover (LULC) maps distinguishing not only natural land cover but also management practices such as irrigation are therefore essential for comprehensive water management analysis in a river basin. Through remote sensing, LULC can be classified using its unique phenological variability observed over time. For this purpose, sixteen LULC types have been classified in the Upper Pangani River Basin (the headwaters of the Pangani River Basin in Tanzania) using MODIS vegetation satellite data. Ninety-four images based on 8 day temporal and 250 m spatial resolutions were analyzed for the hydrological years 2009 and 2010. Unsupervised and supervised clustering techniques were utilized to identify various LULC types with aid of ground information on crop calendar and the land features of the river basin. Ground truthing data were obtained during two rainfall seasons to assess the classification accuracy. The results showed an overall classification accuracy of 85%, with the producer’s accuracy of 83% and user’s accuracy of 86% for confidence level of 98% in the analysis. The overall Kappa coefficient of 0.85 also showed good agreement between the LULC and the ground data. The land suitability classification based on FAO-SYS framework for the various LULC types were also consistent with the derived classification results. The existing local database on total smallholder irrigation development and sugarcane cultivation (large scale irrigation) showed a 74% and 95% variation respectively to the LULC classification and showed fairly good geographical distribution. The LULC information provides an essential boundary condition for establishing the water use and management of green and blue water resources in the water stress Pangani River Basin.
4 Yalew, S. G.; van Griensven, A.; Mul, Marloes L.; van der Zaag, P. 2016. Land suitability analysis for agriculture in the Abbay basin using remote sensing, GIS and AHP techniques. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, 2:1-14. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-016-0167-x]
Land suitability ; Farmland ; Remote sensing ; Geographical Information Systems ; River basins ; Land cover ; Land degradation ; Intensification ; Extensification ; Erosion ; Catchment areas ; Agricultural production ; Soil properties ; Soil water / Ethiopia / Blue Nile River Basin / Abbay River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047628)
http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs40808-016-0167-x.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H047628.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H047628.pdf
To meet growing population demands for food and other agricultural commodities, agricultural land-use intensification and extensification seems to be increasing in the Abbay (Upper Blue Nile) basin in Ethiopia. However, the amount, location and degree of suitability of the basin for agriculture seem not well studied and/or documented. From global data sources, literature review and field investigation, a number of agricultural land suitability evaluation criteria were identified. These criteria were preprocessed as raster layers on a GIS platform and weights of criteria raster layers in determining suitability were computed using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). A weighted overlay analysis method was used to compute categories of highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable and unsuitable lands for agriculture in the basin. It was found out that 53.8 % of the basin’s land coverage was highly suitable for agriculture and 23.2 % was moderately suitable. The marginally suitable and the unsuitable lands were at 11 and 12 % respectively. From the analysis, regions of the basin with high suitability as well as those with higher susceptibility for land degradation and soil erosion were identified.
5 Worqlul, A. W.; Jeong, J.; Dile, Y. T.; Osorio, J.; Schmitter, Petra; Gerik, T.; Srinivasan, R.; Clark, N. 2017. Assessing potential land suitable for surface irrigation using groundwater in Ethiopia. Applied Geography, 85:1-13. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2017.05.010]
Surface irrigation ; Groundwater recharge ; Groundwater irrigation ; Water storage ; Geographical information systems ; Land suitability ; Land use ; Irrigated land ; Agroindustry ; Soil texture ; Slopes ; Rain ; Evapotranspiration ; Water requirements ; Water resources ; Water availability ; River basins ; Population density ; Mapping ; Farmer-led irrigation ; Crops / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048151)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143622816306269/pdfft?md5=d81ce4d77a5a37854e1918796d7b3995&pid=1-s2.0-S0143622816306269-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048151.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048151.pdf
(5.35 MB)
Although Ethiopia has abundant land for irrigation, only a fraction of its potential land is being utilized. This study evaluates suitability of lands for irrigation using groundwater in Ethiopia using GIS-based Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) techniques in order to enhance the country's agricultural industry. Key factors that significantly affect irrigation suitability evaluated in this study include physical land features (land use, soil, and slope), climate (rainfall and evapotranspiration), and market access (proximity to roads and access to market). These factors were weighted using a pair-wise comparison matrix, then reclassified and overlaid to identify suitable areas for groundwater irrigation using a 1-km grid. Groundwater data from the British Geological Survey were used to estimate the groundwater potential, which indicates the corresponding irrigation potential for major crops. Results indicated that more than 6 million ha of land are suitable for irrigation in Ethiopia. A large portion of the irrigable land is located in the Abbay, Rift Valley, Omo Ghibe, and Awash River basins. These basins have access to shallow groundwater (i.e., depth of groundwater less than 20 m from the surface) making it easier to extract. The comparison between available groundwater and total crop water requirements indicate that groundwater alone may not be sufficient to supply all suitable land. The study estimates that only 8% of the suitable land can be irrigated with the available shallow groundwater. However, groundwater is a viable option for supplementing surface water resources for irrigation in several basins in the country.
