Engaging in research for development through platforms

The Limpopo basin is a relatively dry basin with most of the water in the highly productive areas already used for irrigation. The basin supports more than 14 million people in areas of Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Rainfall is highly variable with little run-off available in many parts of the basin to produce crops and livestock. Prolonged dry spells are common, making rainfed farm- ing in many areas difficult, while occasional high rainfall events result in uncontrolled flooding.

Perennially low investment in improved crop L1 and livestock technologies by resource-poor landholders in the Limpopo basin is one of L2 the primary causes of chronic poverty and land degradation. The basin is a water-scarce environment in which recurring drought and floods cause devastating impacts on small-scale farmers. However, the more L3 pressing development challenge is the un- productive use of water in the more normal rainfall seasons.

The Limpopo Basin Development Challenge

Improve integrated management of rainwater to improve smallholder productivity and livelihoods and reduce livelihood risk.

Limpopo Projects

• L1 Targeting and scaling out
• L2 Small-scale infrastructure
• L3 Farm systems and risk management
• L4 Water governance
• L5 Learning for innovation and adaptive management