Smallholder groundwater irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: country-level estimates of development potential

The abundance of groundwater resources of Sub-Saharan Africa is generally well recognized, but quantitative estimates of their potential for irrigation development are lacking. This study derives estimates using a simple and generic water balance approach and data from secondary sources for 13 count...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Pavelic, Paul, Villholth, Karen G., Shu, Yunqiao, Rebelo, Lisa-Maria, Smakhtin, V.
Formato: Capítulo de libro
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/130951
Descripción
Sumario:The abundance of groundwater resources of Sub-Saharan Africa is generally well recognized, but quantitative estimates of their potential for irrigation development are lacking. This study derives estimates using a simple and generic water balance approach and data from secondary sources for 13 countries. Even with conservative assumptions and accounting for water demands from other sectors, including the environment, a 120-fold increase (by 13.5 million hectares) in the area under groundwater irrigation is possible for the countries considered. This expansion could improve the livelihoods of approximately 40% of the present-day rural population.