Action research for social learning and water governance – a facilitative service approach

Bruce Lankford24 November 2010. SESSION 6: Case studies on Knowledge support systems CTA Conference, South Africa

Responding to scale in water mgt and food security – irrigation expansion and water allocation

Long-term engagement using action-research programmes (5-10 years)

(Test) Framework of mono/polycentric governance

Facilitate change management including gaming approach to natural resource management

Scientists as brokers of knowledge; multi/trans-disciplinarity

Promotion of local experts, leaders, artisans as catalysts of community learning and infrastructural redesign

Action-research for water management

Food/water security in Sub-Saharan Africa: expansion with water allocation

Current irrigation 13 million ha irrigated215 million ha cultivated6% of total is irrigatedCompared to 37% AsiaOpportunities to increase

Policy questionsHow to increase areaImprove performance of existing areas

At low cost Not stress river basinsWater → other sectors

Micro-technologies inappropriate (ICRISAT “African Market Gardens”)

Treadle pumps

Micro-irrigation kits

Row crops – perishable veg & fruit Near urban centres Lift of <0.5 metre ideally Treadle work-effort equiv 0.5 ha = 0.6 million Joules/day$20-$100 bucket kits = Cost US$5-10K/haGovernance of diffuse vs point demandCumulative irrigated area can deplete small catchments

Implementing irrigation reform and expansion; recognising conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Large distances and distant communities/sectorsHigh levels of water unpredictability and variability Data scarcityLack of administrative reachFiscal constraints Irrigation systems (with many thousands of farmers) account for 60-80% depletion of freshwater?

Horizontal (geographic) scale

‘Remote complexity’

Vertical reach of scale (As ecologists say “there’s plenty of room at the bottom”)

Smallholder irrigation – in southern Tanzania

System are fractal – replicating bifurcations

River systemMain canal systemSecondaryTertiaryFarmFieldBund/rowCrop plantCrop branchLeafStomata

April 7, 2023

Scale & localisation: forms of polycentrismRequire modular units

Breaking large basins down into smaller units of management

Facilitating water management – role of experts mediating local policies

Devolving responsibilityFacilitating local ownershipLocal bye-laws Problem resolutionTechnological choice Top-enders Tail-enders

Current costs for irrigation new-build & rehabilitation (FAO, WB, JICA, EU) approx $10,000/haLocal artisanal engineers to keep costs of irrigation investments below $5000/ha, while aiming for less than $2-3K/ha

Controlling costs: putting users into water policy and delivery

Formal designed irrigation headworks

– too expensive?

Replace this type of support thinking

“Farmers must be trained on soil and water technologies to enhance crop production and food security”

ASARECA. 2006 Maputo Workshop statement www.asareca.org/swmnet

With this kind of support thinking:

What training needs arise when we facilitate dialogue and local policy-making? When we bring farmers from top- and tail-end systems together while handing them responsibility to allocate water between irrigators, systems and to downstream sectors?

Engaging with irrigators’ knowledge

Food and water security – sustainable irrigated areaVertical and horizontal scale challengesHuman capacity & skills investments Governance architecture; polycentrismScientists as mediators (transformative agents)Water users & local engineers as water experts

Framework to accommodate thisLong-term, large action-research projects: supporting & creating local ability/responsibility for water policy

Conclusions