The goal of this innovation grant project in Uganda is to develop a framework for smallholder farmers that can be used for irrigation improvements, as rainfall in the area becomes increasingly unpredictable, and rapid population growth places more demand on food systems. 

Team Members: Kate Scow, UC Davis; Sieg Snapp and Vicki Morrone, MSU

Irrigation has been identified as a high priority in the largely rain-fed agricultural systems of Uganda, as rainfall patterns become increasingly unpredictable, and rapid population growth places more demand on food systems. The goal of this project is to develop a systematic conceptual framework and decision tree for evaluating water management innovations for smallholder farmers using participatory research approaches at five demonstration sites. The team will collaborate with smallholder farmers, agricultural extension and research institutes, a local university and local private industry in Eastern Uganda to develop site-specific management approaches for agricultural systems. Another major goal of this project is to produce a rubric for assessing irrigation technologies that will take into account the particular constraints of female farmers, whom may be left out in irrigation development.