News

ILSSI Host Net-Map Workshops in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation hosted two Net-Map Workshops on 8 and 9 October, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The workshops brought together a cross-section of key stakeholders involved in the small scale irrigation sector The workshops help to map out influence in a network: what actors are involved in the diffusion of SSI technologies, how these actors are linked, and their level of influence on the network. The tool allows participants to explore how things are actually done, not how they should be according to policy.

ILSSI provides Training in Ghana on the Integrated Decision Support System

ILSSI held training in Ghana from 5-10 August on the Integrated Decision Support System, a set of integrated models to enable improved environmental and economic analysis, monitoring and planning, particularly as related to agricultural water management and irrigation development. The training was hosted by the CSIR’s Water Research Institute in Accra, while ILSSI provided the trainers from Texas A & M University. Over 50 participants from universities, public institutions, and research institutions in Ghana participated, including some from USAID supported projects.

Dr. Seifu Tilahun presents on Irrigation and Agricultural Development In Africa

On July 15th, 2019 Dr. Seifu Tilahun the Scientific Director and Associate Professor of Hydrology at the Bahir Dar Institute of Technology in Ethiopia, presented to over 30 faculty and staff within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. His lecture, Irrigation and agriculture development in Africa: Impact on water quality and ecosystem health in the Ethiopian highlands, focused on a study being done in collaboration with The Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation.

Solar Irrigation in Mali: Potential to increase food security amid climate vulnerability

Mali is on the front-line of climate change, with pervasive food insecurity and other risks. The people of Mali rely heavily on rainfed agriculture, exposing them to climate-related shocks. Irrigated agriculture is one high potential pathway to increase resilience and improve access to food. ILSSI supported research identifies areas in Mali with high potential for scaling solar water pumps for developing irrigation. Up to 69% of Mali’s agricultural lands - 4.44 million hectares (Mha) - are suitable for solar irrigation development. Read more on the Suitability for farmer-led solar irrigation development in Mali.

Ethiopian farmers exploring options for irrigating fodder

The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation (ILSSI) is working with Ethiopian farmers to explore options for irrigating fodder that supports enhanced livestock production.

USAID Deputy Administrator Bonnie Glick's meeting with Texas International Education Consortium

Deputy Administrator Glick visited Texas A&M University, where she met with Ambassador Eric Bost, Deputy Director of the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Development, and representatives from the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Small-Scale Irrigation and International Wheat Yield Partnership.

Lefore named director of Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation

Dr. Nicole Lefore has been named director of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation. Also known as ILSSI, the lab is managed by the Norman E. Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M University in College Station, part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research. It partners with the International Water Management Institute, International Food, and Policy Research Institute and International Livestock Research Institute. ILSSI is one of 24 laboratories sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development and funded as cooperative agreements for research.

ILSSI presents on research in Ghana

“If you don’t work in the irrigated vegetable garden, you will sell the food crops you harvested during the rainy season - and you will be in hunger.” This is according to a farmer in Mongnoori, northern Ghana, shared during a seminar convened by ILSSI with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Public, private and development sector participants discussed future research for small scale, farmer-led irrigation, as well the potential to empower women. ILSSI director Dr. Lefore presented on new research areas, and IFPRI’s Elizabeth Bryan shared research results from a multi-project effort on small scale irrigation and women’s empowerment in Ghana. Check out the presentations to learn more about past and new research.

Training Announcement on the Integrated Decision Support System

The Abbay Basin Authority will be hosting an international training workshop on the Integrated Decision Support System (IDSS) from March 11-15, 2019 in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. The training is conducted under the Feed the Future Innovation Laboratory for Small Scale Irrigation (ILSSI) which is led by Texas A&M University. The IDSS is part of the research conducted under this program in Ethiopia in collaboration with Texas A&M University and three CGIAR centers: International Water Management Institute (IWMI), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

Texas A&M Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture receives additional $12.5 million for research on small scale irrigation

The Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, has received an additional $12.5 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development for the Feed the Future Innovation Laboratory for Small-Scale Irrigation.

USAID Administrator visits the Feed The Future Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation

USAID Administrator Mark Green visited the Texas A&M Borlaug Institute of International Agriculture on October 16, 2017 to learn more about the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation (ILSSI).

Agriculture and water: To whom much is given, much will be required

Much has been given to agriculture and, under growing water scarcity, variability, pollution, and continued lack of access to this vital resource by many—much will be demanded from agriculture to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 on Water and SDG2 on Ending Hunger are achieved—and without adversely affecting other water-related targets and goals. Meanwhile, efforts to meet the SDGs must also dovetail with the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement.