Strengthening agricultural water efficiency and productivity on the African and global Level
This report (PDF) by FAO targets agricultural water extension agents and technical experts, providing them with clear indications on how to improve water harvesting capacity for agricultural production as well as how to select feasible and suited water harvesting techniques for different geographical areas. The assessment outlined in this report forms part of the ‘Strengthening Agricultural Water Efficiency and Productivity on the African and Global Level’ project, which aims at reducing hunger and poverty in three African countries (Burkina Faso, Morocco and Uganda) by focusing on the improvement of agriculture water management and mainstreaming it in national frameworks and processes. This report summaries the assessment of 42 water harvesting best practices across the three case study countries using Multi-Criteria Analysis. Water harvesting holds a great potential in increasing yields and improving food security in rain-fed farming areas such as those found in Morocco, Burkina Faso and Uganda. One important way in which water harvesting contributes to more productive and climate resilient rain-fed systems is by influencing microclimates. In the three countries it emerges that a combination of measures, rather than stand-alone techniques, is the most effective way to match the flexibility needed to increase crop production across the range of farming communities present in these regions.