Semi-Annual Report October 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015

The major components of the agreement include assessment of irrigation technologies, stakeholder consultation, engagement with national partners and farmers, surveys of farm families, and integrated analysis of production, environmental, and economic consequences of small scale irrigation options. The overall plan established Ethiopia as a pilot country where the elements of the program are brought together and tested, with methods being used as a template for studies in Tanzania and Ghana. In year one of the agreement, planning and stakeholder engagement in all three countries set the stage for launching field studies, surveys, and analyses in year two. Candidate interventions were identified with stakeholder participation, and general locations for field studies and survey instruments were developed. A major training workshop was held in Addis Ababa in June 2014, and the first meeting of the newly formed External Advisory Committee and a stakeholder meeting to report initial progress were also held. The overall plan for year two is to finalize details of the experimental design, complete the selection of the location of field studies, engage national university partners to participate in conducting and evaluating field studies, select and engage smallholder farmers to participate in field studies, and initiate field studies. The household surveys of social, economic, and nutritional factors related to results of small scale irrigation adoption are to be completed in all three countries. The Integrated Decision Support System (IDSS) will be used to conduct baseline studies in the regions surrounding the field studies and to perform ex ante analyses on the interventions used in field studies as well as other options for small scale irrigation systems. IWMI and IFPRI met with Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) collaborators separately and together in College Station and Washington to coordinate activities in year two, including linking and integrating analytic methodologies. Monthly Skype calls are being held to review progress and address issues arising from program initiation. A Google worksite was established for routine engagement of the Program Management Committee in ongoing administrative and leadership functions. A data transfer site for models, databases, and analysis was established and is in use. The website for the innovation laboratory has undergone substantial extension, modification, and continued development. Surveys have been completed in Ethiopia, with data collected from 442 households in 15 kebeles of Adami Tulu, Bahir Dar Zuria, Dangila, and Lemo woredas. Pretests of the questionnaire were conducted and adaptation to Tanzania was done in preparation for future fieldwork. Site selection criteria include market access, irrigation potential, presence of promising partners, and overlap with FtF Zones. In Ethiopia, two water lifting technologies are being field tested for dry season irrigation to produce tomatoes, and farmers will be supported in design of feeding regimes and marketing strategies for increased productivity of forage. In Ghana, site selection and intervention planning have been completed for small scale irrigation interventions at three sites, with interventions including water lifting devices, improved conveyance methods, and irrigation scheduling with water saving techniques/methods.