Most smallholder farmers in Mali depend on rain-fed agriculture for food and income. But, repeated cycles of floods and droughts threaten farmers’ livelihoods and food security, increasing the risk of hunger and conflict. Using irrigation to supplement rainfall, both during dry spells and the long dry season, could help protect farmers against weather-related shocks and boost their yields. The falling price of solar photovoltaic panels in recent years has seen solar-powered pumps emerge as a climate-smart irrigation technology in many countries with low access to the national grid.
Read the full article on https://agrilinks.org