Estimating the potential for expanding smallholder irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Smallholder irrigation may considerably contribute to agricultural productivity growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the full potential of expanding smallholder irrigation under alternative irrigation technologies is not known. This paper presents a study to assess the irrigation expansion potential for four smallholder irrigation technologies: motor pumps, treadle pumps, communal river diversion, and small reservoirs. An integrated modeling system that combines GIS data analysis, biophysical and economic predictive modeling, and crop mix optimization techniques was developed for the assessment.