Water, Land and Ecosystems - 2.2 Revitalizing irrigation systems

Impact of Water Users Associations on Water and Land Productivity, Equity and Food Security in Tajikistan

wle_admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:26:55 +0000

IWMI has been commissioned to design and conduct an impact evaluation (IE) of the water users associations (WUAs) that were established and supported under the ‘water management’ component of the Family Farming Program (FFP) (2010-2014) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). FFP is implemented in the Khatlon Province of Tajikistan as part of the US Government’s global hunger and food security initiative, Feed the Future. The goal of FFP is to continue USAID-funded activities to promote equitable and sustainable access to water for irrigation, by creating new WUAs and strengthening existing ones. FFP, which commenced in 2010, is a follow-on activity to the USAID Water Users Association Support Program (WUASP) (2004-2011). Thus the experiences of WUAs since 2004 provide an opportunity to evaluate and document the effectiveness of USAID’s WUA approach in addressing the overall goal of increasing agricultural productivity and profitability through improving water management. This 5-year impact evaluation project (2014-18) is based on a program theory approach, quasi-experimental design and mixed methods to generate both robust and contextually rich impact findings. It comprises three sequential phases of data collection and analyses: (a) a qualitative exploratory phase at inception through field visits and documentary review, (b) a major quasi-experimental quantitative phase through survey research at three data points - baseline (2014), mid-term (2015-16) and end-line (2017), and (c) a qualitative in-depth follow-up phase. In addition, GIS-remote sensing (RS) imagery is used to facilitate the selection of study sites and verify and map the ultimate impact findings on water management and crop productivity obtained through survey and case study research. The results of the study are aimed at helping the USAID, the Government of Tajikistan as well as other donors in this Central Asian country in formulating more efficient institutions for water management, strategize their water sector investment portfolios and improve water-use efficiency and water productivity.

Contact Person

Murat Yakubov (m.yakubov@cgiar.org)

Lead Center

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Partners

United States Agency for International Development, Z-Analytics Group, Design-and-Research Institute ‘FAZO’ of the State Committee for Land Surveying and Geodesy of the Republic of Tajikistan, National Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation

Completed

Start/End dateMay 01, 2014 — June 01, 2018

Research ThemeLand and Water Solutions

Cluster

2.2 Revitalizing irrigation systems

Regions

Central Asia

Countries

Tajikistan

Assessing Models of Public Private Partnerships for Irrigation Development in Africa

wle_admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:26:55 +0000

The project will develop a series of case studies, using Focus Groups, Key Informant Interviews, document review, and Net-Mapping to understand the social, economic, and environmental impacts of various types of PPP arrangements. The information will feed into a toolkit that identifies different PPP options, with explicit provision for affected communities to be involved in decisions and benefit-sharing arrangements to guide future investment options, and metrics to track progress and benefits for different stakeholders. Throughout the project, partners will engage with stakeholders, including government officials, private sector representatives, donors, and community-based organizations, to understand capacity needs and gaps to negotiate equitable and inclusive PPPs and to facilitate the process of future investment in irrigation.

Contact Person

Ruth Meinzen-Dick (R.MEINZEN-DICK@CGIAR.ORG)

Lead Center

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Partners

University of Dar Es Salaam-Institute for Resource Assessment, Univeristy of Development Studies, Ghana Irrigation Development Authority

Completed

Start/End dateJuly 01, 2014 — December 01, 2016

Research ThemeLand and Water Solutions

Cluster

2.2 Revitalizing irrigation systems

Regions

Western Africa, Eastern Africa

Countries

Ghana, Tanzania

Enhancing Ecosystems Services through Dialogue

wle_admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:26:55 +0000

This WLE2015 Activity combines two bilaterally funded projects in the Pakistan Office. Pakistan Water Dialogue is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State to assist Pakistan in addressing water issues, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will engage and collaborate with Pakistani counterparts in an effort to increase agriculture productivity (provisioning service of the ecosystem) and living better with floods (regulating service of the ecosystem). The project methodology is through dialogue identify key actors (institutions; technical experts; service providers; and, end users) and what actions with and without support the key actors are willing to take to enhance these two ecosystems services. IBIS WatGov funded by a partnership with IFPRI as part of the Pakistan Strategy Support Programme funded by USAID complements and extends the project Revitalizing Irrigation in Pakistan working at the Water User Association Level (Khal Panchayat). This project specifically explores the scale of the inequity problem in public irrigation schemes and the role information can have on improving the spatial equity of the provisioning ecosystem services.

