Performance of large-scale irrigation projects in sub-Saharan Africa
After a 30-year hiatus, large-scale irrigation projects have returned to the development agenda in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the magnitude and drivers of past schemes’ performance remains poorly understood. We quantify the performance, measured as the proportion of proposed irrigated area d...
Gespeichert in:
Veröffentlicht in: | Nature sustainability 2021-06, Vol.4 (6), p.501-508 |
---|---|
Hauptverfasser: | , , , , |
Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
Schlagworte: | |
Online-Zugang: | Volltext |
Tags: |
Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
|
container_end_page | 508 |
---|---|
container_issue | 6 |
container_start_page | 501 |
container_title | Nature sustainability |
container_volume | 4 |
creator | Higginbottom, Thomas P. Adhikari, Roshan Dimova, Ralitza Redicker, Sarah Foster, Timothy |
description | After a 30-year hiatus, large-scale irrigation projects have returned to the development agenda in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the magnitude and drivers of past schemes’ performance remains poorly understood. We quantify the performance, measured as the proportion of proposed irrigated area delivered, of 79 irrigation schemes from across SSA by comparing planning documents with estimates of current scheme size from satellite-derived land-cover maps. We find overwhelming evidence that investments have failed to deliver promised benefits, with schemes supporting a median 16% of proposed area, only 20 (25%) delivering >80% and 16 (20%) completely inactive. Performance has not improved over six decades and we find limited relationships with commonly stated causes of failure such as scheme size and climate. We attribute these findings to political and management frameworks underpinning irrigation development in SSA. First, an emphasis on national food security promotes low-value crops, reducing economic viability. Second, proposals are unrealistically large, driven by optimism bias and political incentives. Finally, centralized bureaucracies lack the technical expertise, local knowledge and financial resources to ensure long-term maintenance. Our findings highlight the need for greater learning from past investments’ outcomes if improvements in agricultural productivity and water security across SSA are to be realized.
Satellite-based measures of the area irrigated by 79 schemes find a median of only 16% of the proposed area supplied. A quarter deliver over 80% of the proposed area and a fifth are inactive. |
doi_str_mv | 10.1038/s41893-020-00670-7 |
format | Article |
fullrecord | <record><control><sourceid>proquest_cross</sourceid><recordid>TN_cdi_proquest_journals_3049324716</recordid><sourceformat>XML</sourceformat><sourcesystem>PC</sourcesystem><sourcerecordid>3049324716</sourcerecordid><originalsourceid>FETCH-LOGICAL-c363t-459154b42f67bc38e84adc28fe490fc7779eed7a2d10254b81460dd77a112d113</originalsourceid><addsrcrecordid>eNp9kE1LAzEQhoMoWGr_gKeA5-jko5vkWOonFBTUc0izSd3S7tbJ7sF_b3QFPXmaYXjemeEh5JzDJQdprrLixkoGAhhApYHpIzIR0hpmK2GP__SnZJbzFqCgylilJuT6KWLqcO_bEGmX6M7jJrIc_C7SBrHZ-L7pWnrAbhtDn2nT0jys2bN_8-hbukjYBH9GTpLf5Tj7qVPyenvzsrxnq8e7h-VixYKsZM_U3PK5WiuRKr0O0kSjfB2ESVFZSEFrbWOstRc1B1FAw1UFda2157zMuJySi3Fveed9iLl3227Atpx0EpSVQmleFUqMVMAuZ4zJHbDZe_xwHNyXMDcKc8WC-xbmdAnJMZQL3G4i_q7-J_UJh3xsrg</addsrcrecordid><sourcetype>Aggregation Database</sourcetype><iscdi>true</iscdi><recordtype>article</recordtype><pqid>3049324716</pqid></control><display><type>article</type><title>Performance of large-scale irrigation projects in sub-Saharan Africa</title><source>Nature</source><source>Alma/SFX Local Collection</source><creator>Higginbottom, Thomas P. ; Adhikari, Roshan ; Dimova, Ralitza ; Redicker, Sarah ; Foster, Timothy</creator><creatorcontrib>Higginbottom, Thomas P. ; Adhikari, Roshan ; Dimova, Ralitza ; Redicker, Sarah ; Foster, Timothy</creatorcontrib><description>After a 30-year hiatus, large-scale irrigation projects have returned to the development agenda in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the magnitude and drivers of past schemes’ performance remains poorly understood. We quantify the performance, measured as the proportion of proposed irrigated area delivered, of 79 irrigation schemes from across SSA by comparing planning documents with estimates of current scheme size from satellite-derived land-cover maps. We find overwhelming evidence that investments have failed to deliver promised benefits, with schemes supporting a median 16% of proposed area, only 20 (25%) delivering >80% and 16 (20%) completely inactive. Performance has not improved over six decades and we find limited relationships with commonly stated causes of failure such as scheme size and climate. We attribute these findings to political and management frameworks underpinning irrigation development in SSA. First, an emphasis on national food security promotes low-value crops, reducing economic viability. Second, proposals are unrealistically large, driven by optimism bias and political incentives. Finally, centralized bureaucracies lack the technical expertise, local knowledge and financial resources to ensure long-term maintenance. Our findings highlight the need for greater learning from past investments’ outcomes if improvements in agricultural productivity and water security across SSA are to be realized.
