Your search found 37 records
1 Hanson, B.; May, D. 2004. Effect of subsurface drip irrigation on processing tomato yield, water table depth, soil salinity, and profitability. Agricultural Water Management, 68(1):1-17.
Drip irrigation ; Subsurface irrigation ; Sprinkler irrigation ; Tomatoes ; Yields ; Water table ; Soil salinity ; Profitability ; Water quality ; Groundwater ; Soil water ; Evapotranspiration / USA / California / San Joaquin Valley
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: PER Record No: H035183)
2 Chandra, R.; Sharma, Bharat R.; Bhatt, V. K.; Singh, S.; Kapadia, V. 2008. Variations in groundwater use, water productivity and profitability across a canal command in the Indo-Gangetic Basin. In Humphreys, E.; Bayot, R. S.; van Brakel, M.; Gichuki, F.; Svendsen, M.; Wester, P.; Huber-Lee, A.; Cook, S. Douthwaite, B.; Hoanh, Chu Thai; Johnson, N.; Nguyen-Khoa, Sophie; Vidal, A.; MacIntyre, I.; MacIntyre, R. (Eds.). Fighting poverty through sustainable water use: proceedings of the CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food, 2nd International Forum on Water and Food, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 10-14 November 2008. Vol.2. Increasing rainwater productivity; Multi-purpose water systems. Colombo, Sri Lanka: CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food. pp.35-39.
Water productivity ; Profitability ; Groundwater ; River basins ; Watercourses ; Conjunctive use ; Irrigation canals ; Cropping systems ; Rice ; Wheat / India / Haryana / Indo-Ganagetic Basin / Bhakra Irrigation System / Pabnawa Minor
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 333.91 G000 HUM Record No: H041702)
http://ifwf2.org/addons/download_presentation.php?fid=1092
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H041702.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H041702.pdf
3 Erkossa, Teklu; Teklewold, H. 2009. Agronomic and economic efficiency of manure and urea fertilizers use on vertisols in Ethiopian highlands. Agricultural Sciences in China, 8(3):352-360. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1671-2927(08)60219-9]
Vertisols ; Soil fertility ; Organic fertilizers ; Inorganic fertilizers ; Fertilizers ; Nitrogen fertilizers ; Crop production ; Legumes ; Cereals ; Straw ; Cropping systems ; Crop rotation ; Data analysis ; Economic analysis ; Yields ; Productivity ; Profitability / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042151)
(0.22 MB)
Soil fertility depletion is among the major impediments to sustained agricultural productivity especially in the less developed countries because of limited application of fertilizers. Soil fertility maintenance requires a balanced application of inorganic and organic nutrient sources. This study was conducted on a Vertisol in Ethiopia to determine the optimum farm yard manure (M) and nitrogen (N) application rates for maximum return under cereal-pulse-cereal rotation system. The main and interaction effects of M and N significantly affected biomass, grain and straw yields of wheat (Triticum durum) and tef (Eragrostis tef), but the residual effect on chickpea (Cicer arietinum) was not significant. Application of 6 t M ha-1 and 30 kg N ha-1, gave the largest grain yield of both crops but a comparable result was obtained due to 3 t M ha-1 and 30 kg N ha-1. The economic analysis revealed that 6.85 t M ha-1 and 44 kg N ha-1 for wheat, and 4.53 t M ha-1 and 37 kg N ha-1 for tef were the economic optimum rates. The additional benefit obtained due to these rates was about 450 USD ha-1. Therefore, application of the economic optimum combination of both organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen is recommended for use on cereals in the cereal-legume-cereal rotation system.