Contact Person

Arif Anwar (a.anwar@cgiar.org)

Lead Center

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Completed

Start/End dateNovember 01, 2014 — December 31, 2015

Research ThemeLand and Water Solutions

Cluster

2.2 Revitalizing irrigation systems

Regions

Southern Asia

Countries

Pakistan

Enhancing Provisioning Ecosystems Services through Farmer Institutions

wle_admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:26:55 +0000

The objective of this project is to enhance the provisioning services of the ecosystem in public irrigation schemes without degrading and if at all possible enhancing other ecosystems services. This project challenges the conventional wisdom where the role/function of Farmer Institutions is limited to irrigation e.g. improve equity, adequacy of water, irrigation service fees, groundwater abstraction etc. The research hypothesis posited is that if farmer institutions are designed and built to enhance the ecosystem, provisioning services in particular, this would lead to a functional, dynamic institution which would better manage the water and land resources (including the irrigation infrastructure). This project capitalizes on the work carried out under Revitalizing Irrigation in Pakistan (RevIIP). We will be partnering with Farmer Institutions in the Hakra Branch Canal located in the South-East of (Pakistan) Punjab. Here we will develop the capacity of these institutions to deliver improved services to their members ranging from on-farm agronomic practices, command area development, canal operation, groundwater monitoring, and irrigation service fee collection. Over the course of the research, we will collect the scientific evidence to support (or otherwise) the research hypothesis.

Contact Person

Arif Anwar (a.anwar@cgiar.org)

Lead Center

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Completed

Start/End dateJanuary 01, 2015 — December 31, 2016

Research ThemeLand and Water Solutions

Cluster

2.2 Revitalizing irrigation systems

Regions

Southern Asia

Countries

Pakistan

Evaluating the impact of irrigation on ecosystems services (ES) and smallholder resilience in Nepal

wle_admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:26:55 +0000

Empirical evidence on the impact of irrigation on ecosystem services and smallholder resilience is lacking, with a few existing studies showing mixed results. For example, while some studies argue that irrigation contributes to crop diversity by extending the growing season and broadening crop choices, others show that irrigation leads to reduced crop diversity due to mono-cropped high-yield varieties replacing local varieties. In addition to its important implications for nutrition, dietary diversity, and risk management, crop diversity is an important landscape feature that often links to the provision of insect-based ecosystem services such as biological pest control and pollination. Evidence on the impact on land use change is also lacking. While some have argued that irrigation reduces pressure on the surrounding forest resource, grazing and marginal lands because of increased cropping intensification, others have suggested a reverse trend. The exact changes remain unclear and need to be quantified in order to understand the impact on natural/semi-natural and fragile ecosystems. Furthermore, a deeper look is needed to understand how irrigation has contributed to farmers’ resilience to natural and social shocks by examining important factors such as access to irrigation, seasonality of irrigation, and multiple use of water.

Contact Person

Wei Zhang (w.zhang@cgiar.org)

Lead Center

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Partners

Central Bureau of Statistics, Department of Irrigation, National Federation of Irrigation Water Users Association Nepal, Farmer Managed Irrigation Systems Promotion Trust

