IWMI in the news
Agriculture sustains the Ethiopian economy, and access to irrigation here is critical for food security. Now, in the wake of COVID-19, the World Food Programme estimates acute hunger will double worldwide, with concern particularly high for Africa. Farmer-led irrigation can support crop production during dry spells or in the dry season, building resilience against climate change. But can farmer-led irrigation build resilience against other shocks, like the health and economic risks associated with a global pandemic?
In May, International Water Management Institute (IWMI) researchers contacted 32 agricultural households in Danghista, located in Dangila Woreda in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. They gathered anecdotal evidence to find out how irrigating and non-irrigating households are coping in the time of the coronavirus and how they are affected by government measures to prevent spread. For instance, had COVID-19-related restrictions affected income from irrigation and nutrition intake? And had households changed the ways they allocate water?
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 theÂ