Irrigation suitability in Malawi

Irrigation suitability in Malawi

Weston Anderson

Tingju Zhu

Presented by: Ephraim NkonyaIFPRI

Lilongwe Malawi

November 4, 2014

INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Introduction

Irrigation development is inadequate in general for both countries, given the level of exposure to climatic shocks and potential benefits

Consider constraints from both biophysical and socioeconomic factors

Focus on small scale irrigation Economic feasibility and desirability not

accessed

Page 2


Importance of irrigation : Crop water deficit exists even in wet season

Page 3

Precipitation / E

vaporation (mm

)

Water A

vailability (million m

3)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Rainfall

Potential ET

Runoff

Note: Limpopo River basin in Mozambique


Irrigated plots, rainy & dry season, Malawi

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Type of irrigation in Malawi – rainy season

Page 5


Type of irrigation – dry season (dimba)

Page 6


Major crops irrigated – rainy season

Page 7


Crops irrigated – dry (dimba) season

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Irrigation Suitability Criteria

Criteria ExplanationTopography (slope) Small scale irrigation (SSI) tends to occur in areas

with gentle slopeGroundwater accessibility Groundwater depth an indicator of accessibility to

its access. Distance to perennial surface water

Indicator of accessibility to surface water

Proximity to existing irrigation

Indicator of access to irrigation & farmer knowledge of AWM.

Market access Adoption of irrigation relies on markets both for securing inputs including equipment/facility maintenance and for selling crop products.

Surface runoff Small scale irrigation technologies, such as small reservoirs, depend on local runoff

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Cut-off points for irrigation suitability

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Irrigation suitability – including all constraints

Page 11

Irrigation extent in Malawi greater than Mozambique


Irrigation suitability with no mkt access constraint

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Market access is the most constrictiveConstraint (dominant factor)


Groundwater irrigation suitability using treadle pump – with no mkt access restriction

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Surface water irrigation suitability with no mkt access restriction

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Where is irrigation mostly suitable and in need?

Study in progress that combines irrigation suitability and irrigation requirement

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Drivers of adoption of irrigation technology

Probit model type Structural Reduced

Access to rural services

Received credit0.168***

Participate in market0.222***

Received food aid -0.102**

Ln(distance to city, km)

-0.107***

-0.095***

Rural area (cf urban)0.590***

0.660***

Human capital Grow tobacco 0.092*

Ln(household head age, years)

-0.167***

-0.203***

Ln(household size)0.122***

0.128***

Female headed household -0.112**

-0.142***

Primary activity livestock0.138***

0.197***

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Drivers of adoption of irrigation (cont’d)

Driver Structural Reduced

Level of education of household head (cf no formal education)Primary education -0.021 0.005Secondary education -0.190** -0.212***Post secondary education -0.174 -0.194Land tenure/method of acquisition (cf customary)Purchased 2.408*** 2.388***Rented 2.172*** 2.155***Granted by local leaders 2.393*** 2.400***Other acquisition methods -1.137*** -1.076**

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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 18

Conclusions

There is great potential for irrigation in Malawi during the dry season but such potential is grossly under-utilized

Increasing irrigation suitability and adoption will require:• Aggressive promotion of agricultural water

management (AWM) technologies• Improving access to

– markets & information– Credit

• Target women and the youth

Science

Irrigation suitability in Malawi