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Water Productivity and Irrigation

Optimizing water use and distribution today, for fair water access tomorrow

Water productivity in irrigation determines how far each drop of water can go in sustaining crops and livelihoods. With growing pressure on rivers, aquifers, and rainfall, smarter use of water is essential for both food security and climate resilience. Digital tools and satellite data help farmers and institutions understand where water is lost, when fields need irrigation and how to optimize timing and amounts. Alongside technology, better governance and fair water rights ensure that communities can use limited resources productively and equitably.

 

Cases and Project Examples

The project examples below show how these ideas translate into practice, from data-driven irrigation and improved water governance to innovative technologies and fairer access to water for farmers:

  • TMT – Water Management in Mega Irrigation Schemes | Sudan – Capacity-building programme that strengthened the skills of public agencies and universities to plan, operate and maintain large-scale irrigation systems, covering design, field water management, O&M and governance.
  • Water Productivity Improvement in Practice (Water-PIP) | Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan – Multi-country initiative that helps farmers, institutions and service centres use satellite-based WaPOR data to optimize irrigation, improve water productivity and support smarter, data-driven agricultural decisions. Learn more about this project via this interactive website.
  • New Water Rights for Basin Management and Inclusivity in Spate Areas | Pakistan – Programme that revises water distribution rules in flood-based irrigation systems, strengthens joint management committees and supports more productive, fair and climate-resilient use of short-duration floodwater. Learn more about this project here.
  • Affordable Portable Solar Pumps for Small-Scale Farmers | Zambia – Innovation project that develops a low-cost, lightweight solar pump and builds local SME supply chains, enabling smallholders to irrigate in the dry season and increase production through reliable small-scale irrigation. Learn more about this project here.
  • RePLECA – Restoration of Peace, Livelihoods and Economic Cycles in Anbar | Iraq – Supports farmer organizations to plan, manage, and invest in shared water solutions by mapping existing groups, building their capacity in water-smart value chain development, advising extension services on proposal design, and linking organizations with key value-chain and water-sector stakeholders. Access the project findings through this link.

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