Satellite-based measures of the area irrigated by 79 schemes find a median of only 16% of the proposed area supplied. A quarter deliver over 80% of the proposed area and a fifth are inactive.</description><identifier>ISSN: 2398-9629</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 2398-9629</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-00670-7</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>London: Nature Publishing Group UK</publisher><subject>704/172 ; 706/1143 ; 706/134 ; 706/2805 ; Agricultural economics ; Agricultural production ; Earth and Environmental Science ; Environment ; Food security ; Irrigation ; Sustainable Development ; Water security</subject><ispartof>Nature sustainability, 2021-06, Vol.4 (6), p.501-508</ispartof><rights>The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2021</rights><rights>The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2021.</rights><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><oa>free_for_read</oa><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed><citedby>FETCH-LOGICAL-c363t-459154b42f67bc38e84adc28fe490fc7779eed7a2d10254b81460dd77a112d113</citedby><cites>FETCH-LOGICAL-c363t-459154b42f67bc38e84adc28fe490fc7779eed7a2d10254b81460dd77a112d113</cites><orcidid>0000-0003-1150-1444 ; 0000-0002-3677-2585 ; 0000-0001-9594-1556 ; 0000-0002-1932-6225</orcidid></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><link.rule.ids>314,780,784,27924,27925</link.rule.ids></links><search><creatorcontrib>Higginbottom, Thomas P.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Adhikari, Roshan</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Dimova, Ralitza</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Redicker, Sarah</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Foster, Timothy</creatorcontrib><title>Performance of large-scale irrigation projects in sub-Saharan Africa</title><title>Nature sustainability</title><addtitle>Nat Sustain</addtitle><description>After a 30-year hiatus, large-scale irrigation projects have returned to the development agenda in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the magnitude and drivers of past schemes’ performance remains poorly understood. We quantify the performance, measured as the proportion of proposed irrigated area delivered, of 79 irrigation schemes from across SSA by comparing planning documents with estimates of current scheme size from satellite-derived land-cover maps. We find overwhelming evidence that investments have failed to deliver promised benefits, with schemes supporting a median 16% of proposed area, only 20 (25%) delivering >80% and 16 (20%) completely inactive. Performance has not improved over six decades and we find limited relationships with commonly stated causes of failure such as scheme size and climate. We attribute these findings to political and management frameworks underpinning irrigation development in SSA. First, an emphasis on national food security promotes low-value crops, reducing economic viability. Second, proposals are unrealistically large, driven by optimism bias and political incentives. Finally, centralized bureaucracies lack the technical expertise, local knowledge and financial resources to ensure long-term maintenance. Our findings highlight the need for greater learning from past investments’ outcomes if improvements in agricultural productivity and water security across SSA are to be realized.
Satellite-based measures of the area irrigated by 79 schemes find a median of only 16% of the proposed area supplied. A quarter deliver over 80% of the proposed area and a fifth are inactive.</description><subject>704/172</subject><subject>706/1143</subject><subject>706/134</subject><subject>706/2805</subject><subject>Agricultural economics</subject><subject>Agricultural production</subject><subject>Earth and Environmental Science</subject><subject>Environment</subject><subject>Food security</subject><subject>Irrigation</subject><subject>Sustainable Development</subject><subject>Water security</subject><issn>2398-9629</issn><issn>2398-9629</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>2021</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><recordid>eNp9kE1LAzEQhoMoWGr_gKeA5-jko5vkWOonFBTUc0izSd3S7tbJ7sF_b3QFPXmaYXjemeEh5JzDJQdprrLixkoGAhhApYHpIzIR0hpmK2GP__SnZJbzFqCgylilJuT6KWLqcO_bEGmX6M7jJrIc_C7SBrHZ-L7pWnrAbhtDn2nT0jys2bN_8-hbukjYBH9GTpLf5Tj7qVPyenvzsrxnq8e7h-VixYKsZM_U3PK5WiuRKr0O0kSjfB2ESVFZSEFrbWOstRc1B1FAw1UFda2157zMuJySi3Fveed9iLl3227Atpx0EpSVQmleFUqMVMAuZ4zJHbDZe_xwHNyXMDcKc8WC-xbmdAnJMZQL3G4i_q7-J_UJh3xsrg</recordid><startdate>20210601</startdate><enddate>20210601</enddate><creator>Higginbottom, Thomas P.