Bukola Afeni
The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared a National Emergency on Food Security as the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) launches its new country strategy to scale up innovation in water management and improve agricultural practices in Africa.
President Bola Tinubu stated this at the 6th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage, in Abuja, Nigeria.
The President who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said
The African continent is still facing challenges in terms.of.irrigation systems due to climate change and inadequate infrastructure.
Tinubu added that the government is set to scale up its irrigation infrastructure.
“We want African countries to embrace innovative strategies to tackle the continent’s irrigation and water management crisis.:
The Director General of IWMI, Mark Smith, called for collective and innovative solutions to improve irrigation management in Africa.
According to Smith, Transformation is needed to attract investment in irrigation and ‘fit-for-purpose’ water management.
“We need to open new opportunities for irrigation farmers. Stakeholders should deploy digital solutions for irrigation management and water resources that will aid in reducing some of the barriers to irrigation systems in Africa. There is a constant need to build water accounts and data resources which will be essential at the National and regional level to change the narrative.”
He further urged farmers, communities, policymakers, the private sector, planners, and investors to seek new data, knowledge, capabilities and strategies for managing future water risks,
Another potential solution highlighted by Smith is the use of digital twins for basin management.
“A digital representation of the basin integrates diverse datasets and existing technologies to understand the current basin dynamics, offering monitoring, forecasting, and scenario analysis for informed decision-making,” he explained. This approach can empower local communities to contribute data, closing information gaps and enriching water management insights across the region.
The DG also stressed the importance of mobilizing inclusive finance and fostering private-sector partnerships.
“Public-private partnerships encourage investment by bringing capital, expertise, and innovation, Examples of successful initiatives include partnerships in Zambia and Ghana, where blended finance models have been used to combine public funds and private capital, de-risking investment by the private sector.
Smith also highlighted various smart irrigation solutions, including water optimization technologies like Chameleon sensors, drip and micro-irrigation, and solar-powered pumping.
Smith emphasized the potential of farmer-led irrigation development, where local communities invest, develop, and manage their irrigation systems.
“This approach can increase productivity and resilience, enabling productive use of untapped groundwater. By adopting these strategies, Africa can move towards more efficient, equitable, and sustainable water management practices, ultimately improving the lives of millions of people.”
The Africa Director for Research Impact at IWMI, Dr Olufunke Cofie emphasized the need for innovative solutions to respond to the water management crisis.
” Our work focuses on generating knowledge and evidence-based solutions to improve water management in the agriculture sector and beyond.
“We work together with universities, research organizations, private sector entities, and community-based organizations to generate knowledge and apply scientific expertise to respond to water challenges,”
She said the institute has been taking proactive measures to minimize the effects of floods in African countries.
“We can predict flood events and indicate with many weeks’ notice that a flood will likely happen, affecting certain places,” Dr Cofie said “