4 Kansakar, D. R.; Pant, Dhruba; Chaudhary, J. P. 2009. Reaching the poor: effectiveness of the current shallow tubewell policy in Nepal. In Mukherji, Aditi; Villholth, K. G.; Sharma, Bharat R.; Wang, J. (Eds.) Groundwater governance in the Indo-Gangetic and Yellow River basins: realities and challenges. London, UK: CRC Press. pp.163-181. (IAH Selected Papers on Hydrogeology 15)
Groundwater irrigation ; Shallow tube wells ; Pumps ; Private ownership ; Farmers ; Small farms ; Agricultural credit ; Financing ; Loans ; Agricultural policy ; Poverty ; Rural areas ; Electrification ; Surveys ; Crops ; Diversification ; Productivity ; Profitability / Nepal / Dangihat / Arjundhara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 631.7.6.3 G570 MUK Record No: H042228)
(0.40 MB)
5 AgWater Solutions Project (Agricultural Water Solutions Project). 2011. Inland valleys in Ghana. Based on a report by Regassa E. Namara, Lesley Hope and Joseph Awuni. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). AgWater Solutions Project (Agricultural Water Solutions Project). 2p. (AgWater Solutions, Agricultural Water Management Learning and Discussion Brief)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H044150)
(658.95 KB)
6 Dembele, Y.; Yacouba, H.; Keita, A.; Sally, Hilmy. 2012. Assessment of irrigation system performance in south-western Burkina Faso. Irrigation and Drainage, 61(3):306-315. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.647]
Irrigation systems ; Irrigation schemes ; Methodology ; Assessment ; Performance ; Indicators ; Crop production ; Rice ; Profitability / Burkina Faso / Vallee du Kou / Karfiguela
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: PER Record No: H044384)
(0.24 MB)
A methodology for assessing irrigation system performance was developed by the then International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI, now IWMI) in the 1990s in Burkina Faso. It was applied successfully to small-scale reservoir-based irrigation schemes (50–150 ha). The current study was carried out on two larger river-diversion irrigation systems in the south-west of the country, namely Vallée du Kou (1200 ha) and Karfiguéla (350 ha), in order to analyse and verify:the applicability of the methodology to large-scale river-diversion schemes with more complex hydraulic networks and greater economic activities;the relevance of the performance indicators used and the constraints pertaining to the acquisition of the basic data required for their determination;the scope for adoption and application of the methodology by farmers’ organizations for routine performance monitoring.The methodology seems well suited for large-scale irrigation systems, but its adoption by farmers’ organizations has to be facilitated and accompanied by adequate training and the close involvement of the system managers. The indicators requiring the manipulation of a few physical elements can be determined relatively easily. Those involving water measurements are more difficult to calculate. The study makes a critical analysis of some indicators and demonstrates the evidence of the necessity to select among the indicators with regard to the irrigation system context.
7 Mekuria, Wolde; Sengtaheuanghoung, O.; Hoanh, Chu Thai; Noble, A. 2012. Economic contribution and the potential use of wood charcoal for soil restoration: a case study of village-based charcoal production in Central Laos. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 19(5):415-425. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2012.686070]
Wood ; Trees ; Charcoal ; Fuelwood ; Case studies ; Production possibilities ; Chemicophysical properties ; Economic aspects ; Profitability ; Biomass ; Energy consumption ; Soil improvement ; Water availability ; Forestry ; Developing countries ; Rural areas ; Income / Laos
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H044884)
(0.65 MB)
Wood charcoal production provides affordable energy in many developing countries and has substantially contributed to the economy through the provision of rural incomes. In several countries, charcoal production leads to overexploitation of forests due to inefficiencies in processing. This study was undertaken in central Laos to (1) examine and document traditional charcoal production systems; (2) investigate the production capacity, recovery efficiencies and economic gains of existing traditional charcoal production methods; (3) characterize the chemical properties of wood charcoal and investigate the potential for soil restoration and (4) investigate local charcoal producers’ perception on forest degradation and their species preferences. Through a socio-economic survey, a cost-based method for economic valuation was undertaken on a range of charcoal production methods currently being used. Laboratory chemical analyses were performed on wood charcoal samples. Results indicated that the traditional mud charcoal mound was used by the majority (82%) of charcoal producers. Total charcoal production per production cycle varied between 400 (produced from 2.7 m3 of wood) and 1600 kg (produced from 18 m3 of wood), with a mean of 938 kg (±120) for traditional mud charcoal mounds. The volume of the traditional mud charcoal mounds correlated positively and significantly with total charcoal production (R2 = 0.45, p = 0.03), whereas correlated negatively and significantly with the recovery efficiency (R2 = 0.58, p = 0.01). On average, the local producers receive a total net benefit of 457,272 Lao kip (USD 57.2) in 17 days. We also identified a rice husk mound method of charcoal production, which may not encourage further deforestation while producing rice husk biochar that can be used for soil restoration. Furthermore, we found that there are significant differences (p < 0.05) between the sampled wood charcoals in chemical properties, indicating that the potential of using wood charcoal for the restoration of degraded soils varies from charcoal to charcoal.
