Development for water, food and nutrition in a competitive environment — How NGOs and CSOs are reshaping traditional farmer irrigation advisory services*

Abstract

In spite of the 30% increase in the food supply since 1961, significant changes are anticipated over the coming decades that will increase the challenges facing smallholders. Climate change, rapidly growing population and increasing pollution all add to the risks of water and food security. This is happening at a time when water resources management is shifting away from government planning and control to a more adaptive and flexible model involving more stakeholders, whereby farmers and smallholders are increasingly involved in decision-making and governance of water resources. Many governments, however, continue to look to their smallholders to increase food production and to find ways to produce more with less. Farmers, thus, will need to find new ways of learning and rely more on their own resources, on the private sector and on support from civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations. This paper examines the changing nature of farmer support services, focusing on the role played by emerging non-institutional actors. As water becomes the limiting resource for food production, it is crucial to understand how food markets are growing and can incentivize smallholders to produce more, and critically, how farmers are finding new ways of acquiring the knowledge and expertise they need.

Does organizational support affect the governance performance of the farm irrigation system? Evidence from the Yellow River basin in China

“…Second, after state administrative power withdrew from rural areas, grassroots organizations increasingly relied on noninstitutional means such as shared interests and emotional ties to connect farmers. For irrigation system governance, grassroots organizations primarily motivate farmers to participate by providing information and financial support (Unver et al, 2021). It is yet to be clarified how the support provided by such organizations affects the depth and stability of farmers' participation in governance.…”

Access to irrigation and its impact on vulnerability to poverty and food security amongst South African farming households.

“…The rural household farmers functioning within FBOs networks in the study area tend to have easy control and access to markets in terms of updated products prices, which in turn enhances their welfare, in terms of their food security status. According to Unver et al (2021), irrigation farmers who are also FBOs members in developing countries often have access to profitable information and gain access to networks which help them to improve their household welfare.…”