Ethiopia is stepping up efforts to expand irrigation as the country seeks to transform agricultural production, strengthen food security and reduce the vulnerability of farmers to increasingly unpredictable rainfall. The renewed focus on irrigation reflects a broader shift in Ethiopia’s agricultural strategy, with greater emphasis being placed on year-round production, improved water management and the ...

Nigeria is being encouraged to place irrigation farming at the centre of its agricultural development strategy as experts warn that long-term food security will depend on reducing the country’s reliance on unpredictable rainfall. Agricultural stakeholders say recent improvements in food availability and easing prices demonstrate the positive impact of government interventions, but caution that these ...

Mozambique is appealing to international development partners to help unlock climate finance that will enable the country to expand irrigation infrastructure and build a more resilient agricultural sector in the face of increasing climate-related challenges. Agriculture Minister Roberto Albino made the call during the launch of the Mozambique Irrigation Platform in Maputo, where he stressed ...

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $140 million loan to support a major irrigation and agricultural development programme in Uganda, aimed at strengthening food security, increasing climate resilience and creating thousands of jobs. The financing, provided through the African Development Fund, will support the Uganda Multipurpose Water for Climate Resilient Irrigation Development and ...

Ethiopia has reported robust growth in domestic wheat production, supported by expanded irrigation projects and improved seed distribution programmes. Government officials say large-scale irrigation schemes have enabled year-round cultivation in regions previously dependent on seasonal rainfall. This has significantly boosted yields and reduced vulnerability to drought conditions that have historically disrupted output. Ethiopia has traditionally ...

By Brandon Moss  Ethiopia has launched two major irrigation canal projects in its Somali Regional State, marking a significant investment in domestic wheat production and food security. The projects in Godey and Adadle districts are designed to reduce reliance on fuel-powered irrigation pumps and stabilise wheat output in drought-prone areas. Strategic Shift Toward Food Self-Sufficiency ...

Ethiopia is pioneering a farmer-driven irrigation development model that marks a paradigm shift in agricultural water management and smallholder empowerment. Under the new framework, farmers take ownership of irrigation systems with government facilitation and technical support, fostering more responsive and cost-effective water use strategies. From Centralised to Community-Led Water Systems Unlike traditional top-down irrigation projects, ...

Across Africa and beyond, women are playing a central role in agriculture, transforming food systems, improving nutrition, and strengthening rural economies. While they often work with limited resources, women farmers are proving to be innovators, leaders and custodians of sustainable food production. Women: The Backbone of Food Systems Women make up a significant share of ...

African governments are elevating irrigation from a niche intervention to a national strategy for climate resilience and agri‑productivity. Ministries are combining rehabilitated canals and solar pump rollouts with farmer‑level irrigation schemes to increase cropping intensity and support high‑value horticulture and export crops. Development banks and bilateral partners are structuring blended finance that covers feasibility, training, ...

Small-scale solar-powered irrigation pumps are rapidly increasing dry-season production for smallholder farmers across parts of Southern Africa. Where diesel and grid electricity were unaffordable or unreliable, solar pumps now enable multiple production cycles of high-value vegetables and increase household nutrition through year-round availability of leafy greens. Farmers adopting solar irrigation report improved yields, steady supply ...