| dc.description.abstract | Global projections show that increases in agriculture water productivity (AWP) by 30
and 60% in rain-fed and irrigated agriculture, respectively, are required to ensure food security in
the period 2000–2025. In sub-Saharan Africa, attempts to understand AWP has seen a lamping of
input values which paints an unrealistic picture of AWP. We employed the residual imputation
method to isolate the marginal productivity value of water in six paddy farming systems viz. the
conventional transplant and flooding system (CTFS), the system of rice intensification (SRI), and the
Kilombero Plantation Limited (KPL) mechanized system. Findings showed that AWP for rainfed
CTFS is 0.39 kg/m3 or 0.003 US$/m3
, irrigated CTFS (0.30 kg/m3 or 0.002 US$/m3
), rainfed SRI
(0.68 kg/m3 or 0.08 US$/m3
), irrigated SRI (0.52 kg/m3 or 0.06 US$/m3
), rainfed KPL (0.33 kg/m3
or 0.05 US$/m3
), and irrigated KPL (0.68 kg/m3 or 0.11 US$/m3
). This shows that rainfed systems
have good AWP, especially physical ones. We recommend a rollout of rainfed SRI to secure local
food security and downstream ecosystem services. In addition, groupings of farmers will assist
in optimizing resources, stabilizing markets, and prices for the better economic value of water
(US$/m3
). Adoption of SRI will require intensive demonstration that needs public financing. In
addition, revamping the KPL off-taker arrangement with small-holder farmers could also be a good
PPP anchor. | en_US |
