Agricultural Water Management Transformations (AWMT)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/140557

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Advancing sustainable and resilient agriculture in Eastern Nepal's middle hills
(Video, 2025-02-10) International Water Management Institute
In Nepal’s middle hills, small landholdings and persistent challenges—such as limited irrigation, transportation, and market access—have long constrained commercial farming and mono-cropping. However, mixed farming systems are proving to be a resilient and sustainable solution for these communities. Through the CGIAR Initiative on Mixed Farming Systems (MFS), IWMI, in collaboration with research and implementation partners, is driving sustainable agricultural intensification in pilot areas. This initiative is helping farmers diversify risks, optimize labour, and enhance productivity—all while safeguarding the environment. Key interventions include promoting efficient water management through micro-irrigation, multiple water use systems, and rainwater harvesting. Additionally, the initiative has strengthened entrepreneurship skills among female and smallholder farmers while fostering stronger networks and collaboration across diverse farming groups. These efforts are making agriculture in Nepal’s hills more sustainable, efficient, and inclusive. With promising results, the initiative holds significant potential for scaling across the region.
Decentralized socio-technical innovation for sustainable intensification of mixed farming systems in Nepal’s mid-hills
(Brief, 2024-12-30) Koirala, Sanju; K.C., Jibesh; Khadka, Manohara
Mixed farming systems initiative enhances productivity and resilience in Nepal’s hill agriculture
(Video, 2025-01-30) International Water Management Institute
In Nepal’s middle hills, small landholdings and challenges like limited irrigation, transportation, and market access have long hindered commercial farming and mono-cropping. However, mixed farming remains a resilient and sustainable solution for these communities. Through the CGIAR Initiative on Mixed Farming Systems (MFS), IWMI, in collaboration with International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and research and implementation partners, has been working to intensify sustainable agriculture in pilot areas. As a result, farmers are now diversifying risks, optimizing labour, and increasing productivity—all while preserving the environment. The initiative has also introduced socio-technical innovations tailored for women and elderly farmers, strengthened entrepreneurship skills among female and smallholder farmers, and fostered stronger networks among diverse farming groups. These interventions have made farming in Nepal’s hills more sustainable, efficient, and inclusive, and with promising results, have demonstrated potential to scale.
Inclusive landscape management plan for the transformation of agrifood systems in the Doma-Rutu socio-ecological landscape, Nigeria
(Report, 2024-12-30) Igbadun, H. E.; Ojeleye, Oluwaseun Adebayo; Oke, Adebayo; Atampugre, Gerald; Tilahun, Seifu; Ismail, H.; Jonathan, J.; Cofie, Olufunke
The Doma-Rutu socio-ecological landscape in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, faces several socio-ecological challenges such as deforestation, water pollution, and unsustainable land-use practices. To address these issues, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) under the CGIAR Initiative on West and Central Africa AgriFood Systems Transformation (TAFS-WCA) has facilitated the co-development of a comprehensive Inclusive Landscape Management Plan (ILMP). The ILMP is a collaborative effort involving contributions from stakeholders such as the government, local communities, marginalized groups, NGOs, and research institutions.
NEXUS Gains in the Ganges River Basin: India, Nepal
(Brief, 2024-12-30) CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains
A NEXUS Gains transboundary river basin brief shares examples of the Initiative’s work across five work packages in the Ganges Basin, covering India and Nepal.
Using nexus tools to evaluate water, energy, food, and ecosystems policies in the Ganges Basin, India.
(News Item, 2024-12-16) Singh, Vartika; Alam, Mohammad Faiz; Sharma, Ruchi
A review of policies and programs on water, energy, food, and ecosystems in India showed that multiple policies have been enacted; however, these policies rarely consider the impact on other sectors, and associated programs significantly overlap in terms of objectives and goals. For this reason, since 2022, NEXUS Gains has developed methodologies and tools to enable the assessment of WEFE policy scenarios for synergistic action in India.
Vegetables in rural Sri Lanka: Availability and consumer preferences elicited from gendered group discussions
(Presentation, 2024-11-21) Krishna, Vijesh; Sarawathy, Akhil R.; Aheeyar, Mohamed; Wijetunga, Chatura Sewwandi; Mahindarathne, Prasad; Geetha, Rosalin; Ramasamy, Srinivasan
Sustainable formulae for mixed farming in Middle Hills of Nepal
(Opinion Piece, 2024-08-21) K. C., Jibesh; Neupane, Nilhari
Seed treatment for pole bean cultivation
(Video, 2024-12-05) International Water Management Institute
This is a video tutorial for farmers on chemical seed treatment for pole bean cultivation and guides on the importance of seed treatment in general. The video was produced by the International Water Management Institute in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka and the World Vegetable Center under the CGIAR Initiative on Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets.
