A comparative review of water management sustainability challenges in smallholder irrigation schemes in Africa and Asia

Abstract

This article reviews the performance, problems and challenges of water management sustainability of farmer-managed smallholder irrigation schemes in Africa. The review draws a comparison with the situation in Asian countries, highlighting the major obstacles to the sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes. The objective is to show the differences in water management between Asia and Africa, highlighting best practices from the Asian experience from which African countries can learn to make their irrigation schemes more resilient. The aspects discussed include: the record of achievement, farmers’ participation and involvement, capital cost recovery, reforms in the land tenure and water management; institutional management, traditional knowledge and management systems, water markets and adaptation to increasing water scarcity in the face of climate change.