8 Katic, Pamela G.; Namara, Regassa E.; Hope, Lesley; Owusu, E.; Fujii, H. 2013. Rice and irrigation in West Africa: achieving food security with agricultural water management strategies. Water Resources and Economics, 1:75-92. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wre.2013.03.001]
Water management ; Rice ; Yields ; Profitability ; Food security ; Irrigated farming ; Irrigation schemes ; Economic growth ; Policy ; Indicators ; Costs ; Farmers / West Africa / Ghana / Burkina Faso / Niger
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046024)
(1.11 MB)
West Africa's rice imports currently satisfy 70% of the soaring local demand, worsening the food vulnerability of an increasingly urbanized population. Despite considerable rice-growing potential, lack of water control systems, access to improved seeds, agrochemicals and appropriate mechanization have resulted in modest production growth rates, unable to alter the region's dependency on imported rice. Governments aim to boost production with import duties and input subsidies. However, questions remain as to whether these policies enable the rice sector to respond to changing consumers preferences for high grade rice and to contribute to national economic growth. We present the results from a Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) on rice production in Ghana, Burkina Faso and Niger and under three water management systems: irrigation (public scheme), supplemented rain-fed (rainfall aided by autonomously-sourced water supplies) and purely rain-fed. Our results show that policy interventions in these West African countries (i.e., input subsidies and import taxes) did not significantly enhance the profitability of rice production to farmers due to the effect of market failures (limited capital access and non-competitive market for rice) and the low quality of local milled rice. The PAM results point strongly to the importance of improving rice quality and yields through more efficient water management and post-harvest handling/processing and targeted breeding to match consumers' preferences.
9 Ghazouani, Wafa; Molle, Francois; Swelam, A.; Rap, Edwin; Abdo, A. 2014. Understanding farmers’ adaptation to water scarcity: a case study from the western Nile Delta, Egypt. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 31p. (IWMI Research Report 160) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2015.200]
Water scarcity ; Water availability ; Deltas ; Canals ; Farmers ; Adaptation ; Conflict ; Crop management ; Yields ; Irrigation water ; Irrigated farming ; Food security ; Drainage water ; Pumps ; Cost benefit analysis ; Profitability ; Case studies / Egypt / Nile Delta
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046836)
(2 MB)
This study was undertaken to analyze farmers’ adaption to water scarcity in the command area of a secondary canal in the Nile Delta of Egypt. The results revealed that farmers’ responses were driven by a multiplicity of factors, beyond water scarcity or profit maximization. These additional factors include food security of the family, risk management, social capital and history of farmers, and most unexpectedly the collective dimension of crop choice. The findings of this study expose the limitations of projects, modeling exercises or policy recommendations that are too often based on the oversimplified view of profit maximization as the basis of farming system dynamics.
