Irrigation suitability in Malawi
- 1. Irrigation suitability in Malawi Weston Anderson Tingju Zhu Presented by: Ephraim Nkonya IFPRI Lilongwe Malawi November 4, 2014
- 2. 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 INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 2
- 3. Importance of irrigation : Crop water deficit exists even in wet season 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 3 Precipitation / Evaporation (mm) Water Availability (million m3 ) 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 0 Rainfall Potential ET Runoff Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Note: Limpopo River basin in Mozambique
- 4. Irrigated plots, rainy & dry season, Malawi INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 4
- 5. Type of irrigation in Malawi – rainy season INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 5
- 6. Type of irrigation – dry season (dimba) INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 6
- 7. Major crops irrigated – rainy season INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 7
- 8. Crops irrigated – dry (dimba) season INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 8
- 9. Irrigation Suitability Criteria Criteria Explanation Topography (slope) Small scale irrigation (SSI) tends to occur in areas with gentle slope Groundwater 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 INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 9
- 10. Cut-off points for irrigation suitability INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 10
- 11. Irrigation suitability – including all constraints INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 11 Irrigation extent in Malawi greater than Mozambique
- 12. Irrigation suitability with no mkt access constraint INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 12 Market access is the most constrictive Constraint (dominant factor)
- 13. Groundwater irrigation suitability using treadle pump – with no mkt access restriction INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 13
- 14. Surface water irrigation suitability with no mkt access restriction INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 14
- 15. Where is irrigation mostly suitable and in need? Study in progress that combines irrigation suitability and irrigation requirement INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 15
- 16. Drivers of adoption of irrigation technology Probit model type Structural Reduced Access to rural services Received credit 0.168*** Participate in market 0.222*** 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 livestock 0.138*** 0.197*** Page 16 INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- 17. Drivers of adoption of irrigation (cont’d) Driver Structural Reduced Level of education of household head (cf no formal education) Primary education -0.021 0.005 Secondary education -0.190** -0.212*** Post secondary education -0.174 -0.194 Land 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** INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 17
- 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 INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 18