Garden irrigation for improving agricultural sustainability in dryland areas

Abstract

Agricultural practices in arid and semi-arid areas of Africa have been developed in response to an unpredictable climate. Farmers compensate for unreliable rainfall by cultivating large areas and/or by herding cattle and other livestock. These are reasonable strategies where population densities are low. However, with increasing population pressure and the possibility of climatic change, these practices are becoming increasingly hazardous. Small-scale or garden irrigation in conjunction with improved rainfed farming practices and livestock management can be used to improve agricultural sustainability in semi-arid areas. This paper discusses the role of garden irrigation as part of improved and integrated resource management at the catchment scale. Recent advances in developing ground-water resources for garden irrigation and in techniques to use this water more efficiently are also discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on garden irrigation in sub-Saharan Africa and research results from Zimbabwe.