1. Some priorities for Water Management in Sub- Saharan Africa
View points from FARA
Alain L. ANGE
Technical Adviser to FARA

2. What happened so far - what challenges
Food security is a burning issue
Food production could not face demand for food
Huge expected population and food demand growth
Farmers did better while farm size stagnated
Very low pace of intensification
Poor development of irrigated areas
Poor water productivity in agriculture
Climate change will exacerbate risks in farming

3. Food security risk index – 2011 (FAO)
A sensitivity issue
Africa is the largest food insecure area and has the largest population of hungry people.
Food security = highest ranking component in development agenda

4. Food production could not match demand for food
Huge changes happened in production to consumption systems in last 30 years.
SSA Millions
Mouths to feed
Agricultural population
Consumer/ agric people
1980
369
258
1.43
2010
820
382
2.15
Growth
2.22
1.48
1.50
The cropped area doubled, production per capita dropped, imports soared
SSA – source FAO
1980 – M t
1980 – kg/cap.
2008 – M t
2008 – kg/cap.
Cereal production 51
138.1
109
139.7
Net Cereal imports
3.9
10.4
20.4
24.9
Food imports 10
27.3 33
42.2
Food exports
8.7
23.6
11.2
14.4
Exports industrial crops
3.8
10.2
5.7
7.3
The deficit of support to agriculture created a food deficit

5. Population and Food demand growth
An Exposure
For the next 30 years
SSA - millions
Mouth to feed
Agricultural population
Consumer/agric. people
2010
820
382
2.15
2040
1.467
527
2.78
Growth x x x
Food availability per capita should increase by 30% while food import per capita should decrease;
The average production by every agricultural people should increase by 90% for maintaining food imports at present level;
Degraded land should be restored and land degradation controlled.
A potential adaptive capacity

6. Farmers did better while farm size stagnated
Kg produced/
Agricultural people
1985
2008
Change %
Cereals
210.9
256.7
+ 22
Beans + Peas
15.6
23.9
+ 53
Oil Seeds
14.3
24.7
+ 73
Tubers + Bananas
355.9
540.6
+ 52
Fruits + Vegetables
78.8
103.0
+ 31
Perennial food crops
239.8
207.3
- 14
Non food crops
7.6
8.6
+ 13
Total average mass
922.9
+ 26
Ha cropped/ 10 agricultural people
3.490
3.806
+ 9
Small size of farm holdings is a factor of sensitiveness

7. Very low pace for intensification in SSA
In spite of considerable development efforts, intensification of farming is coming at very low pace in SSA:
Crop productivity increased by less than 15 % in last 20 years
Livestock productivity did not changed
Only 15% of farmers are using improved crop varieties
Fertilizer consumption increased less than the cropped area: 6kg nutrients/ha
Acreage of fully irrigated areas progressed less than total cropped areas
Mechanization/ motorization progressed less than number of rural people
Venues for supporting accelerated intensification of farming
Improved natural resource management /access at community level
Settling rural youth into enlarged / mechanized farming units
Improving access to water for agriculture
Developing effective production chains well connected to markets
Develop affordable agricultural credit and insurance systems
Organize farmers for resource management, mechanization, marketing

8. Poor development of irrigated areas - FAO
In 20 years fully irrigated areas + 41% - cropped area + 47% - Population + 67%
Sub- region - ha
Potential
Western
7,451,000
663,850
779,460
1,061,190
1,202,820
1,399,670#
Eastern
6,922,900
2,101,300
2,435,700
2,505,600
2,771,700
2,637,670#
Central
10,006,000
59,300
68,610
82,590
106,790
130,000#
Southern
11,538,500
2,625,400
2,760,520
3,120,700
3,330,400
3,570,000#
SSA
35,918,400
5,449,850
6,044,290
6,770,080
7,411,710
7,677,340#
Cultivated humid lowlands ►+11% in 20 years but swallowed by irrigated schemes
Sub- region - ha
Western
4,888,000
4,921,000 5,
5,286,100
5,360,800#
Eastern
222,400
180,400
183,600
190,400
200,000#
Central
78,000
97,500
125,000
162,500
Southern
183,900
184,900
182,000#
SSA
5,372,300
5,538,800
5,581,200
5,822,900
5,942,800#
# = estimated projection

