Irrigated Water and its role in Circular agri-food systems in SSA

The developing world and sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, are facing numerous challenges: food security, poor nutrition, environmental degradation, social and economic inequalities, and slow economic growth. Agricultural production must increase to address these challenges, while also responding to increased demand for food. Small-scale irrigation is crucial to increasing food production. However, schemes often fail as development has focused on infrastructure and neglected critical socio-economic elements of the system. Building on extensive research that has improved productivity and livelihoods on small-scale irrigation schemes in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, this paper argues that these schemes can play a significant role in transforming local economies. A new irrigation development paradigm is needed that views schemes as a central element around which circular food systems and associated economies can develop. Departing from a linear food systems approach, our paper summarizes the concept of circularity in agri-food systems and the key tangible and intangible resources that need sustainable management: water, soil and nutrients, biomass and carbon, energy, finances, and information. We outline a value proposition for small- scale schemes that is underpinned by socio-ecological transformation theory and the concept of social, institutional, and technical leverage points. Our proposal integrates recently published strategies on the development of innovative circular business models, and combines this with personal experience that multi-stakeholder platforms can be harnessed to structure and guide innovation and foster private sector involvement. Using an integrated systems approach, the small-scale irrigation sector can contribute to rural economic growth and agricultural production challenges.