In many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the sustainable expansion of irrigated lands remains a challenge to food security and poverty alleviation goals. Until recently, irrigated agriculture was strongly, and almost exclusively supported by the State. With the rapid decline of public assistance to agricultural development, and more especially to the irrigation sub-sector, funding for the development, operation and maintenance of large-scale irrigation schemes has decreased significantly. Those government-managed scheme have generally performed far below expectations. Most of the time, their financial returns could not cover operation and maintenance (O&M) as well as the initial capital costs.[more]

Co-seminar organised in collaboration with: FAO, IWMI, IPTRID, Colombo Plan.