9. Poor Water Productivity in agriculture in SSA

10. Climate Change will exacerbate risks in farming
Climate change in Sub Saharan Africa will affect water balances:
Substantially increase temperature and evaporation of water;
Generate heat waves that may wilt crops;
Increase rainfall variability - more showers and drought spells;
Destabilize run-off regimes – more floods and low waters;
Increase the energy of gales, hurricanes and typhoons;
Generate high tides in mangrove areas and related rice fields.
Climate change will also generate:
Geographical shifts of natural vegetation and animal species;
Changes in distribution of pests and diseases in agriculture;
Changes in distribution and intensity of human diseases;
Increased risks for wild fires.

11. Sensitivity and potentials for solutions
Poverty is the overwhelming constraint
Lack of institutional development is limiting response
Low public commitment for agriculture is hampering
Land development potentials are huge
Irrigation potentials are significant
Green and blue water available – blue water is short
Farming systems and livelihoods are diversified
Increasing energy and food prices, price volatility generate potentials and new limiting conditions as well

12. World distribution of poor people - 2010
Poverty = The most important component of sensitivity
Source FAO
Poverty reduction is key to development and a product from development
With 24% of poor people, Sub Saharan Africa is the most affected continent by poverty. In relation to population growth, poor people could be 350 millions by 2030 if MDG are only partially reached.

13. Lack of institutional development and policy commitment
Deficit of institutional development
No significant development of farmers’ unions in most countries;
Collapse of most cooperative movements
Very limited development of out-growers schemes and agreements in production chains supporting intensification
Deficit of policy commitment
Dar Es Salaam Declaration in March 2003 = 10% of budget for agriculture
In 2013, 7 countries out of 53 have increased agricultural budgets
Within CAADP, in 7 years, 11 countries have developed Investment Plans
No significant change in budget for irrigation in most Investment Plans
Regulations on water access, water pricing and water quality not available
Very good progress on the joint management of shared water basins

14. Land development potentialsC Y
Sub – Saharan Africa has huge arable land available – 800 million ha
Million ha
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
Suitable for rain-fed crops
Arable land use
Latin America – Sub Saharan – East – South – Near East – Industrialized – Transition and Caribbean Africa Asia Asia North Africa Countries Economies
Extending cropped area for larger farms with adequate mechanization

15. Irrigation PotentialsD P T I V E C Y
Huge expansion potential for irrigation
But potential is 1/3 of potential in South Asia for 3 fold more landmass.
Plans for irrigation development at national and watershed level;
Budget for irrigation infrastructure agreed upon;
Water-users associations promoted;
Water pricing regulated.

16. Diversity of Green and Blue water availability in SSA

17. Limitations for Blue Water availability in SSA

18. Farming/ livelihood systems in Africa
The diversity of farming conditions and agro-biodiversity are composing a capital for adaptation to increasing markets and to climate change
Extremely diverse and tightly natural resource depending
farming systems/ livelihoods generate adequate local responses.

19. Increasing energy and food prices
Energy price tripled in 10 years – Food prices increased by 80%
Both trends compose a major exposure to African economies
Energy cost will hit cost of irrigation
Food prices are only partially reflected in producers’ price

20. Priorities for improved water management
Improve the productivity of green water ensuring 90% of food production so far;
Promote land use planning and water harvesting where possible
Develop irrigated rice production while sharply reducing water consumption
Rationalize traditional water use for irrigated vegetables and fruits and improve safety of waste water recycling
Promote wherever economically viable complementary irrigation, in particular for maize production
Organize the recharge of ground water bodies
Address water pricing issues to improve efficient water use
Address by regulations and enforcement water pollution from agricultural/ non agricultural activities

