EAU4Food: European Union and African Union cooperative research to increase Food production in irrigated farming systems in Africa
EAU4Food seeks to address the enormous challenges African agriculture is facing today: despite numerous attempts, agricultural productivity has only slightly increased in recent years and, in general, cannot keep up with population growth. In the coming years irrigation will gain importance, but at the same time the availability of fresh water and the sustainable use of soil resources is under increasing pressure. Hence, new approaches are required to increase food production in irrigated areas in Africa, while ensuring healthy and resilient environments.EAU4Food seeks to address the enormous challenges African agriculture is facing today: despite numerous attempts, agricultural productivity has only slightly increased in recent years and, in general, cannot keep up with population growth. In the coming years irrigation will gain importance, but at the same time the availability of fresh water and the sustainable use of soil resources is under increasing pressure. Hence, new approaches are required to increase food production in irrigated areas in Africa, while ensuring healthy and resilient environments.
News
Montpellier workshop
From 19-22 March 2012 all EAU4Food partners met each other during a three days workshop in Montpellier, France.
One of the two main objectives of this meeting was to discuss the EAU4Food research protocol, which at the moment is a working draft but which will be used as a guidance manual for EAU4Food researchers in the future. The aim of this document is to agree a set of concepts and principles to underpin how we work, as well as clarify the different roles that we play as partner organizations within EAU4Food.
The other main objective was to develop a working strategy for work package 4, including objectives, required outputs, tools and tasks.
First LPA-CoP meeting in Mekelle, Ethiopia
On March 1-2 2012, the first LPA meeting was convened in Mekelle, Ethiopia. During these days about 20 representatives from local and regional policy, university and farmers gathered to discuss problems, coping strategies and directions for solutions for the Gumselassa irrigation scheme in Tigray.
Prior to the LPA meeting a two day CoP meeting was organized with the farmers. During the CoP farmers were requested to make photos of what they experience as problems. This so-called photo safari (see photo on the left) was greatly appreciated by farmers and gave a clear impression of how farmers perceive the problems of the irrigation scheme.