10 Prasad, J. D.; Gangaiah, B.; Chandra, K. S. (Eds.) 2015. Agricultural risk management. Hyderabad, India: Centre for Good Governance; Hyderabad, India: B.S. Publications. 384p. [Based on presentations made at the National Seminar on Agricultural Risk Management: Challenges and Strategies in Making Small and Marginal Farm holdings Sustainable and Profitable, Hyderabad, India, 3-4 January 2014]
Sustainable agriculture ; Risk management ; Strategies ; Small scale farming ; Smallholders ; Climate change ; Farming systems ; Rainfed farming ; Farmers associations ; Agricultural development ; Crop insurance ; Diversification ; Pilot projects ; Agricultural population ; Agricultural policy ; Information and communication technologies (ICTs) ; Agricultural trade ; Financing ; Profitability ; Institutions ; Land ownership ; Living standards ; Rural areas ; Case studies / India / Andhra Pradesh / Odisha
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: 630.68 G635 PRA Record No: H047068)
(0.45 MB)
11 van den Berg, C. 2015. Pricing municipal water and wastewater services in developing countries: are utilities making progress toward sustainability? In Dinar, A.; Pochat, V.; Albiac-Murillo, J. (Eds.). Water pricing experiences and innovations. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. pp.443-462. (Global Issues in Water Policy Volume 9)
Water rates ; Pricing ; Wastewater ; Water supply ; Sanitation ; Databases ; Developing countries ; Sustainability ; Cost recovery ; Profitability ; National income ; Subsidies
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy SF Record No: H047136)
This chapter uses data from the International Benchmarking Network for Water and Sanitation Utilities (IBNET) to assess the progress utilities are making toward financial sustainability while ensuring that the services remain affordable. The analysis finds that many utilities are only recovering operation and maintenance (O&M) costs and fall far short of achieving full financial cost recovery. The level of (O&M) cost recovery has, on average, barely changed between 2006 and 2011. Over the same period, with incomes rising in many parts of the world, water supply and wastewater services have become more affordable. This suggests that many utilities may be able to increase water prices. The analysis also shows that the differences in utilities’ performance between and within countries are large. Better understanding of how the differences in costs affect revenue sufficiency and affordability is needed to improve pricing policies.
12 Getnet, Kindie; Haileslasseie, Amare; Dessalegne, Y.; Hagos, Fitsum; Gebregziabher, Gebrehaweria. 2016. On the profitability of irrigated fodder production: comparative evidence from smallholders in Koga irrigation scheme, Ethiopia. Animal Production Science, 57(9):1962-1974. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15651]
Irrigation schemes ; Irrigated farming ; Farm income ; Profitability ; Investment ; Smallholders ; Stochastic processes ; Livestock ; Risk management ; Grasslands ; Chloris gayana ; Crop production ; Feed crops ; Onions ; Tomatoes ; Wheat ; Barley / Ethiopia / Koga Irrigation Scheme
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047709)
Irrigated fodder production can be vitalised as a useful strategy to sustainably intensify subsistence livestock production owned and managed by smallholders and to diversify farm income through linkages to commercial livestock systems. However, uncertainty about the production and market environment of such a non-traditional commodity can be a major hindrance against commercialisation and scaling out of irrigated fodder production. This makes ex-ante analysis of profit portfolio and its determinants necessary in order to improve farmers’ investment and risk management decisions. Using a stochastic approach to farm profit analysis to account for business uncertainty, this paper simulated and compared the level and distribution of profit that smallholders in Koga irrigation scheme (Ethiopia) can generate from irrigated Rhodes grass seed and from traditional irrigated crops. The finding shows the absolute and comparative profitability of irrigated Rhodes grass seed. Though 0.19 times less profitable than irrigated onion, irrigated Rhodes grass seed is 4 times, 1.27 times, and 1.25 times more profitable than irrigated barley, irrigated wheat, and irrigated tomato, respectively. Profit from the commodity is robust to adverse business conditions such as yield reduction, cost increase, and price reduction, assuring optimism about positive financial returns from investments to expand production. Long-term business viability can be improved and farm income further stabilised through interventions targeted at fodder agronomy to enhance crop yield and at value chain development to improve market linkages and output price.
13 Hailegiorgis, D. S.; Hagos, Fitsum. 2016. Structure and performance of vegetable marketing in East Shoa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Journal of Marketing and Consumer Research, 26:7-16.