21. Recent land use developments 1 – 1000 ha
Country
KENYA
ETHIOPIA
BURUNDI
CAMEROON
Year
1990
2010
Cereals
1,785.4
2,542.4
4,957.4
9,233.0
217.5
237.0
648.2
1,717.6
% irrigated
0.7
0.8
0.5
5.5
10.8
1.7
3.1
Legumes+oil seeds
956.6
1,275.9
1,234.4
2,281.7
273.3
284.7
421.6
975.6
Roots + tubers + bananas
240.3
355.3
484.8
1,107.4
496.5
611.6
555.3
918.4
% irrigated + humid land
5.1
10.3
20.7
44.9
Industrial crops
429.3
515.6
575.4
837.8
60.4
29.6
902.1
1,341.3
9.4
13.3
2.7
2.3
16.1
Vegetables + fruits
172.8
331.3
524.3
912.9
45.1
70.4
345.9
823.3
71.2
52.5
86.3
86.7
60.3
66.8
68.1
83.2
TOTAL crops
3,584.4
5,020.5
7,776.3
1,092.8
1,229.2
2,872.6
5,776.3
Total irrigated + humid land
163.5
242.7
487.1
939.6
142.2
212.5
391.4
738.2
IRRIGATED - FAO
66.6
116.0
219.0
350.4
14.4
30.8
21.0
34.2

22. Recent land use developments 2 – 1000 ha
Country
Benin
Burkina Faso
Ghana
Mali
Year
1990
2010
Cereals
643.9
2,529.9
4,291.5
853.0
1,602.1
2,438.7
% irrigated
1.2
3.8
0.9
3.1
5.7
11.3
8.1
17.5
Legumes+oil seeds
210.2
348.1
660.3
277.0
606.9
493.0
648.8
Roots + tubers + bananas
221.6
509.7
8.9
9.8
714.3
1,873.9
7.4
24.3
% irrigated + humid land
0.7
20.1
20.9
34.4
Industrial crops
166.5
415.1
212.4
515.2
884.6
2,031.7
258.6
343.3
0.4
2.0
1.8
1.4
Vegetables + fruits
113.7
154.6
42.1
56.9
195.6
423.0
84.3
143.1
55.9
61.3
68.5
67.3
52.3
42.2
66.5
62.8
Total crops
1,355.8
2,476.1
3,453.6
6,839.9
2,824.5
6,537.6
3,281.9
5,128.5
Total Irrigated + humid land
74.9
140.0
56.1
176.6
151.3
359.7
255.8
787.4
Irrigated -FAO
9.7
23.0
15.4
21.4
2.6
30.3
18.0
430.0

23. Recent land use developments 3 – 1000 ha
Country
Nigeria
Cameroon
Madagascar
South Africa
Year
1990
2010
Cereals
15,400.0
16,104.7
648.2
1,717.6
1,326.9
2,108.9
6,156.9
3,548.0
% irrigated
7.8
15.1
1.7
3.1
87.8
85.7
30.0
43.0
Legumes+oil seeds
3,482.8
6,337.7
421.6
975.6
99.2
149.2
861.4
881.7
7.0
35.3
Roots + tubers + bananas
3,248.8
8,519.7
555.3
918.4
534.3
628.7
92.1
89.5
% irrigated + humid land
1.2
14.9
7.3
12.3
8.0
9.7
100
Industrial crops
4,101.5
5,985.6
902.2
1,341.3
510.5
383.7
427.1
283.9
0.5
16.1
10.8
12.7
24.8
67.7
95.1
Vegetables + fruits
3,946.4
345.8
823.2
192.8
250.0
342.6
435.0
52.2
60.8
68.2
83.2
21.3
Total crops
28,559.9
40,510.4
2,872.6
5,776.3
2,663.7
3,550.6
7,881.1
5,237.9
Total Irrigated + humid land
2,536.2
5,174.1
417.1
936.6
1,371.1
2,085.2
2,715.4
2,632.5
Irrigated -FAO
232.8
330.0
21.0
34.2
1,087.0
1,084.0
1,200.0
1,670.0

24. Conclusions
Investments for irrigation have been high in few countries only; In most cases, the expansion of the cropped area has been at least as high as the expansion of irrigated areas; A large proportion of irrigation takes place in humid lowlands, taping surface and shallow ground waters through archaic systems; Irrigation is developed for rice production in modern irrigation schemes and in humid lowlands and for vegetable production in humid lowlands; Only in South Africa irrigation is largely developed for maize, soybeans and eventually canola production and for intensive fruit production. Irrigation has more impact on nutrition quality than on food security in most countries, while in the Sahel zone, it significantly contributes to the supply of grains. Increasing public and private investments for irrigation should be combined with improved water efficiency and water productivity

25. THANK YOU aange@fara-africa.org