Water Policy Vol 10 No 5 pp 515–530 © IWA Publishing 2008 doi:10.2166/wp.2008.025
Micro-agricultural water management technologies for food security in southern Africa: part of the solution or a red herring?
Douglas J. Merreya and Hilmy Sallyb
aCorresponding author. Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), Private Bag X813, Silverton 0127, Pretoria, South Africa . +27 12 845 9110. djmerrey@fanrpan.org
bInternational Water Management Institute (IWMI), Private Bag X813, Silverton 0127, Pretoria, South Africa
ABSTRACT
This paper is based on a review of experiences with a wide range of micro-agricultural water management technologies in sub-Saharan Africa with a special emphasis on southern Africa. The major finding of the study is that these technologies have the potential to make major contributions to improving food security, reducing rural poverty and promoting broad-based agricultural growth. However, there are serious policy impediments to successfully scaling out the use of these technologies at both national and regional levels. The paper makes seven specific policy recommendations whose implementation would enable promotion of wider uptake.
Keywords: Food security; Institutional frameworks; Irrigation policy; Micro-agricultural water management; Micro-irrigation; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa
Full article (PDF Format)
PAY-PER-VIEW: Buy this article for £20.00 (IWA MEMBER PRICE: £15.00)
|
