Investing in irrigation: Reviewing the past and looking to the future

Exploring ways to increase public investments in agricultural water management and irrigation for improved agricultural productivity in Southern Africa

“…Despite questions raised on the performance of investments in irrigation in the past, there is evidence that investments in irrigated areas contributed to significant agricultural production growth, food security and poverty reduction in the target areas (De Fraiture et al, 2010;Fan et al, 2000;Huang et al, 2006;Lipton et al, 2003;Turral et al, 2010). For example, Domenech and Ringler (2013) reported that the impact of irrigation on yield can be as much as a 150% increase in maize and other crops in Africa, because the base yield levels are low.…”

“…In a separate example, estimates from Siebert and Döll (2010) showed that irrigation contributed to increases in global cereal yields averaging 4.4 t/ha compared to 2.7 t/ha produced under rainfed conditions. Also, the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture reported that management of agricultural water resources has been instrumental in contributing to increased food production, food security and rural incomes across the wold (Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture (CA), 2007;Turral et al, 2010). In addition, investments in agricultural water management could potentially benefit about 58% of the rural population in Sub-Saharan Africa (Faurès and Santini, 2008).…”

“…They estimated the large-scale irrigation potential at 15 million ha and a complementary small-scale component of 7 million ha. This means that more efforts are required to ensure investments in irrigation are aligned with developmental priorities/goals/policies of the countries (Turral et al, 2010), including ensuring that changes in water scarcity and quality are integrated in the planning and implementation of irrigation investments. In addition, there is a need for improved knowledge of niche areas that have greatest potential for irrigation, as part of efforts to expand the area under irrigation in Africa (You et al, 2011).…”

“…The contribution of investments in irrigation adapted to changing socio-economic and environmental conditions is expected to remain critical for future food production across the world (Magistro et al, 2007;Turral et al, 2010;World Bank, 2007;You et al, 2011). You et al (2011 found significant profitable irrigation potential for small-scale and large-scale systems in Africa.…”

“…Therefore, the objective of this paper was to explore the current challenges and opportunities for increasing public investments in agricultural water management for improved agricultural productivity in Southern Africa. Investments in agricultural water management are defined as expenditures (public or private), which facilitate economic production and are usually distinguished from recurrent expenditures on operation and maintenance of infrastructure or salaries (Turral et al, 2010). Following this concept, public investment in agricultural water management encompasses 'public expenditures in irrigation and drainage development, modernisation, institutional reform, improved governance, capacity building, management improvement, creation of farmer organisations, and regulatory oversight, as well as farmers' investment in joint facilities, wells, and on-farm water storage and irrigation equipment ' (Molden, 2007 p. 364).…”