6 Owusu, Seth; Mul, Marloes L.; Ghansah, Benjamin; Osei-Owusu, P. K.; Awotwe-Pratt, V.; Kadyampakeni, D. 2017. Assessing land suitability for aquifer storage and recharge in northern Ghana using remote sensing and GIS multi-criteria decision analysis technique. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, 3(4):1383-1393. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-017-0360-6]
Land suitability ; Aquifers ; Artificial recharge ; Remote sensing ; GIS ; Decision support systems ; Irrigation ; Rainfed farming ; Agricultural productivity ; Agricultural sector ; Water storage ; Water management ; Socioeconomic environment ; Farmers / Ghana
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048246)
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs40808-017-0360-6.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048246.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048246.pdf
(9.23 MB)
Increasing climate variability and challenge in access to water pose major impediments to rainfed agricultural productivity. Extensive flooding of agricultural lands during the rainy season and lack of water during the 8-month long dry season affect the livelihood of the people in the northern Ghana, a situation that calls for better water management practices. The use of aquifer storage and recharge (ASR) based technique, helps to reduce flooding and improve access to water during the dry season; however such technology has specific requirements for successful implementation. This study assesses suitable areas for the technology in the northern Ghana terrain using multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA) in ArcGIS environment. The result suggests around 66% (48,516 km2) of the crop area in the northern Ghana available for the technology are within moderate to very high suitable sites, of which 44% (29,490 km2) fall into the high and very high suitable sites. This could imply high potential for the artificial groundwater storage system in northern Ghana given other conditions.
7 Worqlul, A. W.; Dile, Y. T.; Jeong, J.; Adimassu, Zenebe; Lefore, Nicole; Gerik, T.; Srinivasan, R.; Clarke, N. 2019. Effect of climate change on land suitability for surface irrigation and irrigation potential of the shallow groundwater in Ghana. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 157: 110-125. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2018.12.040]
Climate change ; Land suitability ; Land use ; Irrigation methods ; Surface irrigation ; Groundwater management ; Water resources ; Surface water ; GIS ; Slope ; Soils ; Socioeconomic environment ; Population density ; Rainfall ; Temperature ; Evapotranspiration / Ghana
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049052)
https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0168169918311426?token=D47C9342836EF05EF9C7A103181929ACB8DDE1F80AD6AF06C2A5B98E687E907761A212B911EFC4AC23D7985048ACB910
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049052.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049052.pdf
(6.84 MB)
Estimating the potential land resources suitable for irrigation and evaluating the possible impact of climate change on land suitability is essential for planning a sustainable agricultural system. This study applied a GIS-based Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) technique to evaluate the suitability of land for irrigation in Ghana for a baseline period (1990 to 2010) and future time horizons 2050s (2041 to 2060) and 2070s (2061 to 2080). Key factors considered to evaluate the suitability of the land for irrigation include biophysical features (such as climate, land use, soil, and slope) and socioeconomic factors (such as proximity to roads and population density). These factors were weighted using a pairwise comparison matrix then reclassified and overlaid on a 30 m grid to estimate the irrigation potential of the country. Groundwater data from the British Geological Survey (BGS) were superimposed onto the land suitability map layer to evaluate the irrigation potential and the accessibility of shallow groundwater with simple water lifting technologies. Downscaled and bias-corrected future climate data from HadGEM2-ES under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 emission scenario were used to represent the future climate horizon. Due to climate change, on average, rainfall will increase by 15 mm and 20 mm from the baseline period in the 2050s and 2070s, respectively. The average temperature shows a consistent increase in the majority of Ghana and a higher rate of increase is expected in the 2070s. Consequently, the rising temperature will increase the potential evapotranspiration by 6.0% and 7.6% in the 2050s and 2070s, respectively. The suitability analysis indicates that approximately 9% of the country is suitable for surface irrigation under the baseline period. A large portion of the potential land is located in the southwestern part of the country. The potential suitable land has an average groundwater access of 12 m from the surface with an average borehole potential yield of 2.5 L/second, which makes it favorable for utilization of simple water lifting technologies. Due to climate change, 9.5% of the suitable land will become unfavorable for irrigation in 2050s, and it is expected to reach 17% in 2070s.
