Smallholder systems innovations in IWRM: An exciting new research programme

Abstract

WATER & ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH The challenge of producing food for a rapidly increasing population in semi-arid Southern Africa is a daunting one. The production of more food translates to more consumptive use of water which in turn is likely to impact on water resources downstream. The intensification of agriculture has often resulted in negative side effects in terms of land and water degradation. Furthermore, water legislation is increasingly concerned with maintaining a “Reserve” to sustain basic human water requirements and instream ecology. To address the challenges of increasing food production, improving rural livelihoods, while safeguarding critical ecosystem functions, a research project entitled “Smallholder System: Innovations in Integrated Watershed Management” has recently been launched at the School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology (BEEH), one of six partners in this Swedish (the Swedish International Development Agency - SIDA) and Dutch (Directoraat-Generaal Internationale Samewerking - DGIS) funded initiative.

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