Africa: Investment in Irrigation Systems Is Vital in Preparing for the Next Climate Shock

What the report says

At the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, governments, researchers and development partners urged greater investment in irrigation as African agriculture faces repeated climate shocks. The IPS report, distributed by AllAfrica, says most of the continent’s arable land still depends on rainfall, while only a small share is irrigated, leaving farmers exposed to drought and erratic rains.

The discussion comes as scientists anticipate another El Niño event in the 2026/2027 agricultural season, with southern Africa expected to face drier conditions. The article recalls the severe 2023/2024 El Niño drought, which hurt rain-fed maize production and contributed to hunger across several countries, including Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and Zambia.

Nigeria’s agriculture minister, Abubakar Kyari, said existing systems need to be expanded and backed by collective action, financing and better water management. He pointed to the African Union’s 2020 irrigation and agricultural water management framework as a guide for scaling climate-smart irrigation, improving food security and involving farmers more directly. The report also quotes irrigation officials and AGRA leadership saying policy support, accountability and markets are needed to make irrigation affordable and effective for smallholders.

The broader significance is that irrigation is being framed not only as a response to drought, but also as a way to protect yields, create jobs and reduce pressure on food prices and malnutrition.