Completed

Start/End dateJanuary 01, 2013 — December 01, 2015

Research ThemeLand and Water Solutions

Cluster

2.2 Revitalizing irrigation systems

Regions

Southern Asia

Countries

Nepal

Irrigation & ICT

wle_admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:26:55 +0000

The Mahaweli Irrigation System H depends on trans basin diversion. Water used for irrigation has a high opportunity cost as it could be used for hydropower generation. This public irrigation scheme experiences persistent surface water shortages, land use is inefficient (cropping intensity-170%). Meanwhile, high level of groundwater is leading to water logging and depressed productivity. Iron toxicity is also an identified problem. Significant quantities of water flow through the drainage network of the scheme. This is a typical example of a public irrigation system providing poor ecosystem services. The project objective is to first quantify the scale of the problem and then to investigate solutions that will enhance the provisioning services of the ecosystem while safeguarding other ecosystems services. This research explores the impact of credible, timely and accessible information and communication between farmers and irrigation officials on the performance of the public irrigation scheme. The research hypothesis is that improved communication, information exchange will allow improved access to, and use of resources and the services of ecosystems. In 2014 this research project developed an inventory of agro wells in the area and mapped this infrastructure - a first of its kind for this irrigation system. Monitoring devices have been installed on the 34km long Right Bank Canal. Canal water levels are now accessible on a dedicated web page. An automated weather station has been commissioned and that data too, will shortly be made available. Canal discharge rating curve development/verification has been postponed until the end of Nov. when canals reopen following the maintenance period. The research group is now in a position to provide capacity building for irrigation staff and selected farmer leaders for the use of these information, in addition to other specific skills that have been found lacking. In 2015, The research team is intend to develop an automated groundwater level monitoring system and an automated information sharing through a SMS messaging system between farmers and officials , which shall enhance the timely flow of information on conditions of surrounding ecosystems. An attempt will be made to create a third season (in-between two official seasons) based on available groundwater with high value seasonal crops. This will trigger the official recognition of groundwater irrigation within the canal system. Eventually, more and more farmers are expected to use groundwater for irrigation and be independent of canal irrigation and resilient to climate variability. The canal system will be used for the groundwater recharge purposes. Project will monitor the groundwater fluctuations, energy use and define the safe limits for abstraction and recharge. It is envisaged that this will enable the farmers to have some independence from canal water, choice of crops, and better handle on ecosystem services and enjoy the full benefits of this special eco system. Researchers will assess the changing roles of men and women under new conjunctive water use system. Details of the proposed changes will be tested at the tail-end part of the Right Bank Canal. The last three months, particularly will be dedicated for analysis, visualization of different scenarios, and reporting.

Contact Person

H. Manthrithilake (h.manthri@CGIAR.ORG)

Lead Center

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Completed

Start/End dateJanuary 01, 2014 — December 01, 2016

Research ThemeLand and Water Solutions

Cluster

2.2 Revitalizing irrigation systems

Regions

Southern Asia

Countries

Sri Lanka

Revitalizing Irrigation Management Organisations

wle_admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:26:55 +0000

During 2013 and 2014 the focus of the project was on historical analysis of the irrigation departments in 2 provinces in Uzbekistan and Pakistan. The objective for 2015 is to present the findings of the past two years in a workshop, which will bring together other researchers for experience sharing, wider lessons learnt and to develop uptake strategies, to integrate a specific gender component into the historical analysis of the irrigation departments as well as exploring on the one hand up-scaling dynamics of one alternative to state run irrigation systems as well as starting to explore an additional alternative, which comes in the form of private investment, which is so far under researched regarding its potential on revitalizing irrigation systems. The research is particularly important from an ecosystem service perspective – looking at different dimensions of regulating and provisional services of different ownership and management forms (public, participatory/community and private).

Contact Person

Wegerich, Kai (k.Wegerich@cgiar.org)

Lead Center

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Completed

Start/End dateMay 01, 2013 — December 01, 2016

Research ThemeLand and Water Solutions

Cluster

2.2 Revitalizing irrigation systems

Regions

Eastern Africa, Southern Asia, Central Asia

Countries

Ethiopia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan

Integrated irrigation and nutrient management for improved crop productivity in Zimbabwe

