PAST AND FUTURE TREND OF IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT IN THREE CATCHMENTS OF THE WHITE VOLTA SUB-BASIN - Sustainable Irrigation Development in the White Volta Sub-Basin - page 173

Figure 7.7: Pilot project of drip irrigation systems in the Vea Scheme
introduced by TIPCEE.
Government Policies and Interventions
In the 1950s-1980s government policies influenced irrigation development in
the sub-basin. Some of these policies and interventions have either favoured
expansion of irrigation or resulted in a reduction of irrigation. Government
investment in irrigation infrastructure has upscaled irrigation development in
the past while the removal of agricultural subsidies in the past reduced
farmer capacity which affected agricultural productivity.
The desire of governments of sub-Saharan Africa and the African Union
Commission to achieve the Millennium Development Goals is a major
influence on most government policies. One of the strategies being employed
to achieve the targets is upscaling of irrigation across sub-Saharan Africa (de
Fraiture et al., 2007; GPRS, 2005). This is likely to lead to increased
government investment in irrigation infrastructure, farmer capacity building,
appropriate technology and road infrastructure linking production centres to
markets. Governments are also likely to provide support for poor farmers to
facilitate their ability to engage in irrigation farming thereby improving their
living standards.
If these interventions should be implemented by governments, then current
irrigation developments in the basin are likely to continue. However, the lack
of effective institutions to manage these interventions can become a
disincentive to the expected expansion of irrigation.
The recent trend of irrigation management transfers in countries like Mali
and Mexico may also affect future irrigation development. The desire by
donor agencies and governments to transfer management of public irrigation
schemes to farmers is fast gaining grounds. Despite the fact that there are