Marketing channels ; Wholesale marketing ; Vegetables ; Performance testing ; Wholesale prices ; Profitability ; Retail marketing ; Retail prices ; Agricultural production ; Agricultural prices ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Consumers ; Trade / Ethiopia / Oromia Region / East Shoa Zone
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047764)
http://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JMCR/article/download/32249/33138
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H047764.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H047764.pdf
Analysis of marketing performance of vegetable plays an important role in an ongoing or future market development plan. The study primarily examines market structure of major actors and assessing the market performance for key vegetable marketing actors and channels by quantifying costs and profit margins. The data was generated by household survey using pre-tested structured questionnaires. This was supplemented by secondary data collected from different published and unpublished sources. The study result shows that the total gross marketing margin was 30% with producer participation margin of 70% implying higher marketing margin of smallholder producers. The market intermediaries incurred different marketing costs such as costs of packing, sorting, transportation, loading and unloading. Central wholesalers obtain relatively highest profit in channel numbered II and III, which amounted to Birr 204,827 and 58,675, respectively. The study result signifies that the first four largest volumes of vegetable purchased by first four big traders (CR4) constitute 50% of market share, which indicates the market structure for vegetable is strongly oligopolistic. OLS regression results also revealed that there are economies of scale for wholesalers at Meki market, which clearly indicates the presence of barrier to entry/exit for wholesalers in the market. Policy implications drawn from the study indicate that changing oligopolistic market structure, capacitating unions to supply inputs and outputs and supporting actors involved in local vegetable markets.
14 Warnakulasooriya, H. U.; Athukorale, W. 2016. Productive efficiency of rice farming under rainfed conditions in the Gampaha and Kaluthara districs of Sri Lanka. 2(1):51-64.
Rainfed farming ; Agricultural production ; Rice ; Seasonal cropping ; Cost analysis ; Economic analysis ; Profitability ; Farmers ; Efficiency ; Productivity / Sri Lanka / Gampaha / Kaluthara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047985)
15 Otoo, Miriam; Fernando, Sudarshana; Jayathilake, Nilanthi; Aheeyar, Mohamed; Madurangi, Ganesha. 2016. Opportunities for sustainable municipal solid waste management services in Batticaloa: business strategies for improved resource recovery. [Project report submitted to United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as a part of the research project on Opportunities for Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management Services in Batticaloa: Business Strategies for Improved Rresource Recovery and Reuse] Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 71p.
Urban wastes ; Waste management ; Solid wastes ; Resource recovery ; Composting ; Local authorities ; Health hazards ; Waste water treatment plants ; Organic wastes ; Waste disposal ; Urban wastes ; Food wastes ; Curing ; Business management ; Market economics ; Assessment ; Farmer participation ; Organic fertilizers ; Nutrients ; Cost recovery ; Financial situation ; Profitability ; Price fixing ; Capacity building ; Training / Sri Lanka / Batticaloa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048062)
(4.41 MB)
16 Kabir, M. J.; Alauddin, M.; Crimp, S. 2017. Farm-level adaptation to climate change in western Bangladesh: an analysis of adaptation dynamics, profitability and risks. Land Use Policy, 64:212-224. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.02.026]
Climate change adaptation ; Farmers attitudes ; Strategies ; Risk analysis ; Cropping systems ; Sustainability ; Farm income ; Costs ; Profitability ; Nonfarm income ; Economic viability ; Budgets ; Environmental factors ; Drought ; Temperature ; Villages ; Case studies / Western Bangladesh / Durgapur
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048110)
(3.32 MB)
Using long-term district-level climate data and a case study from a drought-prone village in western Bangladesh, this research explored trends in climate change, and analysed farmers’ adaptation dynamics, profitability and risks. This is the first study of its kind for drought-prone areas in Bangladesh.
Farmers perceived climate changes included increases in temperature and decreases in rainfall which were as consistent with the trends of Chuadanga climate records. Farmers’ adaptation measures included changes in cropping systems, cropping calendars, crop varieties, agronomic practices, crop diversification and improved animal husbandry. Reducing environmental stress, ensuring self-sufficiency in staple crops (mainly rice) and other crop production practices, and enhancing economic viability of farm enterprises have underpinned these adaptations. Off-farm and non-farm wage employment, temporary migration, self-employment and educating children, constituted the core non-farm adaptation strategies.
