News
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.
Investigating gender dynamics in irrigation
Motivated by the fact that control over water is essential, but have limited knowledge about whether women’s water needs are being met..
Water-smart investment benefits ripple beyond food security
Now, as part of the ILSSI program, WLE researchers are unpacking the complex relationships among water, nutrition, health and gender.
Pail Lifter, Drip Irrigation & Conservation Agriculture Technologies
Although the ‘Pail Lifter’ was mainly designed to fetch water for irrigation; eventually women used it to fetch water for livestock and home use.
Drought: Solutions for Ethiopia
ILSSI seeks solutions for battling one of the world's worst droughts in Ethiopia's historic dry spell.
Tanzania: Conservation Through Training
Scientists of Tanzania learn to use modeling systems to predict the effects of small-scale irrigation interventions.
Financing of Irrigation essential for Africa south of the Sahara to achieve sustainable development
This blog by the International Food Policy Institute stresses the necessity of adequate financing of irrigation tech for sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
New Tech Tested
Drip irrigation technology and conservation agriculture show promise for farmers of Ethiopia, Tanzania and Ghana.
Water Access and Nutrition Security
How can reliable water access contribute to nutrition security in Africa south of the Sahara?
Study: ‘garden kits’ could help home gardens provide food security
ILSSI partners consider a pilot test on ‘garden kits’ to fight hunger in smallholder communities.
ILSSI Selects Work Locations in Ethiopia, Other Countries to Follow
ETHIOPIA – Four work locations across Ethiopia have been selected by ILSSI and could translate to big water savings for Ethiopia’s smallholder farmers and eventually for those of Ghana and Tanzania.
Training Offers Bright Outlook
Training on assessing tech and policy consequences puts farmers one step closer to boosted income through research.
ILSSI makes forward progress at SWAT meeting
ILSSI Leaders meet to discuss the next steps in the project
Demand-driven research: irrigation, irrigated fodder
25 ILSSI stakeholders converge in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to achieve greater impact of research results on development.