An irrigation re-think in sub-Saharan Africa is improving food security, reducing water waste and lifting people out of poverty.

The researchers’ work is improving food security, reducing water waste and lifting people out of poverty.

«This simple reboot of irrigation schemes made up of small farms could help stamp out poverty in farming communities around the world,» Professor Jamie Pittock, from the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society, said.

The ‘transforming irrigation in southern Africa’ project is empowering farmers by giving them the knowledge and tools needed to consistently grow high-yielding and profitable crops while minimising water usage. The research is published in Nature Food.

«Hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in infrastructure to support irrigation systems and grow crops that return a profit, but unfortunately crop yields in Africa are very low and often not much better than the dry land farms around them,» Professor Pittock said.

«Africa has one of the largest populations living in rural areas that depend on agriculture for their livelihoods but sadly irrigation schemes have traditionally been somewhat of a failed sector across the continent.

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Materials provided by Australian National University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.