wle_admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 22:28:03 +0000

Water scarcity and land degradation, particularly soil fertility in most smallholder farming systems that are located in semi-arid areas in southern Africa pose serious threats to food crop production in the region. Climate change is forecasted to reduce rainfall amount and reliability in southern Africa further compromising the already depressed crop productivity. Some small-scale irrigation schemes have been developed in smallholder areas in southern Africa but many face viability problems due to low productivity linked to poor soil and water management techniques at farm and landscape scales, and production of low value crops with limited or no market demand. Additionally, soils are generally depleted of nutrients due to continuous cultivation with little or no addition of fertilizers. Integrated soil fertility management at landscape scales, which necessarily includes combined addition of organic and mineral nutrient sources across soil fertility gradients and cropping systems has been shown to restore fertility, enhance resource use efficiency and crop production, and may improve nutrient cycling under irrigated conditions. There is therefore need to explore modalities of developing a market-driven cropping system across various irrigation scheme positions underpinned by improved and innovative and integrated soil fertility and water management technologies. The project aims to assess the potential of integrated soil fertility managment to improve nutrient cycling and crop production at farm and scheme scales in Silalatshani and Mkoba irrigation Schemes in Zimbabwe. The specific objectives are to: 1. Based on historical climate analysis of the target schemes and the application of crop modelling, devise crop season calendars to optimize decisions about planting times, species/variety selections and critical irrigation timings for various soil fertility gradients; 2. Test the effects of amount and timing of water and fertilizer applications on economic crop return at farm and scheme scales and to understand water use efficiency and nutrient uptake, nutrient leaching and soil rebound capacity. 3. Determine the water balance of typically practiced farming systems to quantify water and nutrient use efficiencies against alternative systems, i.e. micro-irrigation vs flood irrigation, and no input vs integrated soil fertility management. 4. Establish and facilitate multi-stakeholder innovation platforms, to identify and overcome institutional and market barriers and link farmers to input and output markets. Impact Pathway Crop productivity in the irrigation schemes has remained low due to production of low value crops, coupled with inefficient irrigation methods and low use of fertilizers. Thus, the entry point with farmers is to develop optimal crop calendars that are suitable for the different seasons and market demands. In Silalathsani, the irrigation scheme is divided into five blocks, each serviced by a night dam. Initial efforts will focus on one of the blocks. Promising water and nutrient management practices will then be outscaled to other blocks. Increasing water and nutrient productivity through monitoring soil water, nitrate and water tables, in order to increase the yield and profitability of crops and minimise non-productive losses of water will be key for the project. Given that irrigation communities generally have weak institutional structures in Africa, we aim to build them into larger agricultural innovation plattforms that will include market incentives. Strengthening the innovation plattforms helps build social capital, for both men and women farmers to better manage common pool resources, such as water. This will form the basis for social learning in local institutions which builds greater resilience and adaptability to change.

Contact Person

Pauline Chivenge (p.chivenge@cgiar.org), Andre van Rooyen (a.vanrooyen@cgiar.org), Martin Moyo (m.moyo@cgiar.org)

Lead Center

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

Partners

The Australian National University, McGill University, University of Limpopo, Department of Agricultural Technical and Extension Services, Department of Irrigation Development

Completed

Start/End dateJanuary 01, 2015 — December 01, 2016

Research ThemeLand and Water Solutions

Cluster

2.2 Revitalizing irrigation systems

Regions

Southern Africa

Countries

Zimbabwe

Managing irrigation-drainage systems to sustainably enhance productivity in Fergana Valley, Central Asia

wle_admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 22:28:03 +0000

Fergana valley is situated to north-east of Uzbekistan. An extensive network of irrigation exists in the region to convey the water from Syr Darya River to farmer’s field. Groundwater levels are shallow which are threatening the waterlogging and salinity problems. To avoid menace of waterlogging and salinity, open surface drains and subsurface drains exists at a depth of 3 - m. As a business-as-usual, drainage network operates continuously without any blockage in drainage pathways. Drainage ratio is quite high. The controlled drainage concept which is used to reduce drainage effluents and increase subsurface irrigation by blocking drain is not yet tested in these dry areas of Fergana valley. The objective of the current study is to improve the irrigation-drainage systems for enhancing crop water productivity and eventually farmer’s income. Farmers in the region want to keep groundwater shallow for capillary rise contribution and use this shallow groundwater levels as a safety net. Sometimes they block the open surface drains to raise the groundwater levels. There is a dire need to demonstrate farmers with the state of the art tools to control the groundwater levels by using concept of tile drainage. The farmers would be guided to control the drainage out flows by lowering and raising the groundwater levels through the gates. Due to lack of research on the subject and scientific guidelines, water managers were unable to adopt controlled drainage. The research is being conducted with the help of national partners including ICWC and KRASS. Being strong influence of these two organizations, we are interested to improve the capacity of WUA to take the outcome of this research. We envisage that the research will mitigate salinity problem, improve WUE leading to improved crop yields at lower inorganic fertilizer and irrigation water application levels.

Contact Person

Usman Khalid Awan (u.k.awan@cgiar.org), Dessalegn, Bezaiet (B.Dessalegn@cgiar.org)

Lead Center

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

Partners

Khorezm Rural Advisory Support Service, SCIENTIFIC-INFORMATION CENTER OF THE INTERSTATE COORDINATION WATER COMMISSION OF THE CENTRAL ASIA

Completed

Start/End dateJanuary 01, 2015 — December 01, 2015

Research ThemeLand and Water Solutions

Cluster

2.2 Revitalizing irrigation systems

Regions

Central Asia

Countries

Uzbekistan