8 Akpoti, K.; Kabo-bah, A. T.; Zwart, Sander J. 2019. Agricultural land suitability analysis: state-of-the-art and outlooks for integration of climate change analysis. Agricultural Systems, 173:172-208. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2019.02.013]
Agricultural land ; Sustainable agriculture ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Land suitability ; Land use ; Integration ; Climate change ; Machine learning ; Crop production ; Crop yield ; Crop modelling ; Food security ; Environmental impact ; Planning ; Water availability ; Socioeconomic environment ; Ecosystems
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049142)
Agricultural land suitability analysis (ALSA) for crop production is one of the key tools for ensuring sustainable agriculture and for attaining the current global food security goal in line with the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) of United Nations. Although some review studies addressed land suitability, few of them specifically focused on land suitability analysis for agriculture. Furthermore, previous reviews have not reflected on the impact of climate change on future land suitability and how this can be addressed or integrated into ALSA methods. In the context of global environmental changes and sustainable agriculture debate, we showed from the current review that ALSA is a worldwide land use planning approach. We reported from the reviewed articles 69 frequently used factors in ALSA. These factors were further categorized in climatic conditions (16), nutrients and favorable soils (34 of soil and landscape), water availability in the root zone (8 for hydrology and irrigation) and socio-economic and technical requirements (11). Also, in getting a complete view of crop’s ecosystems and factors that can explain and improve yield, inherent local socio-economic factors should be considered. We showed that this aspect has been often omitted in most of the ALSA modeling with only 38% of the total reviewed article using socio-economic factors. Also, only 30% of the studies included uncertainty and sensitivity analysis in their modeling process. We found limited inclusions of climate change in the application of the ALSA. We emphasize that incorporating current and future climate change projections in ALSA is the way forward for sustainable or optimum agriculture and food security. To this end, qualitative and quantitative approaches must be integrated into a unique ALSA system (Hybrid Land Evaluation System - HLES) to improve the land evaluation approach.
9 Akpoti, K.; Kabo-bah, A. T.; Dossou-Yovo, E. R.; Groen, T. A.; Zwart, Sander J. 2020. Mapping suitability for rice production in inland valley landscapes in Benin and Togo using environmental niche modeling. Science of the Total Environment, 709:136165. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136165]
Land suitability ; Rice ; Agricultural production ; Environmental modelling ; Linear models ; Forecasting ; Uncertainty ; Water productivity ; Soil water content ; Rainfed farming ; Climatic data ; Soil chemicophysical properties ; Socioeconomic environment ; Valleys / Benin / Togo
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049495)
(5.47 MB)
Inland valleys (IVs) in Africa are important landscapes for rice cultivation and are targeted by national governments to attain self-sufficiency. Yet, there is limited information on the spatial distribution of IVs suitability at the national scale. In the present study, we developed an ensemble model approach to characterize the IVs suitability for rainfed lowland rice using 4 machine learning algorithms based on environmental niche modeling (ENM) with presence-only data and background sample, namely Boosted Regression Tree (BRT), Generalized Linear Model (GLM), Maximum Entropy (MAXNT) and Random Forest (RF). We used a set of predictors that were grouped under climatic variables, agricultural water productivity and soil water content, soil chemical properties, soil physical properties, vegetation cover, and socio-economic variables. The Area Under the Curves (AUC) evaluation metrics for both training and testing were respectively 0.999 and 0.873 for BRT, 0.866 and 0.816 for GLM, 0.948 and 0.861 for MAXENT and 0.911 and 0.878 for RF. Results showed that proximity of inland valleys to roads and urban centers, elevation, soil water holding capacity, bulk density, vegetation index, gross biomass water productivity, precipitation of the wettest quarter, isothermality, annual precipitation, and total phosphorus among others were major predictors of IVs suitability for rainfed lowland rice. Suitable IVs areas were estimated at 155,000–225,000 Ha in Togo and 351,000–406,000 Ha in Benin. We estimated that 53.8% of the suitable IVs area is needed in Togo to attain self-sufficiency in rice while 60.1% of the suitable IVs area is needed in Benin to attain self-sufficiency in rice. These results demonstrated the effectiveness of an ensemble environmental niche modeling approach that combines the strengths of several models.