</creator><creator>Adhikari, Roshan</creator><creator>Dimova, Ralitza</creator><creator>Redicker, Sarah</creator><creator>Foster, Timothy</creator><general>Nature Publishing Group UK</general><general>Nature Publishing Group</general><scope>AAYXX</scope><scope>CITATION</scope><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1150-1444</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3677-2585</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9594-1556</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1932-6225</orcidid></search><sort><creationdate>20210601</creationdate><title>Performance of large-scale irrigation projects in sub-Saharan Africa</title><author>Higginbottom, Thomas P. ; Adhikari, Roshan ; Dimova, Ralitza ; Redicker, Sarah ; Foster, Timothy</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c363t-459154b42f67bc38e84adc28fe490fc7779eed7a2d10254b81460dd77a112d113</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2021</creationdate><topic>704/172</topic><topic>706/1143</topic><topic>706/134</topic><topic>706/2805</topic><topic>Agricultural economics</topic><topic>Agricultural production</topic><topic>Earth and Environmental Science</topic><topic>Environment</topic><topic>Food security</topic><topic>Irrigation</topic><topic>Sustainable Development</topic><topic>Water security</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>Higginbottom, Thomas P.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Adhikari, Roshan</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Dimova, Ralitza</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Redicker, Sarah</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Foster, Timothy</creatorcontrib><collection>CrossRef</collection><jtitle>Nature sustainability</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>Higginbottom, Thomas P.</au><au>Adhikari, Roshan</au><au>Dimova, Ralitza</au><au>Redicker, Sarah</au><au>Foster, Timothy</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>Performance of large-scale irrigation projects in sub-Saharan Africa</atitle><jtitle>Nature sustainability</jtitle><stitle>Nat Sustain</stitle><date>2021-06-01</date><risdate>2021</risdate><volume>4</volume><issue>6</issue><spage>501</spage><epage>508</epage><pages>501-508</pages><issn>2398-9629</issn><eissn>2398-9629</eissn><abstract>After a 30-year hiatus, large-scale irrigation projects have returned to the development agenda in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the magnitude and drivers of past schemes’ performance remains poorly understood. We quantify the performance, measured as the proportion of proposed irrigated area delivered, of 79 irrigation schemes from across SSA by comparing planning documents with estimates of current scheme size from satellite-derived land-cover maps. We find overwhelming evidence that investments have failed to deliver promised benefits, with schemes supporting a median 16% of proposed area, only 20 (25%) delivering >80% and 16 (20%) completely inactive. Performance has not improved over six decades and we find limited relationships with commonly stated causes of failure such as scheme size and climate. We attribute these findings to political and management frameworks underpinning irrigation development in SSA. First, an emphasis on national food security promotes low-value crops, reducing economic viability. Second, proposals are unrealistically large, driven by optimism bias and political incentives. Finally, centralized bureaucracies lack the technical expertise, local knowledge and financial resources to ensure long-term maintenance. Our findings highlight the need for greater learning from past investments’ outcomes if improvements in agricultural productivity and water security across SSA are to be realized.
Satellite-based measures of the area irrigated by 79 schemes find a median of only 16% of the proposed area supplied. A quarter deliver over 80% of the proposed area and a fifth are inactive.</abstract><cop>London</cop><pub>Nature Publishing Group UK</pub><doi>10.1038/s41893-020-00670-7</doi><tpages>8</tpages><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1150-1444</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3677-2585</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9594-1556</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1932-6225</orcidid><oa>free_for_read</oa></addata></record> |
fulltext | fulltext |
identifier | ISSN: 2398-9629 |
ispartof | Nature sustainability, 2021-06, Vol.4 (6), p.501-508 |
issn | 2398-9629 2398-9629 |
language | eng |
recordid | cdi_proquest_journals_3049324716 |
source | Nature; Alma/SFX Local Collection |
subjects | 704/172 706/1143 706/134 706/2805 Agricultural economics Agricultural production Earth and Environmental Science Environment Food security Irrigation Sustainable Development Water security |
title | Performance of large-scale irrigation projects in sub-Saharan Africa |
url | https://sfx.bib-bvb.de/sfx_tum?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&ctx_tim=2024-12-23T16%3A24%3A08IST&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=infofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rfr_id=info:sid/primo.exlibrisgroup.com:primo3-Article-proquest_cross&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Performance%20of%20large-scale%20irrigation%20projects%20in%20sub-Saharan%20Africa&rft.jtitle=Nature%20sustainability&rft.au=Higginbottom,%20Thomas%20P.&rft.date=2021-06-01&rft.volume=4&rft.issue=6&rft.spage=501&rft.epage=508&rft.pages=501-508&rft.issn=2398-9629&rft.eissn=2398-9629&rft_id=info:doi/10.1038/s41893-020-00670-7&rft_dat=%3Cproquest_cross%3E3049324716%3C/proquest_cross%3E%3Curl%3E%3C/url%3E&disable_directlink=true&sfx.directlink=off&sfx.report_link=0&rft_id=info:oai/&rft_pqid=3049324716&rft_id=info:pmid/&rfr_iscdi=true |