Study on Irrigation Potential for Africa
Project / Program Summary

1. Objectives
   To improve the conjunctive use of sub-surface and surface water in order to increase water resources availability for sustainable small-scale irrigation development in support of food security in West Africa, south of the Sahara.
2. Activities / contents
   To determine the feasibility of developing small dams, infiltration ponds and other percolation works in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in order to recharge shallow aquifers for supplementary irrigation.
   To determine in full scale the technical and economic feasibility of small-scale irrigation development supplied with the conjunctive use of surface and sub-surface water for crop production.
3. Expected outcomes/Impacts:
   Once the sites of typical pilot schemes for storage/percolation of surface water and irrigation with conjunctive use of surface and sub-surface water are developed in the field, they will be used for the demonstration of the irrigation technologies.
4. Features in line with Agenda for Action:
   The project will be closely linked to the Special programme on Food Security (SPFS), which has been initiated by FAO in 1995, and which includes, in food-deficit countries, field demonstrations of improved methods for crop production and resource management.

Unit for Cooperation with Multilateral and Bilateral Agencies, Technical Cooperation
Department (TCDM), FAO - Rome Land and Water Development Division, Agriculture Department (AGLW), FAO - Rome