10 Paul, M.; Negahban-Azar, M.; Shirmohammadi, A.; Montas, H. 2020. Assessment of agricultural land suitability for irrigation with reclaimed water using geospatial multi-criteria decision analysis. Agricultural Water Management, 231:105987 (Online first). [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2019.105987]
Farmland ; Land suitability ; Assessment ; Wastewater irrigation ; Irrigated farming ; Water reuse ; Wastewater treatment plants ; Decision making ; Geographical information systems ; Models ; Environmental effects ; Drought ; Groundwater ; Crops ; Land cover / USA / California
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049564)
(7.32 MB)
Water scarcity, climate variability and continuing growth in water demand have put severe pressure on high-quality freshwater sources. This challenge exacts the necessity to explore alternative water sources for agricultural irrigation. The objective of this study was to implement the integrated geospatial Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate the potentiality of reclaimed water use for agricultural irrigation in California. Five evaluation criteria included in this study were agricultural land (crop type), climate conditions, water policies, irrigation status, and proximity to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) respectively. The suitability maps for reclaimed water use were generated for three cases in terms of accessibility to WWTPs, their discharge volume and appropriate treatment processes respectively. In addition, a composite suitability map was produced using the hybrid model considering all three cases together. Results from this study led to a better understanding of sustainable reclaimed water use for crop irrigation at a regional level. It provided supporting evidence of the applicability of the GIS-MCDA method integrated with AHP technique for a larger geographical scale with a diverse crop pattern. This study established the importance of using both knowledge-based and data-driven criteria and sub-criteria in the decision framework. The results also highlighted how the spatial distribution of suitable areas for reclaimed water reuse is closely linked to the agricultural areas.
11 Kafle, Kashi; Omotilewa, Oluwatoba; Leh, Mansoor. 2020. Who benefits from farmer-led irrigation expansion in Ethiopia?. Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire: African Development Bank (AfDB). 42p. (African Development Bank Working Paper 341)
Groundwater irrigation ; Farmer managed irrigation systems ; Socioeconomic environment ; Land suitability ; Solar energy ; Agricultural practices ; Crops ; Diversification ; Cultivation ; Land use ; Pumps ; Households ; Living standards ; Population density ; Farmer-led irrigation ; Investment / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050118)
https://www.afdb.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/wps_no_341_who_benefits_from_farmer-led_irrigation_expansion_in_ethiopia.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050118.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050118.pdf
(2.04 MB) (2.04 MB)
Despite increasing popularity of farmer-led irrigation in Ethiopia, little is known about socio-economics of farmers who receive public support in accelerating its expansion. We investigate this question by combining spatial land suitability for groundwater- and solar irrigation with pre-existing socioeconomic data. We find that if public support in farmer-led irrigation expansion were to be provided to farmers who own land areas that are also spatially highly suitable for irrigation, high-value crop cultivators and wealthier farmers would most likely benefit from such investments. Specifically, we find evidence that farmers in land areas more suitable for groundwater irrigation cultivated more high value crops such as vegetables, fruits, and cash crops. Cultivation of staple crops such as cereals, oilseeds, legumes and root crops were negatively associated with groundwater irrigation suitability. In addition, we find a positive correlation between farmers’ wealth status (measured by consumption expenditure, asset index, and land size) and groundwater irrigation suitability. Controlling for regional differences and current irrigation coverage, one percent increase in irrigation suitability score was associated with 0.2% increase in per-capita consumption expenditure. Land areas that were suitable for irrigation were more likely to belong to large-holders than smallholders. Results imply that policies which aim to facilitate farmer-led irrigation development in Ethiopia should not rely only on spatial suitability for irrigation. Household socio-economics and existing agricultural practices are equally important.
12 Akpoti, K.; Dossou-Yovo, E. R.; Zwart, Sander J.; Kiepe, P. 2021. The potential for expansion of irrigated rice under alternate wetting and drying in Burkina Faso. Agricultural Water Management, 247:106758. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.106758]
Irrigated farming ; Irrigated rice ; Land suitability ; Mapping ; Water balance ; Water conservation ; Water use ; Climate change ; Precipitation ; Evapotranspiration ; Forecasting ; Groundwater table ; Soil texture ; Modelling / West Africa / Burkina Faso
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050218)
(21.30 MB)
Achieving rice self-sufficiency in West Africa will require an expansion of the irrigated rice area under water-scarce conditions. However, little is known about how much area can be irrigated and where and when water-saving practices could be used. The objective of this study was to assess potentially irrigable lands for irrigated rice cultivation under water-saving technology in Burkina Faso. A two-step, spatially explicit approach was developed and implemented. Firstly, machine learning models, namely Random Forest (RF) and Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) were deployed in ecological niche modeling (ENM) approach to assess the land suitability for irrigated rice cultivation. Spatial datasets on topography, soil characteristics, climate parameters, land use, and water were used along with the current distribution of irrigated rice locations in Burkina Faso to drive ENMs. Secondly, the climatic suitability for alternate wetting and drying (AWD), an irrigation management method for saving water in rice cultivation in irrigated systems, was assessed by using a simple water balance model for the two main growing seasons (February to June and July to November) on a dekadal time scale. The evaluation metrics of the ENMs such as the area under the curve and percentage correctly classified showed values higher than 80% for both RF and MaxEnt. The top four predictors of land suitability for irrigated rice cultivation were exchangeable sodium percentage, exchangeable potassium, depth to the groundwater table, and distance to stream networks and rivers. Potentially suitable lands for rice cultivation in Burkina Faso were estimated at 21.1 × 105 ha. The whole dry season was found suitable for AWD implementation against 25–100% of the wet season. Soil percolation was the main driver of the variation in irrigated land suitability for AWD in the wet season. The integrated modeling and water balance assessment approach used in this study can be applied to other West African countries to guide investment in irrigated rice area expansion while adapting to climate change.
