Works [Overseas] Africa
Information Correction Survey for the Expansion of the Community-Based Smallholder Irrigation (COBSI), African Region |
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2021 - 2023
The major challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the unstable production depending on rainfed agriculture. Only around 7% of arable land is irrigated. In addition, there are many cases where irrigation facilities are not functioning properly due to inadequate maintenance and management. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) started implementing Community-Based Smallholder Irrigation (COBSI) development in Malawi (2002) and Zambia (2009). COBSI started by constructing simple weirs "to obtain water for irrigation by stopping the river flow" using locally available materials such as wood, grass, soil, etc., to practice irrigated agriculture in the dry season. As a result, farmers could cultivate throughout the year, irrigating with rainwater during the rainy season and river water during the dry season. This survey targeted all 49 countries in SSA to survey and identify the possibility of expansion of the COBSI. Those countries were assessed through satellite image analysis to identify the potential of available water resources, then further narrowed down for field surveys by taking their statistical information, etc. The target countries were five countries (Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Madagascar), where detailed field surveys were conducted, and the potential of implementation for COBSI was recognized. In addition, a roadmap draft, etc., was prepared as a proposal to expand the COBSI across SSA. |
