Water Harvesting in Sub-Saharan Africa - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0415537738 ISBN 13: 9780415537735

Publisher: Routledge, 2012

Synopsis

Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa is constrained by highly variable rainfall, frequent drought and low water productivity. There is an urgent need, heightened by climate change, for appropriate technologies to address this problem through managing and increasing the quantity of water on farmers’ fields – water harvesting. This book defines water harvesting as a set of approaches which occupy an intermediate position along the water-management spectrum extending from in situ moisture conservation to irrigated agriculture. They generally comprise small-scale systems that induce, collect, store and make use of local surface runoff for agriculture. 

The authors review development experience and set out the state of the art of water harvesting for crop production and other benefits in Sub-Saharan Africa. This includes an assessment of water harvesting schemes that were initiated two or three decades ago when interest was stimulated by the droughts of the 1970s and 1980s. These provide lessons to promote sustainable development of dryland agriculture in the face of changing environmental conditions. Case studies from eight countries across Sub-Saharan Africa provide the evidence base. Each follows a similar format and is based on assessments conducted in collaboration with in-country partners, with a focus on attempts to promote adoption of water harvesting, both horizontally (spread) and vertically (institutionalization). Introductory cross-cutting chapters as well as an analytical conclusion are also included.

About this title

Product Description:

Water Harvesting in Sub-Saharan Africa Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa is constrained by highly variable rainfall, frequent drought and low water productivity. There is an urgent need, heightened by climate change, for appropriate technologies to address this problem through managing and increasing the quantity of water on farmers' fields - water harvesting. This book defines water harvesting as a set of approaches which occupy an in... Full description

Review:

"This important and timely book addresses one of the most critical issues related to water and food security – enhancing the role of rainfed agriculture... The book addresses the vital question of how to make this happen, and thus provides critical information to practitioners and researchers. The authors argue that there is little time to waste; and while more research is certainly valuable, enough is known to go forward with confidence. That surely is an important message" – from the foreword by David Molden, Director General of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Nepal, former Deputy Director General of the International Water Management Institute and Leader of the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0415537738
• ISBN 13: 9780415537735
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224
• Editor: Critchley William, Gowing John