13 Gonfa, B. G.; Hatiye, S. D.; Finssa, M. M. 2021. Land suitability and surface water resources potential for irrigation in Becho Plain, Upper Awash Basin, Ethiopia. Irrigation and Drainage, 22p. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.2575]
Land suitability ; Surface water ; Water resources ; Irrigation water ; Surface irrigation ; Water availability ; Irrigated farming ; Land use ; Land cover ; Water supply ; Water demand ; Soil properties ; Slope ; Assessment ; Decision making ; River basins ; Geographical information systems / Ethiopia / Upper Awash Basin / Becho Plain
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050251)
(4.42 MB)
In this study, an assessment of the land and surface water resources potential of the Becho Plain was conducted. Land suitability for irrigated agriculture was evaluated by considering the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) criteria. The land suitability parameters such as soil properties, slope, land use and land cover were used to identify the suitable irrigable land. The analytical hierarchy process was employed to obtain parameter weights, and later the weighted overlay analysis in the geographic information system was employed to obtain the overall suitability of land resources for irrigation. The surface water availability and amount were evaluated by using the calibrated Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The water requirement of dominant crops was estimated following the FAO procedure and compared with the available water. Nearly 70% of the land area is identified as suitable for surface irrigation, while the remaining 30% of the land area is restricted for irrigation development. The water supply and demand analysis revealed that there is sufficient water available in the Becho Plain for irrigation development. The physically possible irrigation area and diversion sites were also identified. The Becho Plain has ample land and water resources for irrigation development. However, future developments shall also consider downstream water use to implement sustainable irrigation development.
14 Kafle, Kashi; Omotilewa, O.; Leh, Mansoor; Schmitter, Petra. 2022. Who is likely to benefit from public and private sector investments in farmer-led irrigation development? Evidence from Ethiopia. Journal of Development Studies, 58(1):55-75. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2021.1939866]
Farmer-led irrigation ; Public sector ; Private sector ; Investment ; Groundwater irrigation ; Land suitability ; Socioeconomic environment ; Smallholders ; Microirrigation ; Irrigation systems ; Solar energy ; Household consumption ; Assets ; Crop production ; Rural areas / Africa South of Sahara / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050546)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00220388.2021.1939866
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050546.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050546.pdf
(3.69 MB) (3.69 MB)
In recent years, farmer-led irrigation development has gained the interest of development partners and governments in the Global South following its success in enhancing agricultural production and livelihoods in South Asia. However, little is known about the socio-economic situation of farmers who receive public support for its expansion. Considering its rapid expansion in sub-Saharan Africa, we take the case of Ethiopia and explore the relationship between irrigation suitability and farmers’ socio-economic status. We find that high-value crop producers and wealthier farmers are most likely to make private investments and also benefit from public support in farmer-led irrigation expansion if investments are directed to land areas highly suitable for irrigation. Cultivation of high-value crops (fruit, vegetables) was common in areas more suitable for irrigation but staple crop cultivation (cereals, legumes) was negatively associated with irrigation suitability. Wealth status (consumption expenditure, asset index, and land size) was also positively correlated with irrigation suitability. A 10 per cent increase in groundwater irrigation suitability score was associated with a 2 per cent increase in per-capita consumption expenditure. Results imply that policies aiming to facilitate farmer-led irrigation development should combine biophysical information on land and water suitability for irrigation with household socio-economic characteristics and existing agricultural systems.
