Irrigated agriculture can make an important contribution to food security, improved nutrition and rural prosperity. For most rural regions of low-income countries, there are no alternatives to agriculture-led growth. Irrigation can be an effective way of promoting growth and reducing poverty. Whilst competition for water is often fierce, agriculture should not be a low priority. Policies that promote a mix of uses stand a better chance of helping the poor.

Research by HR Wallingford and Imperial College, London and their partners looks at six small-scale irrigation projects in Bangladesh and Nepal. In both countries, the impacts on people are largely positive, although there is some room for improvement. In the districts studied, irrigation has resulted in increased yields. This has contributed to an improvement in national food supply. Greater farm productivity has also led to new agricultural and non-agricultural employment opportunities.

In Bangladesh, irrigation allows high-yielding varieties of rice to be grown earlier in the season. This has created jobs for landless people, and those in non-farm trades linked to the agricultural economy. Food security has increased, and as incomes have risen, education and health standards have improved. However, the trend towards growing just rice rather than a mixture of crops (known as mono-cropping), can cause a decline in soil fertility, and a reduction in the wetlands and forests used by the poor. In some places, irrigation systems have benefited large-scale farmers more than the poor. This concern has, however, been reduced to some extent by increasing access to money, water and equipment for smaller farmers.

In Nepal, irrigation has increased the range of crops that can be grown each year and access to food has improved. Employment opportunities have expanded, and higher incomes have led to greater investments in education. The environmental impacts of irrigation appear less serious than in Bangladesh. In fact, pressure on forests and marginal lands has declined, although irrigation is associated with increased soil erosion in some places.

The research has found the following:

• Irrigation is an effective tool for poverty reduction, giving improved levels and security of agricultural production, employment and incomes.
• Irrigated agriculture cannot function alone. Integrated packages of infrastructure and services to support farm growth are necessary if irrigation is to be successful.
• Good access to markets and understanding of improved seed varieties and fertilisers is essential if irrigation is to be successful.
• Cohesive societies are more likely to co-operate in maintaining community irrigation systems and managing any negative environmental impacts.

Irrigation that works for small farmers and the poor, and does not erode the natural resource base, depends on good policies. There are several areas where further interventions are needed. These include:

• improved access to markets for selling crops, through improved roads
• better money lending schemes to allow poor farmers to take advantage of improved crop varieties and fertilisers
• adopting policies for more diverse agriculture that makes better use of research and extension
• enforceable rights to water access, guidelines on water use, and institutions for water management.

Reducing poverty must become the focus of future irrigation policies. This should include protection of the existing rights of the poor (ensuring access to land is not reduced, for example). The provision of information about irrigation projects also needs to be focused more towards poor people. Irrigation has an important role to play in reducing rural poverty and achieving food security, but needs careful policy support to deliver maximum benefits and to minimise risks.

Source(s):
'Irrigation can sustain rural livelihoods: evidence from Bangladesh and Nepal', HR Wallingford , by T. Brabben, C. Angood, J. Skutsch and L.Smith, January 2004
‘Contribution of irrigation to sustaining rural livelihoods’, KAR Project R7879, by N. Hasnip, S. Mandal, J. Morrison, P. Pradhan and L. Smith, September 2001 Full document.
‘Contribution of irrigation to sustaining rural livelihoods: Nepal case study’, KAR Project R7879, by C. Angood, F. Chancellor, N. Hasnip, J. Morrison and L. Smith, March 2002 Full document.

Funded by: Department for International Development, UK

id21 Research Highlight: 13 January 2005

Further Information:
T. Brabben
HR Wallingford Ltd
Howbery Park
Wallingford
Oxon
OX10 8BA
UK

Tel: +44 (0) 1491 822310
Fax: +44 (0) 1491 825916
Contact the contributor: t.brabben@hrwallingford.co.uk

HR Wallingford

Imperial College London

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