Tracy Baker (formerly Baldyga), a GL-CRSP Jim Ellis fellow and past team member of the Sustainable Management of Rural Watersheds (SUMAWA) project, was supported in degree training by the GL-CRSP from 2003 to 2008, obtaining both her MS and PhD through the University of Wyoming. In this profile, Mrs. Baker answers questions about her background, her research with SUMAWA, and provides an update on life in Accra, Ghana, where she works with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), part of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
Read More
Source: http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/News_Room/pdf/SPRG09_Rum













Population pressure and increasing water competition in a changing climate require us to take stock of the availability and use of water across scales. Water availability not only influences farmers’ commercial prospects but also irrigation-related enterprises and agri-businesses. Greater water scarcity could jeopardize irrigation and agricultural markets while excessive water use can lead to declining ecosystems, water quality and soil health. IWMI advises development partners and the public and private sectors on all aspects of water resource availability and use through a variety of advanced modeling and remote-sensing products and tools, including
The ability of farmers to engage in or expand irrigation depends on the prevailing socioeconomic, ecological and political contexts, which are often complex, non-linear and changeable. Overcoming systemic barriers to farmer-led irrigation development while taking advantage of existing opportunities
A lack of affordable credit, particularly for women and resource-poor farmers, is one of the main barriers to expanding farmer-led irrigation in low- and middle-income countries. But
Scaling farmer-led irrigation requires strengthening human capacity and knowledge exchange among all actors and stakeholders involved. IWMI takes an action research approach, working with national and international research institutions, governments, extension agents and public and private organizations to co-develop the scaling ecosystem and strengthen capacity to drive scaling networks and collective action. We support the