15 Akpoti, K.; Higginbottom, T. P.; Foster, T.; Adhikari, R.; Zwart, Sander J. 2022. Mapping land suitability for informal, small-scale irrigation development using spatial modelling and machine learning in the Upper East Region, Ghana. Science of the Total Environment, 803:149959. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149959]
Farmer-led irrigation ; Small scale systems ; Land suitability ; Modelling ; Machine learning ; Food security ; Semiarid zones ; Groundwater ; Water availability ; Land use ; Land cover ; Soil properties ; Dry season ; Forecasting ; Reservoirs ; Population density ; Socioeconomic aspects / Ghana
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050670)
(7.61 MB)
Small-scale irrigation has gained momentum in recent years as one of the development priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, farmer-led irrigation is often informal with little support from extension services and a paucity of data on land suitability for irrigation. To map the spatial explicit suitability for dry season small-scale irrigation, we developed a method using an ensemble of boosted regression trees, random forest, and maximum entropy machine learning models for the Upper East Region of Ghana. Both biophysical predictors including surface and groundwater availability, climate, topography and soil properties, and socio-economic predictors which represent demography and infrastructure development such as accessibility to cities and proximity to roads were considered. We assessed that 179,584 ± 49,853 ha is suitable for dry-season small-scale irrigation development when only biophysical variables are considered, and 158,470 ± 27,222 ha when socio-economic variables are included alongside the biophysical predictors, representing 77-89% of the current rainfed-croplands. Travel time to cities, accessibility to small reservoirs, exchangeable sodium percentage, surface runoff that can be potentially stored in reservoirs, population density, proximity to roads, and elevation percentile were the top predictors of small-scale irrigation suitability. These results suggested that the availability of water alone is not a sufficient indicator for area suitability for small-scale irrigation. This calls for strategic road infrastructure development and an improvement in the support to farmers for market accessibility. The suitability for small-scale irrigation should be put in the local context of market availability, demographic indicators, and infrastructure development.
16 Akpoti, Komlavi; Groen, T.; Dossou-Yovo, E.; Kabo-bah, A. T.; Zwart, Sander J. 2022. Climate change-induced reduction in agricultural land suitability of West-Africa’s inland valley landscapes. Agricultural Systems, 200:103429. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2022.103429]
Farmland ; Land suitability ; Climate change ; Valleys ; Agricultural landscape ; Rainfed farming ; Rice ; Agroecosystems ; Self-sufficiency ; Temperature ; Precipitation ; Forecasting ; Ecological niche modelling ; Machine learning ; Uncertainty / West Africa / Togo / Benin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051146)
(7.41 MB)
CONTEXT: Although rice production has increased significantly in the last decade in West Africa, the region is far from being rice self-sufficient. Inland valleys (IVs) with their relatively higher water content and soil fertility compared to the surrounding uplands are the main rice-growing agroecosystem. They are being promoted by governments and development agencies as future food baskets of the region. However, West Africa’s crop production is estimated to be negatively affected by climate change due to the strong dependence of its agriculture on rainfall.
OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the study is to apply a set of machine learning models to quantify the extent of climate change impact on land suitability for rice using the presence of rice-only data in IVs along with bioclimatic indicators.
METHODS: We used a spatially explicit modeling approach based on correlative Ecological Niche Modeling. We deployed 4 algorithms (Boosted Regression Trees, Generalized Linear Model, Maximum Entropy, and Random Forest) for 4-time periods (the 2030s, 2050s, 2070s, and 2080s) of the 4 Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8) from an ensemble set of 32 spatially downscaled and bias-corrected Global Circulation Models climate data.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The overall trend showed a decrease in suitable areas compared to the baseline as a function of changes in temperature and precipitation by the order of 22–33% area loss under the lowest reduction scenarios and more than 50% in extreme cases. Isothermality or how large the day to night temperatures oscillate relative to the annual oscillations has a large impact on area losses while precipitation increase accounts for most of the areas with no change in suitability. Strong adaptation measures along with technological advancement and adoption will be needed to cope with the adverse effects of climate change on inland valley rice areas in the sub-region. SIGNIFICANCE: The demand for rice in West Africa is huge. For the rice self-sufficiency agenda of the region, “where” and “how much” land resources are available is key and requires long-term, informed planning. Farmers can only adapt when they switch to improved breeds, providing that they are suited for the new conditions. Our results stress the need for land use planning that considers potential climate change impacts to define the best areas and growing systems to produce rice under multiple future climate change uncertainties.
OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the study is to apply a set of machine learning models to quantify the extent of climate change impact on land suitability for rice using the presence of rice-only data in IVs along with bioclimatic indicators.