Does financial inclusion enhance farmers' resilience to climate change? Evidence from rural Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2024-11) Negera, M.; Alemu, T.; Hagos, Fitsum; Haileslassie, Amare
Financial inclusion is recognized as a vital driver of sustainable development and serves as a fundamental pillar of climate action. It is crucial to enhance the climate resilience of smallholder farmers in the face of severe and unpredictable climate shocks, which disproportionately affect them. However, the level of financial inclusion in Ethiopia remains low, and its impact on the climate resilience of smallholder farmers has not been thoroughly examined using rigorous model and comprehensive dataset. This study investigates the impact of financial inclusion on the climate resilience of rural households, using a large data set from the Ethiopian Socio-Economic Survey. The principal component analysis was applied to construct a climate resilience index. The financial inclusion was measured using an index that encompasses three dimensions: penetration, availability, and usage. In order to address the endogenous nature of financial inclusion, an instrumental variable approach was employed, using the distance to the nearest financial institution and religion as instrumental variables. The results demonstrated a positive and significant impact of financial inclusion on the climate resilience of rural households. Therefore, the government should strengthen the provision of essential financial and related infrastructures in rural Ethiopia to improve access to financial products and services. Furthermore, it is essential for policymakers to initiate and implement financial sector reforms that ensure the availability of affordable and tailored financial services. These reforms should also prioritize the development of climate-resilient agricultural finance, thereby contributing to the achievement of climate action goal of sustainable development.
Shallow groundwater potential mapping and evaluation for climate resilient smallholder irrigation in the Zeway-Shalla Sub-basin, Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2024-11) Hulluka, T. A.; Ebrahim, Girma Yimer; Haile, Alemseged Tamiru; Haileslassie, Amare
Status of agricultural water management practices in Africa: a review for the prioritisation and operationalisation of the Africa Union’s irrigation development and agricultural water management (AU-IDAWM) strategy
(Journal Article, 2024-09) Dirwai, Tinashe Lindel; Taguta, C.; Senzanje, A.; Nhamo, L.; Cofie, Olufunke; Lankford, B.; Nyambe, H. N.; Mabhaudhi, T.
Efficient agricultural water management (AWM) practices enhance crop water productivity and promote climate change adaptation and resilience initiatives, particularly in smallholder farming systems. Approximately 90% of sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) agriculture is rainfed under smallholder farmers who constitute about 60% of the continent’s population and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. While AWM is central to the African agenda, knowledge of AWM is fragmented, making it challenging to operationalize regional initiatives at country levels. Therefore, this study sought to review the status of AWM practices and technologies in Africa and provide guidelines, scenarios, and investment plans to guide the prioritization and operationalization of the African Union’s irrigation development and AWM (AU-IDAWM) initiative. The initiative proposes four developmental pathways; 1—improved water control and watershed management in rain-fed farming, 2—farmer-led irrigation, 3—irrigation scheme development and modernization, and 4—unconventional water use for irrigation. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses approach guided the systematic literature review. The study indicates that most agricultural production systems are mainly under pathways 1 and 2, which dictate the subsequent AWM practices. Pathway 4 had isolated adoption in North Africa. SSA exhibited overlaps in opportunities for AWM, whereas North Africa had green energy and strong extension services. The challenges were unique to each geopolitical region. Policy-related issues affected North Africa, whilst low investment in AWM dominated West Africa. Poor institutional coordination plagued East Africa, whilst low access to extension services affected Southern Africa. The Central African region was undermined by poor management practices that culminated in soil salinity in the agricultural lands. Targeted and scalable investments across interventions are necessary to potentially improve AWM uptake and subsequent food security in the continent. Also, institutional setups are essential in coordinating efforts towards achieving AWM. Extension services are essential information dissemination platforms for adopting effective climate-smart agriculture.
Digitalisation in agriculture: a scoping review of technologies in practice, challenges, and opportunities for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Journal Article, 2024-12) Choruma, Dennis Junior; Dirwai, Tinashe Lindel; Mutenje, Munyaradzi Junia; Mustafa, M.; Chimonyo, V. G. P.; Jacobs-Mata, Inga; Mabhaudhi, T.
Digitalisation in agriculture is transforming the way farming is practised worldwide, and its potential benefits for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are particularly promising. Yet, scientific evidence on the digital technologies utilised by smallholder food producers in SSA and the associated challenges still needs improvement. This review attempts to provide a thorough overview of the technologies currently being employed by smallholder farmers in SSA while also exploring the associated challenges and opportunities. Through a systematic literature search, 27 relevant studies were analysed to identify the region-wise current technologies, challenges, and opportunities. Results show that various digital technologies are employed, including digital extension services and digital marketing of agricultural products. These technologies improve access to information and markets and enhance productivity. However, challenges hinder widespread adoption. Limited internet connectivity, low digital literacy, inadequate infrastructure, and affordability issues impede progress. Gender disparities further limit the equitable distribution of digitalisation benefits. Despite these challenges, significant opportunities arise from adopting digital technologies. The potential advantages are market access, better decision-making capabilities, and increased income and livelihoods. Digitalisation offers transformative possibilities for smallholder farmers in SSA. Overcoming barriers such as limited connectivity and low digital literacy is crucial. By harnessing the opportunities digital technologies can offer, the livelihoods of smallholder farmers can be uplifted, contributing to the growth of agriculture in SSA.
