Water-balance approach for assessing potential for smallholder groundwater irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Strategies for increasing the development and use of groundwater for agriculture over much of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are urgently needed. Expansion of small-scale groundwater irrigation offers an attractive option to smallholder farmers to overcome unreliable wet-season rainfall and enhance dry-se...

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Main Authors: Pavelic, Paul, Smakhtin, Vladimir U., Favreau, G., Villholth, Karen G.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: African Journals Online 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34597
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author Pavelic, Paul
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
Favreau, G.
Villholth, Karen G.
author_browse Favreau, G.
Pavelic, Paul
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
Villholth, Karen G.
author_facet Pavelic, Paul
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
Favreau, G.
Villholth, Karen G.
author_sort Pavelic, Paul
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Strategies for increasing the development and use of groundwater for agriculture over much of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are urgently needed. Expansion of small-scale groundwater irrigation offers an attractive option to smallholder farmers to overcome unreliable wet-season rainfall and enhance dry-season production. This paper presents a simple, generic groundwater-balance-based methodology that uses a set of type-curves to assist with decision making on the scope for developing sustainable groundwater irrigation supplies, and to help understand how cropping choices influence the potential areal extent of irrigation. Guidance to avoid over-exploitation of the resource is also provided. The methodology is applied to 2 sites in West Africa with contrasting climatic and subsurface conditions. At both sites the analysis reveals that there is significant potential for further groundwater development for irrigation whilst allowing provisions for other sectoral uses, including basic human needs and the environment.
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spelling CGSpace345972024-05-08T13:21:14Z Water-balance approach for assessing potential for smallholder groundwater irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa Pavelic, Paul Smakhtin, Vladimir U. Favreau, G. Villholth, Karen G. water balance groundwater irrigation groundwater assessment resource depletion smallholders decision making choice of species farmer-led irrigation groundwater irrigation case studies Strategies for increasing the development and use of groundwater for agriculture over much of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are urgently needed. Expansion of small-scale groundwater irrigation offers an attractive option to smallholder farmers to overcome unreliable wet-season rainfall and enhance dry-season production. This paper presents a simple, generic groundwater-balance-based methodology that uses a set of type-curves to assist with decision making on the scope for developing sustainable groundwater irrigation supplies, and to help understand how cropping choices influence the potential areal extent of irrigation. Guidance to avoid over-exploitation of the resource is also provided. The methodology is applied to 2 sites in West Africa with contrasting climatic and subsurface conditions. At both sites the analysis reveals that there is significant potential for further groundwater development for irrigation whilst allowing provisions for other sectoral uses, including basic human needs and the environment. 2012 2013-11-21T05:04:48Z 2014-02-02T16:39:50Z 2013-11-21T05:04:48Z 2014-02-02T16:39:50Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34597 en Open Access African Journals Online Pavelic, P., Smakhtin, V., Favreau, G., & Villholth, K. (2012). Water-balance approach for assessing potential for smallholder groundwater irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Water SA, 38(3). https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v38i3.5
spellingShingle water balance
groundwater
irrigation
groundwater assessment
resource depletion
smallholders
decision making
choice of species
farmer-led irrigation
groundwater irrigation
case studies
Pavelic, Paul
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
Favreau, G.
Villholth, Karen G.
Water-balance approach for assessing potential for smallholder groundwater irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa
title Water-balance approach for assessing potential for smallholder groundwater irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_full Water-balance approach for assessing potential for smallholder groundwater irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_fullStr Water-balance approach for assessing potential for smallholder groundwater irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_full_unstemmed Water-balance approach for assessing potential for smallholder groundwater irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_short Water-balance approach for assessing potential for smallholder groundwater irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_sort water balance approach for assessing potential for smallholder groundwater irrigation in sub saharan africa
topic water balance
groundwater
irrigation
groundwater assessment
resource depletion
smallholders
decision making
choice of species
farmer-led irrigation
groundwater irrigation
case studies
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34597
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