The role of soil water monitoring tools and agricultural innovation platforms in improving food security and income of farmers in smallholder irrigation schemes in Tanzania

Regions
  • Eastern Africa
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Africa
  • World
From International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
Publication year 2020
Publication authors
  • Mdemu, M
  • Kissoly, L
  • Bjornlund, H
  • Kimaro, E
  • Christen, E W
  • van Rooyen, A
  • Stirzaker, R
  • Ramshaw, P
Publication Type Scientific Publication
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2020.1765746
Full Citation Mdemu, M and Kissoly, L and Bjornlund, H and Kimaro, E and Christen, E W and van Rooyen, A and Stirzaker, R and Ramshaw, P (2020) The role of soil water monitoring tools and agricultural innovation platforms in improving food security and income of farmers in smallholder irrigation schemes in Tanzania. International Journal of Water Resources Development (TSI). pp. 1-23. ISSN 0790-0627
Open original

Abstract

Smallholder irrigation is an important pathway towards better livelihoods and food security in sub-Saharan Africa. This article assesses the contribution of farmer-friendly soil and water monitoring tools, and agricultural innovation platforms, towards household income and food security in two small-scale irrigation schemes in Tanzania. Quantitative and qualitative data from farmer’s field books, household surveys and focus groups were used to assess the impacts of the two interventions. The two interventions together contributed to enhancing smallholders’ food security and household income in the two schemes, as did the agricultural innovation platform on its own