Emerging cropping systems like maize/cucumber and maize/stem amaranth/rice were economically more viable than the traditional rice/rice and rice/maize systems. Despite some uncertainties, farming was preferred to off-farm work, generating higher returns to labour for all cropping systems. Limited access to stress-tolerant varieties, extension services and affordable agricultural credit, combined with high production costs, variability in crop yields and output prices, are the main barriers to adaptation. Stronger agricultural research and support services, affordable credit, community-focussed farming education and training are critically important for effective adaptation to climate change.
Farmers perceived climate changes included increases in temperature and decreases in rainfall which were as consistent with the trends of Chuadanga climate records. Farmers’ adaptation measures included changes in cropping systems, cropping calendars, crop varieties, agronomic practices, crop diversification and improved animal husbandry. Reducing environmental stress, ensuring self-sufficiency in staple crops (mainly rice) and other crop production practices, and enhancing economic viability of farm enterprises have underpinned these adaptations. Off-farm and non-farm wage employment, temporary migration, self-employment and educating children, constituted the core non-farm adaptation strategies.
Emerging cropping systems like maize/cucumber and maize/stem amaranth/rice were economically more viable than the traditional rice/rice and rice/maize systems. Despite some uncertainties, farming was preferred to off-farm work, generating higher returns to labour for all cropping systems. Limited access to stress-tolerant varieties, extension services and affordable agricultural credit, combined with high production costs, variability in crop yields and output prices, are the main barriers to adaptation. Stronger agricultural research and support services, affordable credit, community-focussed farming education and training are critically important for effective adaptation to climate change.
17 Bjornlund, H.; van Rooyen, A.; Stirzaker, R. 2017. Profitability and productivity barriers and opportunities in small-scale irrigation schemes. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 33(5):690-704. (Special issue: The Productivity and Profitability of Small Scale Communal Irrigation Systems in South-eastern Africa). [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2016.1263552]
Irrigation schemes ; Small scale systems ; Water productivity ; Profitability ; Barriers ; Institutional constraints ; Water governance ; Infrastructure ; Technological changes ; Farm equipment ; Farmer participation ; Government ; Agricultural extension ; Livestock ; Markets ; Supply chain ; Financing ; Land tenure ; Case studies / Tanzania / Mozambique / Zimbabwe
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048118)
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07900627.2016.1263552?needAccess=true#aHR0cDovL3d3dy50YW5kZm9ubGluZS5jb20vZG9pL3BkZi8xMC4xMDgwLzA3OTAwNjI3LjIwMTYuMTI2MzU1Mj9uZWVkQWNjZXNzPXRydWVAQEAw
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048118.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048118.pdf
(1.21 MB) (1.21 MB)
Irrigation development in Sub-Saharan Africa has lagged significantly behind that in other developing countries. Consequently, economic development and food security are also lagging behind. Since the mid-2000s there has been a resurgence in the willingness to invest in irrigation, and Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest potential of any developing region to benefit from it. However, to gain from new investment in irrigation without repeating past failures, it is critical to develop a business model for small-scale irrigation schemes. This article explores the barriers that such a model needs to address to be successful and the opportunities this represents for irrigators’ profitability.
18 Pittock, J.; Bjornlund, H.; Stirzaker, R.; van Rooyen, A. 2017. Communal irrigation systems in South-eastern Africa: findings on productivity and profitability. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 33(5):839-847. (Special issue: The Productivity and Profitability of Small Scale Communal Irrigation Systems in South-eastern Africa). [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2017.1324768]
Communal irrigation systems ; Irrigation schemes ; Smallholders ; Water productivity ; Profitability ; Investment ; Barriers ; Agriculture ; Farmers ; Market access ; State intervention / South eastern Africa / Mozambique / Tanzania / Zimbabwe
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048120)
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07900627.2017.1324768?needAccess=true#aHR0cDovL3d3dy50YW5kZm9ubGluZS5jb20vZG9pL3BkZi8xMC4xMDgwLzA3OTAwNjI3LjIwMTcuMTMyNDc2OD9uZWVkQWNjZXNzPXRydWVAQEAw
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048120.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048120.pdf
(0.89 MB) (916 KB)
Significant expansion of irrigated agriculture is planned in Africa, though existing smallholder schemes perform poorly. Research at six schemes in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe shows that a range of problems are exacerbated by poor management, with limited market linkages leading to underutilization and a lack of profit. Improving sustainability of these complex systems will require: multiple interventions at different scales; investing in people and institutions as much as hardware; clarity in governments’ objectives for their smallholder irrigation schemes; appropriate business models to enable farmers; and better market linkages.