METHODS: We used a spatially explicit modeling approach based on correlative Ecological Niche Modeling. We deployed 4 algorithms (Boosted Regression Trees, Generalized Linear Model, Maximum Entropy, and Random Forest) for 4-time periods (the 2030s, 2050s, 2070s, and 2080s) of the 4 Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8) from an ensemble set of 32 spatially downscaled and bias-corrected Global Circulation Models climate data.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The overall trend showed a decrease in suitable areas compared to the baseline as a function of changes in temperature and precipitation by the order of 22–33% area loss under the lowest reduction scenarios and more than 50% in extreme cases. Isothermality or how large the day to night temperatures oscillate relative to the annual oscillations has a large impact on area losses while precipitation increase accounts for most of the areas with no change in suitability. Strong adaptation measures along with technological advancement and adoption will be needed to cope with the adverse effects of climate change on inland valley rice areas in the sub-region. SIGNIFICANCE: The demand for rice in West Africa is huge. For the rice self-sufficiency agenda of the region, “where” and “how much” land resources are available is key and requires long-term, informed planning. Farmers can only adapt when they switch to improved breeds, providing that they are suited for the new conditions. Our results stress the need for land use planning that considers potential climate change impacts to define the best areas and growing systems to produce rice under multiple future climate change uncertainties.
17 Nhamo, L.; Paterson, G.; van der Walt, M.; Moeletsi, M.; Modi, A.; Kunz, R.; Chimonyo, V.; Masupha, T.; Mpandeli, S.; Liphadzi, S.; Molwantwa, J.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2022. Optimal production areas of underutilized indigenous crops and their role under climate change: focus on Bambara groundnut. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6:990213. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.990213]
Crop production ; Bambara groundnut ; Vigna subterranea ; Underutilized species ; Indigenous organisms ; Climate change adaptation ; Strategies ; Resilience ; Dryland farming ; Land suitability ; Food security ; Water security ; Rain ; Geographical information systems / South Africa / Limpopo
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051486)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.990213/pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051486.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051486.pdf
(2.66 MB) (2.66 MB)
Food demand in Africa continues to outstrip local supply, and the continent currently spends over US$35 billion annually on food imports to supplement local deficits. With the advances in agronomy and breeding, commercial crops like maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) in the region are under threat from climate change, decreasing rainfall and degraded lands. Unlike commercial crops that are generally adapted from other regions, underutilized indigenous crops are uniquely suited to local environments and are more resilient to climatic variations and tolerant to local pests and diseases. This study, done in Limpopo Province, South Africa, identifies optimal areas for cultivating Bambara groundnuts (Vigna subterannea), an indigenous crop suitable for arid and semi-arid regions. The aim is to promote the production of underutilized indigenous crops at a large scale with fewer resources, while still meeting local demand and reducing the food import budget. Suitability maps are delineated using a multicriteria decision method in a Geographic Information System (GIS). The procedure is important for diversifying farming systems, making them more resilient (to biotic and abiotic stresses and climate change) and more successful at enhancing water, food and nutritional security. With the province’s limited water and land resources for agriculture expansion, promoting indigenous underutilized crops is a pathway to reduce water allocated to agriculture, thereby enhancing drought resilience and ensuring water, food and nutritional security. Large tracts of degraded agricultural land deemed unsuitable for adapted crops, and which may require costly land reclamation practices, can be used to cultivate underutilized crops that are adapted to extreme local conditions.
18 Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Haileslassie, Amare; Magidi, J.; Nhamo, L. 2022. Irrigation suitability mapping examples from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Kenya. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa. 52p.
Irrigation management ; Land suitability ; Mapping ; Planning ; Soil texture ; Land use ; Land cover ; Rain ; Surface water ; Groundwater ; Slope ; Diversification ; Socioeconomic aspects / Zimbabwe / Zambia / Malawi / Kenya / Balaka / Nkhotakota / Monze / Chipata / Nakuru / Makueni / Masvingo / Makonde / Murehwa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051676)
(3.07 MB)
The irrigation suitability classification was achieved by using physical factors that include slope, rainfall, landuse, closeness to waterbodies (surface and groundwater) and soil characteristics for selected districts in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Kenya, some of the UU target countries. As cereals form the main food basket of the selected countries, and cereals are not tolerant to saline conditions, the report also provides maps showing high soil salinity areas of Makueni and Nakuru of Kenya, where soils are highly saline. However, soil salinity is insignificant in the other study districts and therefore not mapped. This report provides (a) a conceptual framework and detailed methodology for irrigation suitability mapping, including details of identified boundary maps and geospatial data, and (b) a synthesis model and maps on irrigation suitability mapping for the selected districts in the four target countries.
