As this book shows, farmer field schools have proven to be a very useful approach for helping

African farmers to improve how they manage their land and water. Numerous projects throughout

Africa have shown that they result in improved soils, better yields and higher incomes for farmers.

The document summarizes some of these experiences, points out successes, and – equally important

– shows constraints and gaps that need to be addressed. Particularly important is the list of policy

An Ordinance to provide for the regulation and control of ports and inland waters, for the levying of dues and for other matters connected with navigation.

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment projects that the intensification of freshwater scarcity in combination with continuous water extraction from delicate dryland ecosystems is likely to exacerbate desertification, thus leading to a downward spiral of ecological deterioration and a precarious depreciation of livelihoods in many developing regions. This in turn can push people to migrate, which can have far reaching implications affecting local, regional, and even global political and economic stability.

Desertification is nowhere more serious than in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), stretching from Pakistan in the east to Morocco in the west, and from Ethiopia and Sudan in the south to Turkey in the north. Yet, many MENA countries have successfully rehabilitated large areas. Concerted efforts can indeed stop and even reverse desertification, though their long-term success will depend on how well they manage their limited water resources.

With the global expansion of urban areas, competition over both land and water resources is steadily increasing, especially within developing countries(FAO 2012; Kuslu 2007; CER 2009). The expansion of urban areas into agricultural areas, such as in Uzbekistan, has created competition for water between farmers and non-farmers (FAO 2002, 2005). Subsequent growth of urban and peri-urban areas envisages new and expanded demands for water resources, entailing both reproductive and productive uses especially by the poor (Drechsel et al. 2006; van Koppen et al. 2006).

This Working Paper summarizes research conducted as part of the AgWater Solutions Project in Burkina Faso between 2009 and 2012. Researchers from the AgWater Solutions Project examined the potential for small reservoirs, inland valley cultivation and the use of motorized pumps. The main findings indicate that (1) Small reservoirs need better management at all stages to reduce costs and improve equity.Costs could be comparable with other AWM options. The total investment to reach 50% of the potential demand in Burkina Faso could be as much as USD 1,136 million.

The sustainable management of natural resources, and particularly groundwater, presents a major challenge in arid regions to ensure security of water supply and support agricultural production. In many cases, the role of smallholder farmers is often neglected when managing irrigated water and land processes.

Transformation or modification of vegetation distribution and structure in arid riparian ecosystems can lead to the loss of ecological function. Mexico has 101,500,000 ha of arid lands, however there is a general lack of information regarding how arid riparian ecosystems are being modified.

Soil erosion by water has accelerated over recent decades due to non-sustainable land use practices resulting in substantial land degradation processes. Spatially explicit information on soil erosion is critical for the development and implementation of appropriate Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) measures.The objectives of this study were to estimate the magnitude of soil loss rate, assess the change of erosion risk, and elucidate their implication for SWC planning in the Gobele Watershed, East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia.