This September saw the 8th African Green Revolution Forum hosted in Kigali. The major theme for this forum is looking at enabling the growth smallholder farmers into "agribusinesses" in the hopes of achieving aims of: food security, poverty alleviation and economic growth. Smallholder farmers are majorly important in sub-Saharan Africa, not least because it represents such a large proportion of those involved in farming. Ghana's president claimed at the Green Revolution Forum that “95% of Ghanaian farmers are small-holders" (AGRF.org, 2018).
Noticeably most of the discourse at the forum surrounding the growth of smallholder farmer's businesses seemed focused on government involvement, international aid and international partnerships with countries such as China and Israel (AGRF.org, 2018). What these discussions miss out is the importance of the actions of farmers themselves, a role that is made clear when one looks at the research on irrigation in sub-Saharan Africa. It is largely agreed that increased irrigation is a vital step for the development of Africa's agricultural sector, with only 3.3% of the continents arable land irrigated, compared to 37% in Asia. This is at least partially responsible for the issue highlighted by Nana Akufo-Addo that "the continent that has 25% of the world’s agricultural lands produces 10% of the world’s output of food".
Research has found that it is access to sufficient water that is the main limiting factor for agriculture in much of Sub-Saharan Africa, with the African Unions 'Food and grain research and development officer' claiming that 92% of semi-arid areas rely on rain, which lasts only a quarter of the year (Mail & Guardian, 2018). Thus it would seem clear that to improve agriculture we need to remove this limiting factor.
It is here that I believe small scale irrigation projects have great potential, in recent years technological advances and developing markets have lead to a decrease in cost for drilling and pumping equipment therefore making groundwater irrigation (GWI) far more accessible to smallholder farmers (Villholth, 2013). Whilst GWI has been promoted by governments and international agencies the majority of its growth is thought to be due to be driven independently by farmers. This small-scale adoption has been so large that in Ghana small-scale ground water irrigation is thought to cover an area over ten times that of large-scale public projects (Namara et al, 2013). Many farmers are adopting GWI as a source of water due to its reliable nature, this is likely to become increasingly important with climate change bringing progressively less predictable rainfall. Villholth believes these climatic changes combined with predicted population growth will likely lead to the increased use of GWI by small-hold farmers in traditionally less arid nations such as Uganda and Rwanda.
The reason I have emphasised the potential of small scale irrigation projects is that they tend to avoid some of the issues face by large scale, public schemes. Namely that large scale investment projects have a track record of not delivering the projected results and have often not targeted the poorest farmers or those most in need (Abric et al, 2011). It has also been shown that these small scale projects are more economically viable with far higher return rates than large projects (Villholth, 2013).
In Villholth's study she does make it clear that GWI is not a solve all problem for African agriculture. Firstly, as always, it is important to remember the heterogeneity of Africa. GWI is not feasible in all areas, more arid countries, such as Kenya, with limited ground water resources are only likely to experience localised GWI. There is also debate as to which problems it is solving at to what extent, studies have found that the increased costs associated with irrigated farming lead to farmers primarily using it for high-value products rather than staple crops, thus it is potentially not very effective at mitigating issues of food availability and security (Dittoh, 2013). There is also debate surrounding the extent to which irrigation of this type can reduce poverty. The price of tools for drilling boreholes and pumping water combined with the price to run and maintain pumps (which is often even higher in rural areas due to poor supply chains for pump parts) means that many farmers can not afford to irrigate. Those that can often rely on loans, this can disadvantage those incapable of acquiring a loan such as women who traditionally have no right to land inheritance and so have nothing with which to secure a loan. Thus there is a risk that at present economic inequality between smallholders is simply being maintained as the wealthier can buy pumps and the poorer can not.
Therefore whilst the potential for Groundwater Irrigation is high, as is often the case in development, the reality is far more complex. At the moment the largest issue seems to be the price, therefore schemes such as micro-financing or improved supply routes and markets could potentially have a significant impact and allow for increased food security and supply and lower rates of poverty.
 |
| African Green Revolution Forum banner |
Research has found that it is access to sufficient water that is the main limiting factor for agriculture in much of Sub-Saharan Africa, with the African Unions 'Food and grain research and development officer' claiming that 92% of semi-arid areas rely on rain, which lasts only a quarter of the year (Mail & Guardian, 2018). Thus it would seem clear that to improve agriculture we need to remove this limiting factor.
It is here that I believe small scale irrigation projects have great potential, in recent years technological advances and developing markets have lead to a decrease in cost for drilling and pumping equipment therefore making groundwater irrigation (GWI) far more accessible to smallholder farmers (Villholth, 2013). Whilst GWI has been promoted by governments and international agencies the majority of its growth is thought to be due to be driven independently by farmers. This small-scale adoption has been so large that in Ghana small-scale ground water irrigation is thought to cover an area over ten times that of large-scale public projects (Namara et al, 2013). Many farmers are adopting GWI as a source of water due to its reliable nature, this is likely to become increasingly important with climate change bringing progressively less predictable rainfall. Villholth believes these climatic changes combined with predicted population growth will likely lead to the increased use of GWI by small-hold farmers in traditionally less arid nations such as Uganda and Rwanda.
The reason I have emphasised the potential of small scale irrigation projects is that they tend to avoid some of the issues face by large scale, public schemes. Namely that large scale investment projects have a track record of not delivering the projected results and have often not targeted the poorest farmers or those most in need (Abric et al, 2011). It has also been shown that these small scale projects are more economically viable with far higher return rates than large projects (Villholth, 2013).
In Villholth's study she does make it clear that GWI is not a solve all problem for African agriculture. Firstly, as always, it is important to remember the heterogeneity of Africa. GWI is not feasible in all areas, more arid countries, such as Kenya, with limited ground water resources are only likely to experience localised GWI. There is also debate as to which problems it is solving at to what extent, studies have found that the increased costs associated with irrigated farming lead to farmers primarily using it for high-value products rather than staple crops, thus it is potentially not very effective at mitigating issues of food availability and security (Dittoh, 2013). There is also debate surrounding the extent to which irrigation of this type can reduce poverty. The price of tools for drilling boreholes and pumping water combined with the price to run and maintain pumps (which is often even higher in rural areas due to poor supply chains for pump parts) means that many farmers can not afford to irrigate. Those that can often rely on loans, this can disadvantage those incapable of acquiring a loan such as women who traditionally have no right to land inheritance and so have nothing with which to secure a loan. Thus there is a risk that at present economic inequality between smallholders is simply being maintained as the wealthier can buy pumps and the poorer can not.
Therefore whilst the potential for Groundwater Irrigation is high, as is often the case in development, the reality is far more complex. At the moment the largest issue seems to be the price, therefore schemes such as micro-financing or improved supply routes and markets could potentially have a significant impact and allow for increased food security and supply and lower rates of poverty.
Well observed post that engages well with some key literature - excellent!
ReplyDelete