Capacitating smallholder farmers on agri-business management in Mid-Hills, Nepal
(News Item, 2024-09-03) K. C., Jibesh; Khadka, Manohara; Phuyal, Surendra; Ndibalema, Gloriana
Disaster risk management of land and water-related natural hazards for Africa’s central highlands: Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo - a review report
(Report, 2024-11-05) Lundh, A.; Barron, J.; Cofie, Olufunke; Tilahun, Seifu A.
As a consequence of climate change, changes in land use, and land management—especially in densely populated areas—numerous natural disasters, such as floods, storms, heatwaves, landslides, and droughts, are becoming increasingly frequent, with severe impacts on living conditions. This is the case for Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). At the same time, intense farming practices (particularly on sloped land), deforestation activities, mining extraction operations, challenges in agriculture water management, and soil erosion all contribute to increased land vulnerability. The purpose of this study was to review how the risks of natural disasters related to flooding, landslides, and soil erosion are assessed, measured, managed, and mitigated in the central highlands of Africa, specifically in Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC. In this process, the risks and the current status of disaster risk management, early warning systems, soil and land conservation practices, and risk mapping were investigated for the three countries. The literature review revealed a high risk for landslides, flooding, and soil erosion in the region. Risk maps covered the potential risks and helped identify the vulnerable areas. Most of them vary in spatial data, methods, and classifications. They rely on input data on elevation, slope, rainfall, lithology, soil texture, land use, land cover, and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The use of heterogeneous data sets and geographical regions in these risk maps may lead to diverging interpretations of potential risks and ‘hot spots’ in spatial terms and the underlying drivers of those risks. None of the risk maps take into account existing population vulnerabilities such as social protection, income levels, or readiness to act in an emergency, such as hospital access in an emergency. Risk maps could be an effective tool for supporting disaster risk management policies and implementations if they are nationally based and built on comprehensive, comparable, and reliable data. With the rise of climate change-related risks, the need for expended risk mapping is expected to grow. Vegetation cover, deep-rooted vegetation, and soil management practices such as terraces, green barriers, drainage systems for overflows, or similar physical structures are useful land management practices that can reduce risks. Such practices, however, are not in place to the necessary extent in the region. In the case of disaster risk management, although strategies and action plans do exist, the study faced significant constraints in verifying their implementation and therefore, their effectiveness. This assessment is also valid for the prevailing obstacles related to accessing accurate and quality data in general. It is recommended that this desk study be supplemented with interviews and local data collection to address the identified information gaps.
Inclusive landscape management for climate smart agrifood systems in West and Central Africa
(Brief, 2024-07-22) Atampugre, Gerald; Tilahun, Seifu Admassu; Cofie, Olufunke O.
ඵලදායී කෘෂිකාර්මික පිළිවෙත් හරහා සෞඛ්‍යාරක්ෂිතව සහ තිරසාරව එළවළු වගා කරන්නේ කෙසේද? (In Sinhalese)
(Video, 2024-03-12) International Water Management Institute
How to grow vegetables, safely and sustainably, through effective agricultural practices in Sri Lanka? This instructional video demonstrates how soil preparation, fertilizer application, seed planting and integrated pest management has successfully helped farmers increase their crop yield, reduce cultivation costs, and harvest safe vegetables. Over 75 farmers from Boralanda, Welimada and Damahana, Balangoda in Sri Lanka have learned about these agricultural practices to provide safe, diverse and abundant vegetables to consumers year-round. This is part of a collaboration between the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Department of Agriculture of Sri Lanka to improve agricultural practices among Sri Lankan farmers. IWMI researchers worked with field coordinators and farmers through the CGIAR initiative on “Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable and Healthy Diets” (FRESH).
Detection of hydrological alteration and soil erosion in a conserved tropical sub-humid ecosystem of Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2024-12) Tebeje, A. K.; Hussein, M. A.; Assefa, T. T.; Mhiret, D. A.; Zimale, F. A.; Abebe, W. B.; Adem, A. A.; Tilahun, Seifu A.; Desta, G.; Ahmed, M. A.