19 Birhanu, B. Z.; Sanogo, K.; Traore, S. S.; Minh, Thai; Kizito, F. 2023. Solar-based irrigation systems as a game changer to improve agricultural practices in Sub-Sahara Africa: a case study from Mali. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7:1085335. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1085335]
Solar powered irrigation systems ; Agricultural practices ; Climate-smart agriculture ; Technology ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Land suitability ; Land use ; Land cover ; Slope ; Soil types ; Sustainable intensification ; Water management ; Water use ; Groundwater ; Solar energy ; Rainfall ; Rural areas ; Households ; Socioeconomic aspects ; Case studies / Africa South of Sahara / Mali / Sikasso / Bougouni / Koutiala
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051767)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1085335/pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051767.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051767.pdf
(6.20 MB) (6.20 MB)
Introduction: In rainfed agricultural systems, sustainable and efficient water management practices are key to improved agricultural productivity and natural resource management. The agricultural system in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) relies heavily on the availability of rainfall. With the erratic and unreliable rainfall pattern associated with poor and fragile soils, agricultural productivity has remained very low over the years. Much of the SSA agricultural land has been degraded with low fertility as a result of ongoing cultivation and wind and water erosion. This has resulted in an increased food shortage due to the ever-increasing population and land degradation. Better agricultural and nutritional security are further hampered by the lack of reliable access to the available water resources in the subsurface hydrological system.
Methods: This study used socio-economic data from 112 farm households and Boolean and Fuzzy methods to understand farmers' perceptions and identify suitable areas to implement Solar Based Irrigation Systems (SBISs) in the agro-ecologies of Bougouni and Koutiala districts of southern Mali.
Results and discussion: Results revealed that the usage of SBISs has been recent (4.5 years), majorly (77%) constructed by donor-funded projects mainly for domestic water use and livestock (88%). With regards to irrigation, vegetable production was the dominant water use (60%) enabling rural farm households to gain over 40% of extra household income during the dry season. Results further showed that 4,274 km2 (22%) of the total land area for the Bougouni district, and 1,722 km2 (18%) of the Koutiala district are suitable for solar-based irrigation. The affordability of solar panels in many places makes SBISs to be an emerging climate-smart technology for most rural Malian populations.
Methods: This study used socio-economic data from 112 farm households and Boolean and Fuzzy methods to understand farmers' perceptions and identify suitable areas to implement Solar Based Irrigation Systems (SBISs) in the agro-ecologies of Bougouni and Koutiala districts of southern Mali.
Results and discussion: Results revealed that the usage of SBISs has been recent (4.5 years), majorly (77%) constructed by donor-funded projects mainly for domestic water use and livestock (88%). With regards to irrigation, vegetable production was the dominant water use (60%) enabling rural farm households to gain over 40% of extra household income during the dry season. Results further showed that 4,274 km2 (22%) of the total land area for the Bougouni district, and 1,722 km2 (18%) of the Koutiala district are suitable for solar-based irrigation. The affordability of solar panels in many places makes SBISs to be an emerging climate-smart technology for most rural Malian populations.
20 Dinku, M. B.; Kebede, H. H. 2023. Identification and mapping of surface irrigation potential in the data-scarce Jewuha Watershed, Middle Awash River Basin, Ethiopia. Hydrology Research, 54(10):1227-1245. [doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2023.082]
Surface irrigation ; Land use ; Land cover ; Water supply ; Geographical information systems ; Surface water ; Land suitability ; Watersheds ; Rainfall ; Water resources ; Land evaluation ; Sprinkler irrigation ; Models / Ethiopia / Addis Ababa / Jewuha Watershed / Awash River Basin / Shewa Robit
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052298)
https://iwaponline.com/hr/article-pdf/54/10/1227/1311899/nh0541227.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052298.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052298.pdf
(1.26 MB) (1.26 MB)
This study was conducted to identify and map the surface irrigation potential in the data-scarce Jewuha watershed of the Awash Basin, Ethiopia. The suitability of the land, based on the soil characteristics and slope, was first assessed by the parametric evaluation technique. The overall suitability of the land was then evaluated considering additional factors including land use land cover, proximity to a water source and road using weighted overlay analysis through the analytic hierarchical process (AHP). Water diversion sites as the source of water supply points were selected based on theoretical site selection criteria with the help of a geographic information system (GIS) and physical observation. The surface water available at the diversion sites was estimated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model combined with the spatial proximity regionalization technique. The land suitability analysis revealed that 16.7% (11,359 ha) of the study area is suitable for surface irrigation. Five diversion sites were identified as sources of water supply and the total flows at these sites were 12.92 Mm3. It was found that only 27.3% (3,098 ha) of the suitable land, 5% of the total area of the watershed, can be effectively developed by surface irrigation.
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