Sep 08, 2006

Low-Tech Approaches to Water Yield Better Results

by Laura Starita

As many as 2 billion people worldwide today live with insufficient water resources, and the question that plagues experts is whether the planet will run out of fresh water to irrigate crops. In the past, governments have tried to alleviate irrigation challenges in water-poor areas by investing in high-cost, high-tech irrigation projects. But the large-scale, high-tech route is not the solution according to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, as reported by The Economist. The group has conducted a comprehensive assessment over the past five years and found that small projects yield big returns.

For example, “A recent study of vegetable farmers in Ghana…found that those irrigating their fields with wastewater carried by buckets earned a 230% return on their investment, versus 30% for big state-sponsored schemes.“ The assessment also advocates modest investment in rain-fed agriculture to improve productivity in poor regions. “In Tanzania rainwater harvesting allows farmers to grow rice or vegetables instead of staples like sorghum and maize. These dearer crops bring in at least twice the revenue and up to seven times as much in good years.“

More interesting examples of how thinking small can make a big difference.

Economist: Pay Dirt: Financing Water Projects