Abstract
The greater competing demand for water requires an efficient use of water resources. Therefore, an optimum management is necessary in order to deal with the constraining factors. In African countries, irrigated agriculture is the largest user of surface water resources. Nevertheless, recent assessments in small-scale surface irrigation schemes resulted in poor performance indicators: Water use efficiency indicators of existing schemes are below 50 percent, owing to inadequate management modes. The paper sheds the light on the potential development of a decision-support system based knowledge with the Mapping System and Services for Canal Operation Techniques approach, merged with the MIKEHydro Basin model as a versatile and flexible framework conceived for a large variety of applications in small-scale irrigation. The model aims to improve water service, increase irrigation efficiency, comply with socio-economic objectives at country level. In order to address the prevailing heterogeneity of small-scale irrigation scheme, numerous variables are adjusted in the model, in terms of cropping patterns, climate data, and irrigation time. The evaluation of established water balance under different scenarios showed that tackling supply-driven scheduling and distributive issues significantly increases efficiency. Nevertheless, water allocation according to socio-economic objectives of food security and market security implies trading off the efficiency objectives.
Highlights
Increasing water resources management complexities and constraints have become challenging issues for several reasons
Water allocation according to socio-economic objectives of food security and market security implies trading off the efficiency objectives
The research study was conducted with the objectives of evaluating the opportunities to develop a knowledge-based decision support system (DSS) in the Mubuku Irrigation Scheme, for the optimal allocation of water resources, to enhance water use efficiency and water productivity in small-scale schemes
Summary
Increasing water resources management complexities and constraints have become challenging issues for several reasons. A greater competing demand for water requires an efficient use of a finite and irreplaceable resource. Optimum management of available water resources is necessary in order to deal with all these factors, that are negatively affecting valuable resources for agricultural production [1]. What are the revealed factors constraining sustainable water resource use? In order to judiciously plan the development of water resources, performance indicator such as irrigation efficiency should be evaluated through water balance approach. Matching delivered water supply to water demand allows for more efficient water use without posing a threat to farmers’ productivity. Implications require careful considerations in terms of irrigation infrastructures development (i.e., planning and design), management (i.e., operation and maintenance), and by taking into account all technical, socio-economic, and environmental issues [13]
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