Climate change could intensify Sahel conflicts

Significance It will increase rainfall variability and extreme events such as droughts and floods, as well as raising temperatures. These effects may trigger cascading risks to economic, social and political stability. Impacts The EU could play a key role in moderating climate effects as it shapes migration and security policy in the Sahel. The likelihood and severity of climate impacts will depend on socio-economic and political conditions in the region. Small-scale irrigation, climate-adapted seeds and traditional soil conservation techniques can help increase resilience to climate change.

Etude Comparative De La Rentabilité Des Systèmes De Pompage Solaire Et Thermique Sur Le Périmètre Irrigué De Soumarana Au Niger

Le Niger dispose d’important potentiel de terre irrigable et plusieurs formes d’irrigation ont été développées notamment la petite irrigation, afin de réduire la dépendance de la production vis-à-vis des aléas climatiques. L’objectif de ce travail est de justifier le besoin de vulgariser la technologie des équipements de pompage solaire. Pour cela une enquête technicoéconomique a été conduite auprès d’un échantillon de 80 exploitants choisis de manière aléatoire sur le périmètre irrigué de Soumarana, à raison de 40 irrigants utilisant des systèmes de pompage thermique et 40 des systèmes de pompage photovoltaïque. Les cultures de carotte et d’oignon, étant les principales spéculations, ont été retenues pour conduire l’étude afin de comparer les performances de systèmes de pompage en place. Il ressort de l’analyse des résultats que le système de pompage solaire dégage des marges brutes nettement supérieure à celles du système de pompage thermique avec des différences de l’ordre de 402 148 FCFA/ha et 342 812 FCFA/ha respectivement pour la culture de carotte et celle de l’oignon. De même, le coût du pompage du mètre cube d’eau en système de pompage solaire est nettement inférieur à celui du système de pompage thermique avec respectivement 57,27 FCFA/m3 et 80,75 FCFA/m3. Ces résultats indiquent une meilleure performance du système de pompage solaire comparativement au système thermique. Niger Republic has significant potential for irrigable land and several forms of irrigation have been developed, including small-scale irrigation, in order to reduce the dependence of production on climatic hazards. The objective of this study is to justify the need to popularize solar pumping equipment technology. To this purpose, a techno-economic survey was conducted among a sample of 80 farmers chosen randomly in the Soumarana irrigated area, at the rate of 40 farmers under fuel powered pumping system and 40 under photovoltaic pumping system. Carrot and onion crops, being the main speculations, were selected to conduct the study to compare both pumping systems performances. The analysis of the results shows that the solar pumping system has higher gross margins than the fuel powered pumping system with differences of the order of 402 148 FCFA/ha and 342 812 FCFA/ha respectively for carrot and onion crops. Similarly, the cost of pumping per cubic meter in the solar pumping system was clearly lower than that of the fuel powered pumping system with respectively 57.27 FCFA/m3 and 80.75 FCFA/m3. These results indicate a better performance of the solar pumping system compared to the fuel powered ones

Stakeholder consultations on small-scale irrigation schemes’ constraints in Zimbabwe

Small-scale irrigation schemes (SSIS) have been considered a solution to viability challenges in drought-stricken farming areas in developing countries. However, the schemes face severe constraints. In this paper, relevant constraints are identified and ranked in terms of how serious the limitations are from the perspective of stakeholders in drought-prone areas of the Chipinge District in Zimbabwe. Information for the study was gained through a questionnaire and focus group discussions with small-scale irrigation farmers as well as key informant interviews with government irrigation officials, irrigation managers and members of the local community leadership. The information was garnered between August and December in 2017 with the analysis conducted using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis, guided by the Theory of Constraints and classified in the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal (PESTEL) framework. Results indicated that SSIS are important in the drought-prone areas of the Chipinge District regarding food security and income generation. However, technical issues bedevilling the schemes are considered to be the most challenging limitations. The most important constraints—ranked in descending order of gravity—are technical, economic, social, environmental, legal and political challenges. Based on these findings, the research strongly recommends modernising small-scale irrigation schemes’ infrastructure, among other issues, as a priority in Zimbabwe's drought-prone areas.

Evaluation of Hydraulic Performance On Lower Areb Small Scale Irrigation Scheme Amhara, Ethiopia

This study was conducted in the Lower Areb small-scale irrigation scheme for one crop season from March to May 2018 to evaluate the hydraulic performance of the scheme by estimating the hydraulic performance indicators, physical performance indicators, and maintenance performance indicators. The primary data including water flow rate, soil physical properties, and water infiltration were collected. The secondary data collected were climatic, crop data, and data from different reports and design documents including the irrigation water users' interviews. The hydraulic performance of the irrigation scheme was evaluated by estimating adequacy, efficiency, dependability, and equity indicators at nine selected offtakes; three each at the head, middle, and tail reaches of the scheme. The physical performance and maintenance indicators were determined using the irrigation ratio, the sustainability of the irrigated area, the effectiveness of infrastructure, and the water surface elevation ratio. The data were analyzed by using CROPWAT 8.0, ARC GIS 10.1 software, and Microsoft Excel 2013. The overall average values of adequacy, efficiency, dependability, and equity were found to be 0.89. 0.91, 0.096 and 0.07 respectively. Therefore, dependability, equity, and efficiency were under good condition and adequacy was under fair condition. The irrigation ratio and sustainability of irrigated areas were 54% and 123% respectively. The effectiveness of infrastructure and water surface elevation ratios were 73.33% and 94% respectively.