Small-Scale Farmers can fill the global food gap with proper Irrigation

Our food systems' hidden heroes are small-scale farmers. Even though they occupy only 11% of the world's agricultural area, small farms that are smaller than 2 hectares provide 35% of the world's food.

Small-scale farming's more varied output supports nutrient-dense diets, long-term food systems, and biodiversity.

In reality, especially in the era of climate change, they hold the secret to feeding the world.

Rain has nourished this astounding creation in numerous locations. However, it has also increased farmers' susceptibility to unpredictable droughts and shifting rainfall patterns, which can even result in crop loss.

But if small-scale farmers irrigate their land appropriately, this can aid them in adapting to the changing climate through climate-smart agriculture, enhancing soil fertility, conserving soil and water, and organic carbon sequestration, increasing food output and revenue.

It is insufficient to only invest in irrigation. I've learned from my years of irrigation-related work with IFAD that farmers themselves must be persuaded to use small-scale irrigation. Since they will be investing their time, money, and labor, they want to be certain that doing so would result in long-term profitability.

Putting irrigation's case
The advantages of irrigation may seem clear, but there are many obstacles that farmers must overcome, including a lack of access to land, water, value chains, affordable irrigation equipment, and financing.

A well-thought-out business case can demonstrate to farmers how to get through these obstacles and persuade them of the advantages of irrigation. For instance, the IFAD's investment in water management in six African nations used new models of agricultural water management and new finance techniques to create separate business cases for various farmer types in each nation.

The advantages of irrigation may seem clear, but there are many obstacles that farmers must overcome, including a lack of access to land, water, value chains, affordable irrigation equipment, and financing.

A well-thought-out business case can demonstrate to farmers how to get through these obstacles and persuade them of the advantages of irrigation. For instance, the IFAD's investment in water management in six African nations used new models of agricultural water management and new finance techniques to create separate business cases for various farmer types in each nation.

Constructing irrigation ecosystems
Small-scale irrigation requires teamwork to be successful. To design, supply, build, run, and maintain the proper irrigation systems, producers, farmers, irrigation equipment suppliers, agri-finance institutions, government institutions, water and resource planning agencies, and development partners must collaborate.

Even when small-scale farmers are being severely impacted by climate change, this can be done, as demonstrated by the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) Niger Irrigation Project. The project created a business ecosystem by growing suppliers and creating demand for drip irrigation at the same time. The outcomes? Average yields rose by 46%, farmer earnings rose by 71%, and water use was more than cut in half.

Future-oriented lessons
Although creating these business cases may seem difficult, professional assistance is available. The Handbook for Scaling Irrigation Systems draws lessons on how to implement and manage efficient small-scale irrigation systems by combining IFAD's experience working with rural populations with the IFC's focus on private sector development.

The manual intends to disseminate the lessons and revelations gained from the combined experience of IFAD and IFC in promoting and enhancing small-scale farmers' access to advanced irrigation. It adopts a pragmatic approach to advising decision-makers in the public and private sectors, as well as development partners and farmers themselves, assisting them in investigating novel funding options and creating, running, and maintaining effective and long-lasting small irrigation systems.