Innovation Lab For Small Scale Irrigation

Innovation Lab For Small Scale Irrigation

News

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

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Actions are needed urgently in Mali – the country is on the front-line of climate change, and expected to experience worsened food insecurity and even food shortages. The people of Mali rely heavily on rainfed agriculture, exposing them to pervasive climate-related shocks. Irrigated agriculture is one high potential pathway to increase resilience and improve food security.

With the growing urgency to expand irrigation expansion for smallholders in the region, suitability mapping can help to target the right people, in the right places and with the right technologies. ILSSI supported research to identify areas in Mali where there is a high potential for scaling solar water pumps for developing irrigation: Suitability for farmer-led solar irrigation development in Mali.

Results from the mapping show the total area suitable for solar-based irrigation varies between 0.69 and 4.44 million hectares (Mha), representing 11% and up to 69% of Mali’s agricultural lands. Groundwater up to depths of 7 m can be found near the river network in south-western Mali and the central Niger Delta making Kayes, Mopti and Koulikoro are the most suitable regions.

The mapping utilizes data including: solar irradiation, groundwater levels, aquifer productivity, groundwater storage, proximity to rivers, proximity to small dams, crop, and land suitability, and travel time to markets. Areas that are unsuitable for agricultural production, such as natural parks, forests, permanent meadows and pastures, are excluded. Suitability was assessed for five different available water sources, considering two different types of pumps.

Suitable areas could be expanded through investments in infrastructure to increase access to markets for produce. This mapping considered existing infrastructure, such as road networks and markets, so expanding that infrastructure could create greater potential in more areas.

More information, including the maps, is available in a Technical Brief. This research was carried out by the International Water Management Institute under the Water, Land, and Ecosystems Research Program. Additional funding was provided by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

ILSSI presents on research in Ghana

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“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

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March 11-15, 2019, Abbay Basin Authority, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

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).

The training will be conducted by a team of practicing scientists from Texas A&M University. Participants in the training will be graduate students and young scientists with backgrounds in economics, agronomy, water resources, hydrology, and engineering. Trainees will be introduced to three models that make up the IDSS, which are integrated to provide a holistic assessment of the impact of alternative interventions in food and agriculture. The models included in this training are:

  • Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender Model (APEX, Apex.tamu.edu) – a farm/field scale model for hydrologists, agronomists, and soil scientists to evaluate crop production and environmental sustainability
  • Farm Income Simulator (FARMSIM, https://www.afpc.tamu.edu/) – a socio-economic model for agricultural economists or people seeking an economic understanding
  • Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT, swat.tamu.edu) – a watershed scale model for hydrologists, agricultural engineers, and other related water resource professionals.

The training on each model will be conducted in parallel, except on the morning of the 1st and entire 5th day, where all participants will be together to understand the model integration and learn from case studies. Participants have to choose one of the models for detailed training from the afternoon of the 1st day to end of the 4th day.

We hereby invite faculty, graduate students, scientists, technical advisors and others practitioners from universities, ministries, agencies, research institutions, the private sector and other organizations to apply for the training. Applications should be made in writing through an e-mail to Mr. Bewuketu Abebe at ewuket@gmail.com. The deadline for application is 28th February 2019. Successful applicants will be notified by 5th March 2019. Female researchers and scientists are encouraged to apply. There are limited seats – participants should apply as soon as possible.

For further information, please contact us via ewuket@gmail.com or call +251 92 051 8058.

Training materials, lunch, and other refreshments will be provided free of charge by training conveners. However, participants are expected to cover their own transport and costs of living in Bahir Dar throughout the training period. In addition, candidates should come with their own laptop computers.

Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation – https://ilssi.tamu.edu/

Texas A&M University System Member