Soil erosion poses a significant challenge in the sub-humid Ethiopian highlands, yet research on the long-term effectiveness of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices in this region using pre- and post-conservation approaches remains limited. This study addresses this knowledge gap by evaluating the impact of SWC practices on water balance and soil erosion in the Debre Mawi watershed. The study covers two-period analyses: pre-conservation (2010–2014) and post-conservation (2015–2022) using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to simulate hydrological water balance. Hydrological changes were assessed with the Indicators of Hydrological Alteration (IHA) software. Spatial and weekly sediment distribution were also computed. Results showed the SWAT effectively simulated stream flow, though sediment yield estimation was less accurate. The data demonstrated a reduction in surface runoff by 18% and a decrease in sediment yield by 75%. Conversely, evapotranspiration and groundwater storage experienced increases of 13% and 34%, respectively. The decrease in runoff and sediment can be attributed to the implementation of SWC structures with infiltration furrows, which are presently filled with sediment. Moreover, the expansion of eucalyptus tree acreage may deplete soil water during dry periods, thereby prolonging the time needed for the soil to become saturated and produce runoff, but the impact has yet to be quantified. The IHA analysis confirmed a decrease in mean annual flow from 0.06 m3 /s to 0.02 m3 /s, and sediment concentration decreased from 831.2 mg/l to 285 mg/l between the pre-and post-conservation periods. The study detected that soil erosion is higher than the allowable limits recommended for Ethiopia even after implementing SWCPs. Additionally, sediment transport reduced after the first three weeks due to improved ground cover and soil stability, although significant amounts were recorded until the end of the rainy season, primarily from gullies. The study found significant hydrological alterations in flow and sediment dynamics following the implementation of SWC practices, particularly pronounced in the early years post-conservation (2015–2018). However, the effectiveness of SWC practices diminished over time, with conditions beginning to revert to pre-conservation levels after 10 years. This suggests that these techniques (infiltration furrows) may be unsuitable for sub-humid watersheds, or that they require improved design and major maintenance beyond the third year. This study offers valuable insights into the dynamics of SWC interventions, underscoring the importance of integrating agronomic practices with SWC efforts to sustain long-term soil and water conservation in Ethiopia’s sub-humid highlands. Future research should explore the hydrological effects of eucalyptus expansion and refine SWC practices suited to these unique conditions.
Urban flash flood hazard mapping using machine learning, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2024-09-01) Leggesse, E. S.; Derseh, W. A.; Zimale, F. A.; Tilahun, Seifu Admasu; Meshesha, M. A.
Increased frequency and magnitude of flooding pose a significant natural hazard to urban areas worldwide. Mapping flood hazard areas are crucial for mitigating potential damage to human life and property. However, conventional hydrodynamic approaches are hindered by their extensive data requirements and computational expenses. As an alternative solution, this paper explores the use of machine learning (ML) techniques to map flood hazards based on readily available geo-environmental variables. We employed various ML classifiers, including decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), XGBoost (XGB), and k-nearest neighbor (kNN), to assess their performance in flood hazard mapping. Model evaluation was conducted using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and root mean square error (RMSE). Our results demonstrated promising outcomes, with AUC values of 93% (DT), 97% (RF), 98% (XGB), and 91% (kNN) for the validation dataset. RF and XGB have slightly higher performance than DT and kNN and distance to river was the most important factor. The study highlights the potential of ML for urban flood modeling, offering reasonable accuracy and supporting early warning systems. By leveraging available geo-environmental variables, ML techniques provide valuable insights into flood hazard mapping, aiding in effective urban planning and disaster management strategies.
Advancing non-optical water quality monitoring in Lake Tana, Ethiopia: insights from machine learning and remote sensing techniques
(Journal Article, 2024-08-20) Leggesse, E. S.; Zimale, F. A.; Sultan, D.; Enku, T.; Tilahun, Seifu A.
Water quality is deteriorating in the world's freshwater bodies, and Lake Tana in Ethiopia is becoming unpleasant to biodiversity. The objective of this study is to retrieve non-optical water quality data, specifically total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations, in Lake Tana using Machine Learning (ML) techniques applied to Landsat 8 OLI imagery. The ML methods employed include Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Random Forest Regression (RF), XGBoost Regression (XGB), AdaBoost Regression (AB), and Gradient Boosting Regression (GB). The XGB algorithm provided the best result for TN retrieval, with determination coefficient (R2), mean absolute error (MARE), relative mean square error (RMSE) and Nash Sutcliff (NS) values of 0.80, 0.043, 0.52, and 0.81 mg/L, respectively. The RF algorithm was most effective for TP retrieval, with R2 of 0.73, MARE of 0.076, RMSE of 0.17 mg/L, and NS index of 0.74. These methods accurately predicted TN and TP spatial concentrations, identifying hotspots along river inlets and northeasters. The temporal patterns of TN, TP, and their ratios were also accurately represented by combining in-situ, RS and ML-based models. Our findings suggest that this approach can significantly improve the accuracy of water quality retrieval in large inland lakes and lead to the development of potential water quality digital services.

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