IRRIGATION

As water scarcity and climate variability intensify, efficient irrigation is becoming more critical than ever in modern agriculture. Where farmers once relied on intuition...

The Malawi government has unveiled an estimated USD 400 million (696.3 billion Malawi Kwacha) agriculture budget aimed at boosting commercialization and irrigation projects. This...

As the world grapples with feeding a growing population using less land and water, irrigation has emerged as a game-changer—especially for smallholder farmers in Africa. A 10-year study across Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe revealed that many irrigation schemes fail not because of broken infrastructure, but because of poor crop choices, weak governance, and a lack of market access. Farmers are often pushed to grow low-value staples like maize or rice, which simply aren’t profitable on small plots. But there’s good news: smart, small-scale irrigation can turn things around. Projects introduced soil monitoring tools, innovation platforms, and business training to help farmers make informed decisions about watering, crop choices, and marketing. With better tools and knowledge, farmers used less water, reduced conflict, increased yields, and earned more—transforming irrigation schemes into climate-smart, profitable systems. The next step? Scaling these successes. This means building better policies, connecting farmers to markets, and supporting community-led, circular food systems that make the most of every drop of water. The future of African farming could be bright—if we get irrigation right.

As water scarcity and climate variability intensify, efficient irrigation is becoming more critical than ever in modern agriculture. Where farmers once relied on intuition...

As the world grapples with feeding a growing population using less land and water, irrigation has emerged as a game-changer—especially for smallholder farmers in Africa. A 10-year study across Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe revealed that many irrigation schemes fail not because of broken infrastructure, but because of poor crop choices, weak governance, and a lack of market access. Farmers are often pushed to grow low-value staples like maize or rice, which simply aren’t profitable on small plots. But there’s good news: smart, small-scale irrigation can turn things around. Projects introduced soil monitoring tools, innovation platforms, and business training to help farmers make informed decisions about watering, crop choices, and marketing. With better tools and knowledge, farmers used less water, reduced conflict, increased yields, and earned more—transforming irrigation schemes into climate-smart, profitable systems. The next step? Scaling these successes. This means building better policies, connecting farmers to markets, and supporting community-led, circular food systems that make the most of every drop of water. The future of African farming could be bright—if we get irrigation right.

Project Spotlight: Agrico’s Innovative Irrigation Solution Location: Tuli Block, Southern Botswana (-22.237706 E, 28.996540 S) Crops: Cash crops, maize, and sugar beans Completion Date: Phase 1 –...

Namibia is set to begin construction on its second desalination plant in January 2025, aiming to ensure long-term water security, crucial for the country’s...

The Malawi government has unveiled an estimated USD 400 million (696.3 billion Malawi Kwacha) agriculture budget aimed at boosting commercialization and irrigation projects. This...

As the world grapples with feeding a growing population using less land and water, irrigation has emerged as a game-changer—especially for smallholder farmers in Africa. A 10-year study across Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe revealed that many irrigation schemes fail not because of broken infrastructure, but because of poor crop choices, weak governance, and a lack of market access. Farmers are often pushed to grow low-value staples like maize or rice, which simply aren’t profitable on small plots. But there’s good news: smart, small-scale irrigation can turn things around. Projects introduced soil monitoring tools, innovation platforms, and business training to help farmers make informed decisions about watering, crop choices, and marketing. With better tools and knowledge, farmers used less water, reduced conflict, increased yields, and earned more—transforming irrigation schemes into climate-smart, profitable systems. The next step? Scaling these successes. This means building better policies, connecting farmers to markets, and supporting community-led, circular food systems that make the most of every drop of water. The future of African farming could be bright—if we get irrigation right.

The global agricultural landscape is under increasing pressure. Water scarcity, labour shortages, unpredictable weather patterns, and rising demand for efficiency are intensifying the challenges...