The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was recently awarded a three-year grant from the Gates Foundation. The nearly $3.5-million grant will support a new research project focused on expanding the reach and impact of Irrigation as a Service (IaaS) for small-scale farmers.
Despite irrigation’s potential to increase crop yields, reduce climate-related agricultural risks and improve food security, small scale farmer investment in irrigation remains low. There are multiple potential barriers to investment, including equipment costs and farmers’ reluctance to invest without guaranteed returns. Additionally, small scale farmers, including women, face non-cost-related barriers to invest in and own irrigation assets.
(Above) A motorcycle, adapted to function as a water pump, draws from a stream to irrigate crops—an innovative approach to irrigation as a service in Mbale, Uganda. (Photo courtesy of David Munyaneza, DWFI.)
Irrigation as a Service (IaaS) offers potential solutions by providing agricultural water access without requiring farmers to purchase equipment. The new project will investigate critical factors affecting IaaS scalability and sustainability with the goal of informing strategic investments in targeted regions in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Research focus areas include:
- Business Model Analysis: Evaluate various IaaS business models from a practical perspective, including profitability, scalability, and investment potential.
- Value and Supply Chain Engagement: Understand the needs of potential scaling partners, such as equipment manufacturers, agricultural input retailers, or financial institutions, related to increasing irrigated crop production.
- Pilot Projects: Test investment mechanisms to strengthen existing business models and value chain partnerships across multiple cropping seasons in targeted geographies.
- Development Impact Assessment: Conduct qualitative research on IaaS’s potential development outcomes, with a specific focus on irrigation access to all segments of the market.
“Irrigation as a service solutions are expanding globally but are not well studied. This generous grant will enable critical research on a rapidly evolving topic,” said Nick Brozović, DWFI director of policy. “Our goal is to support strategic and effective investments in agricultural water access for small scale farmers.”
DWFI and the University of Nebraska are uniquely positioned to lead this effort, as they have proven success conducting research and developing solutions to address global water and food security challenges. The new research project will complement DWFI’s existing initiatives on small scale farming.
For more information, visit waterforfood.nebraska.edu.
