Institutional innovation and smart water management technologies in small-scale irrigation schemes in southern Africa

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on the introduction of SWM technology, soil moisture and nutrient monitoring tools, alongside Agricultural Innovation Platforms (AIP) in three small-scale irrigation schemes in southern Africa. Quantitative and qualitative data are presented on the changes and benefits that have resulted, including increased yield and profitability. The findings emphasize that information prior and subsequent to adoption is needed, and the importance of understanding and enhancing the incentive framework for behavioural change, including both economic and physical returns. The findings illustrate SWM technology is strengthened when introduced with credible multi-stakeholder processes, such as an AIP, that facilitate institutional innovation.

KEYWORDS:

• Smart water management
• small-scale communal irrigation schemes
• institutional innovation
• Southern Africa
• technology adoption

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1.. Unless otherwise noted, this section draws predominantly from Van Rooyen et al. (2017b) and Bjornlund et al. (2018).

2.. VIA development is the focus of another ACIAR project ‘A Virtual Irrigation Academy to improve Water Productivity in Malawi, Tanzania and South Africa’ managed by CSIRO Land and Water.

Additional information

Funding

This study was part of the project ‘Transforming small-scale irrigation in southern Africa’ partially funded by the Australian Government via the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (FSC-2013-006 and LWR/2016/137). The project was also supported by the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE) and CGIAR Fund Donors.