19 Mdemu, M. V.; Mziray, N.; Bjornlund, H.; Kashaigili, J. J. 2017. Barriers to and opportunities for improving productivity and profitability of the Kiwere and Magozi irrigation schemes in Tanzania. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 33(5):725-739. (Special issue: The Productivity and Profitability of Small Scale Communal Irrigation Systems in South-eastern Africa). [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2016.1188267]
Irrigation schemes ; Productivity ; Profitability ; Barriers ; Financing ; Markets ; Water supply ; Water governance ; Food security ; Crop production ; Farmers ; Households ; Socioeconomic environment ; Farm equipment ; Infrastructure ; Advisory officers ; Access to information / Tanzania / Kiwere Irrigation Scheme / Magozi Irrigation Scheme
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048143)
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07900627.2016.1188267?needAccess=true#aHR0cDovL3d3dy50YW5kZm9ubGluZS5jb20vZG9pL3BkZi8xMC4xMDgwLzA3OTAwNjI3LjIwMTYuMTE4ODI2Nz9uZWVkQWNjZXNzPXRydWVAQEAw
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048143.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048143.pdf
(1.51 MB) (1.51 MB)
Irrigation is a key strategy for food security and poverty alleviation among small farmers in Tanzania. However, the potential of irrigation to improve food security is limited by multiple barriers. This article discusses these barriers within the Kiwere and Magozi schemes. Results indicate that water supply barriers are caused by poor irrigation infrastructure and management. Lack of finance is also a critical barrier to increasing overall productivity. Finance affects farmers’ timely access to adequate supply of quality inputs and machinery and availability of transport to access inputs and profitable markets. There is evidence that these barriers have to be addressed holistically.
20 Naber, M. A.; Molle, Francois. 2017. Water and sand: is groundwater-based farming in Jordan's desert sustainable? Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 5:28-37. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2017.03.005]
Groundwater irrigation ; Irrigated farming ; Farming systems ; Deserts ; Highlands ; Water table ; Water quality ; Water productivity ; Water policy ; Water rates ; Surface water ; Cultivated land ; Cropping patterns ; Cost benefit analysis ; Profitability ; Labour / Jordan / Azraq / Mafraq
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048256)
Irrigated agriculture in Jordan's highlands relies on overexploited groundwater. Drops in water tables and water quality, but also tougher policy measures by the government, threaten the sustainability of this activity which has long thrived on lax law enforcement and cheap desert land. This paper is based on field work in two locations of Azraq groundwater basin [around the Azraq oasis and in the northern part (Mafraq)], and first presents farm typologies which show the variability of farm gross margins and the contrast between the two zones. While Mafraq stands for capital-intensive fruit-tree cultivation on legal land/wells, Azraq's agriculture is largely based on olive cultivation and wells that are either illegal or granted permits with higher block tariffs, and has a return that is only one tenth of Mafraq's. The paper reviews the constraints and changes in land, energy, water, labor and input costs and reflects on their bearing on current dynamics and future prospects. While Mafraq is found to be largely immune to policy changes and resilient to foreseeable changes in factor prices or markets, Azraq's future is threatened by various vulnerabilities, including salinization of groundwater, rising energy and labor costs that, in the long run, are likely to be overcome only by farmers emulating the Mafraq intensification model, or accepting temporary losses in the hope of a future legalization of land and wells. Solar energy now emerges as a trump card, in particular for illegal farms which, on the other hand, are challenged by recent tough water pricing regulations that are shown to make them unprofitable. The government's resolve in enforcing these regulation is put to test and will largely decide the future of Azraq's agriculture.
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