The director-general of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Dr. Mark Smith has reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to supporting the development of irrigation systems for smallholder farmers to ensure better livelihoods and strengthen agricultural economies across Africa.
Smith made this known during the 6th Africa Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage (ARCID) held in Abuja, themed “Tackling Irrigation Development and Water Management Crises in Africa.”
According to Smith, IWMI, a research institute operating across Asia and Africa, focuses on water management strategies that enable countries to support irrigation development. He emphasised the importance of assisting smallholder farmers in building resilience, improving yields and securing their livelihoods through well-structured irrigation systems.
“To manage floodwaters effectively for irrigation in Nigeria and other African countries, we must implement reliable flood early warning systems that inform farmers of impending risks, allowing them to prepare and recover faster,” Smith said.
He highlighted the importance of risk management in irrigation investment, noting that developing financial tools and insurance mechanisms to mitigate risk is critical for farmers. “Early warning systems, access to finance and resilient infrastructure can turn floodwater from a threat into an opportunity,” he added.
He emphasised that floodwater should not be seen purely as a disaster but as a valuable resource if appropriately harnessed. He recommended several strategies, including small-scale rainwater harvesting structures on farms, enabling aquifer recharge for groundwater extraction during the dry season and investing in large-scale water storage infrastructure such as dams and reservoirs. In addition, he stressed the role of wetlands and natural storage systems in absorbing floodwater and releasing it gradually for agricultural use.
“We need to store some of the floodwater for future use. This includes small-scale, on-farm rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge through natural aquifers and the development of large-scale storage systems. Preserving wetlands and soil systems also helps store floodwater naturally and release it gradually. A balanced approach is critical for ensuring farmers can make the most of water resources, especially during dry periods,” Smith explained.
Smith also advocated for a farmer-centric approach in irrigation planning and development. “Farmers must be at the centre of irrigation systems. This means prioritising their needs, giving them access to information, technology and financing, and involving them in management processes. They must also be linked to markets to ensure the sustainability of irrigation initiatives,” he said.
He concluded that by adopting these strategies, countries like Nigeria could convert flood risks into agricultural benefits, enhancing food security and economic stability.
Also speaking, the president of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), Dr. Marco Arcieri noted that the conference was timely, given the mounting global and regional challenges related to water scarcity. He pointed to innovations such as desalination, brine management and green hydrogen as emerging solutions that could be explored in Africa to address water stress.
Arcieri urged African nations to harness new technologies to increase the availability of fresh water and manage water resources more efficiently.
In a presentation at the conference, the national project coordinator of the ACReSAL project, Mr. Abduhamid Umar explained that the project supports farmers in northern Nigeria through the promotion of farmer-led irrigation, particularly using shallow groundwater resources. He disclosed that approximately 5.4 million hectares of land in the region had been identified as suitable for irrigation farming.
He also highlighted key barriers facing irrigation expansion, including the lack of affordable financing, limited technical and agronomic knowledge and poor access to agricultural markets.
“Our approach includes identifying suitable irrigation technologies based on local conditions, improving farmers’ access to finance using a market-based strategy and building connections between farmers, suppliers and agri-businesses. We also aim to enhance farmer knowledge of best water-use practices,” Umar stated.
Also contributing, Dr. Adebayo Oke, an irrigation engineer and international researcher based in Accra, Ghana, noted that IWMI had achieved notable success in agricultural transformation through its work on the Technology for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme. Under this African Development Bank-backed initiative, IWMI has introduced efficient irrigation and water-saving techniques to transform agricultural productivity.
He said IWMI had supported farmers in Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana to improve rice yields significantly. According to him, IWMI’s training of lead farmers and agricultural station officers in water management practices had led to yield improvements from 2 tonnes per hectare to as high as 6–8 tonnes.
“We’ve helped introduce proven water-saving technologies, better field management and capacity-building programmes for both farmers and local extension agents. This has had a direct impact on food security,” Oke stated.
Echoing similar sentiments, deputy country and regional representative for IWMI in Ghana, Dr. Birhanu Zamadim emphasised the institute’s focus on promoting farmer-led irrigation development (FLEET). He explained that this model puts farmers at the center of planning, implementation and management of irrigation systems.
“FLEET is farmer-centered and emphasises inclusivity, particularly involving smallholder farmers in decisions about irrigation infrastructure. It’s easier to manage and scale because the people who need the systems are directly involved in managing them,” Zamadim said.
He noted that IWMI was expanding its presence in Nigeria through new partnerships and large programs like the World Bank-supported ACReSAL project and other initiatives funded by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC). “With this new office and growing partnerships, we can expand the FLEET model and deepen our footprint in Nigeria,” he added.
He affirmed that IWMI’s partnership model engages not only national governments and international donors but also the private sector, creating a collaborative space for long-term irrigation development that benefits smallholder farmers.
Science Nigeria reports that the IWMI’s expansion into Nigeria is expected to deepen support for research-driven, farmer-led irrigation systems, helping small-scale farmers build resilience against climate shocks and improve food production. As the climate crisis intensifies, experts say building efficient, inclusive and adaptable irrigation systems will be crucial to ensuring food security across Africa.
The 6th Africa Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage brought together policymakers, researchers, engineers and development partners to collectively tackle the irrigation and water management challenges across the continent. The focus remained clear: empowering farmers, harnessing natural water systems, investing in technology and creating long-term systems that ensure sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods.
