This report deals with some experiences of a set of irrigation systems situated in the Republic of Niger, along both banks of the Niger River. All these systems draw water from the river through low-lift, electrically powered pumping stations, which have been installed by the Government of Niger over the past 30 years. Irrigation of this kind is not a tradition in Niger. The introduction of this technology caused considerable changes in the way of life of local communities.

The purpose of this paper is to summarize IIMI/IWMI’s past research and interventions related to irrigation management transfer and to document, to the extent possible, the academic, policy, and technical outcomes of these efforts. The application of a range of direct and indirect measurement techniques suggests an overall positive contribution from IWMI to IMT theory and application.

Over the past two decades, significant investment has been made into agriculture-related natural resource management research in developing countries. This collection of case studies establishes a methodological foundation for impact assessments of NRMR through a discussion of research conducted by the CGIAR around the world.

Studies the low-cost alternative strategy of selective lining of watercourses to reduce seepage and increase irrigated areas in the Indian subcontinent. Satellite remote-sensing (SRS) is seen as a cost-effective evaluation tool in view of its large area of synoptic and repetitive coverage.

This document presents an analysis of experience in irrigation water charging, drawn from published literature and a series of six case studies. These sources provide a broad spectrum of experience from less-developed to more-developed countries. The aim has been to make an assessment of the claims concerning irrigation water charging as a tool for cost recovery (achieving financial sustainability) and demand management (achieving resource sustainability).

Discusses and illustrates concepts for identifying ways of improving productivity of water within basins. The results of applying a water accounting procedure to four sub-basins in South Asia (Bhakra in India; Chishtian in Pakistan; Huruluwewa in nothern Sri Lanka; and Kirindi Oya in southern Sri Lanka) are presented. The methodology used identifies the quantities and productivity of various uses of water within a basin. This information is then used to identify the water-saving potential, and the means of improving the productivity of the managed supplies.

Describes the use of a distributed hydrologic model to evaluate different data scenarios. The study attempted to answer questions such as; what will happen to the basin water resources if a) there is a change in climate; b) it is decided that more water must be retained in the river for environmental reasons; c) more water is extracted for urban and industrial use; d) the timing and accounts used for water are changed?

Only 4 percent of arable land in sub-Saharan Africa is irrigated, using just 2 percent of the available water resources. Furthermore, 18 percent of the area equipped for irrigation is not utilized at all and the intensity of use varies between 50 percent and 80 percent. This highlights the huge potential available for intensifying and expanding irrigated area, provided that the investments required can be successfully mobilized. However, it must be noted that if investments in irrigation are to yield satisfactory returns, investments must also be made in a series of related activities. Current global figures for the amount of private investment in irrigation confirm that good returns can indeed be achieved. Prospects for sub-Saharan Africa would be far more favorable if public development assistance, particularly foreign direct investments, did not show declining trends.