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Can Sub-Saharan Africa feed itself? The role of irrigation development in the region’s drylands for food security

Author

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  • Hua Xie
  • Nicostrato Perez
  • Weston Anderson
  • Claudia Ringler
  • Liangzhi You

Abstract

This paper assesses the potential role of investments in irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa in improving food security and self-sufficiency in the region. Focusing on the region’s drylands, the study identifies a potential for expanded irrigated area of 6–14 million hectares (ha), depending on technology costs and other factors. Linkage of these results with a global agricultural trade model shows that accelerated irrigation investment can effectively reduce growing food import dependency from 54% under a business-as-usual scenario to a much smaller 17–40%; and can also reduce the population at risk of hunger and child under-nutrition.

Suggested Citation

  • Hua Xie & Nicostrato Perez & Weston Anderson & Claudia Ringler & Liangzhi You, 2018. "Can Sub-Saharan Africa feed itself? The role of irrigation development in the region’s drylands for food security," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(6), pages 796-814, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rwinxx:v:43:y:2018:i:6:p:796-814
    DOI: 10.1080/02508060.2018.1516080
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    Cited by:

    1. McCartney, Matthew P. & Whiting, L. & Makin, Ian & Lankford, B. A. & Ringler, C., 2019. "Rethinking irrigation modernisation: realising multiple objectives through the integration of fisheries," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 70(9):1201-.
    2. Wanyama, Joshua & Nakawuka, Prossie & Bwambale, Erion & Kiraga, Shafik & Kiggundu, Nicholas & Barasa, Bernard & Katimbo, Abia, 2024. "Evaluation of land suitability for surface irrigation under changing climate in a tropical setting of Uganda, East Africa," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    3. Daniel Magnone & Vahid J. Niasar & Alexander F. Bouwman & Arthur H. W. Beusen & Sjoerd E. A. T. M. Zee & Sheida Z. Sattari, 2022. "The impact of phosphorus on projected Sub-Saharan Africa food security futures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Hory Chikez & Dirk Maier & Sigurdur Olafsson & Steve Sonka, 2023. "Identifying Critical Drivers of Mango, Tomato, and Maize Postharvest Losses (PHL) in Low-Income Countries and Predicting Their Impact," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-27, September.
    5. van Berkum, Siemen, 2022. "IFAD Research Series 77: The role of trade and policies in improving food security," IFAD Research Series 321997, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
    6. Juan E. Núñez-Ríos & Norman Aguilar-Gallegos & Jacqueline Y. Sánchez-García & Pedro Pablo Cardoso-Castro, 2020. "Systemic Design for Food Self-Sufficiency in Urban Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-25, September.
    7. Tesfaye, Meneyahel Z. & Balana, Bedru B. & Bizimana, Jean-Claude, 2021. "Assessment of smallholder farmers’ demand for and adoption constraints to small-scale irrigation technologies: Evidence from Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    8. Hory Chikez & Dirk Maier & Steve Sonka, 2021. "Mango Postharvest Technologies: An Observational Study of the Yieldwise Initiative in Kenya," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, July.
    9. Hornum, Sebastian Toft & Bolwig, Simon, 2021. "A functional analysis of the role of input suppliers in an agricultural innovation system: The case of small-scale irrigation in Kenya," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    10. Olayide, Olawale E. & Sangare, Saadatou A. & Koo, Jawoo & Xie, Hua, 2020. "Targeting Small-Scale Irrigation Investments using Agent-Based Modeling: Case Studies in Mali and Niger," Discussion Papers 305676, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).

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