Scaling up small-scale irrigation technologies for improving food security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Agriculture sector is the backbone of most of the African economies, providing about 60% of all employment. However, during the last decade, agricultural production has not kept pace with population growth. Consequently, more than 200 million people are malnourished in Africa, with 194 million of these people living in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). Therefore, development of the agricultural sector in Africa is central to combating hunger, reducing poverty, and achieving economic growth. FAO estimates that for the next 30 years, 75% of the projected growth in crop production in SSA could come in the form of crop yield increases (62%) and higher crop intensities (13%), with arable land expansion accounting for the remaining 25%. However, this cannot be achieved without ensuring a substantial land and water development. Most irrigated areas depend on groundwater or run-off-river pumping systems. Transportation of water from main streams to farmer fields is the major bottle neck for smallholder farmers in improving their agricultural productivity. Thus choosing low cost and effective irrigation delivery systems and irrigation application technologies are the ways to improve agricultural productivity and farm incomes.