Irrigation management
Over the past six decades, major investments in irrigation helped agricultural production keep pace with a world population that grew from 2.5 billion to over 8 billion. Today, 23 percent of all croplands are equipped for irrigation — yet these irrigated lands produce 48 percent of global crop value, with irrigated yields being on average 76 percent higher than rainfed yields. However, the pressures are intensifying: more than 60 percent of irrigated land lies in areas of high or very high water stress, and climate change could increase evapotranspiration demands by 20 to 30 percent by 2050.
In 2024, an estimated 673 million people were food insecure, with over half in Asia and around 20 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa. Seventy percent of people affected by food insecurity lived in rural areas. Addressing this challenge requires irrigation systems that deliver water more efficiently, reliably and equitably, along with national policies that support adaptive, service-oriented management.
FAO supports countries across the full spectrum of irrigation management, from policy reform and institutional strengthening to investment planning, performance assessment and system modernization.
This support includes:
- technical assistance to governments, support for the design and rehabilitation of irrigation schemes; and
- development of practical tools and methodologies that enable evidence-based decision-making.
A multilingual training and capacity development package for irrigation modernization, applied in 20 countries, complements this broader engagement by building the skills and institutional knowledge needed to sustain improvements over time.
FAO's work on irrigation management
Effective irrigation management depends as much on institutions as on infrastructure. FAO supports countries in designing and implementing irrigation sector reforms – including policies, strategies and legal frameworks – that enable more adaptive, equitable and service-oriented management.
A core element of these reforms is the decentralization of system management through irrigation management transfer (IMT) and the strengthening of water users’ associations (WUAs) to improve operation and maintenance, cost recovery and user ownership.
Drawing on decades of direct engagement in IMT processes across diverse contexts and farming systems, FAO has built a unique global knowledge base of practical lessons and guidance that continues to support countries through their own reform journeys.
FAO defines irrigation modernization as a process of technical and managerial upgrading – as opposed to mere rehabilitation – of irrigation schemes combined with institutional reforms, with the objective to improve resource utilization (labour, water, economic and environmental) and water delivery service to farms.
This definition underscores that modernization is not simply about replacing old infrastructure with new, as it is a fundamental transformation of how irrigation systems are managed, operated and governed. To guide this process, FAO develops and promotes tools for performance assessment and planning, including the Mapping System and Services for Canal Operation Technique (MASSCOTE), the Mapping System and Services for Pressurized Irrigation Systems (MASSPRES), and the rapid appraisal procedure (RAP).
These tools enable irrigation managers and technicians to assess system performance and make informed investment decisions prior to and during modernization. Decision-support tools such as AquaCrop and CROPWAT also help countries optimize irrigation scheduling and water allocation, ensuring that water is applied in the right amounts at the right time.
Solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) are transforming how farmers access water, particularly in rural and energy-constrained areas where diesel fuel is expensive and reliable grid electricity is unavailable. By providing a clean, affordable and climate-friendly alternative for water lifting and distribution, SPIS reduce operating costs, support rural electrification and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Their rapid expansion is opening new opportunities for smallholder farmers across regions where irrigated agriculture remains underdeveloped relative to its potential. However, the same affordability that makes SPIS attractive also removes traditional cost barriers that previously constrained groundwater abstraction. Without a robust policy and governance framework that combines water allocation rules, regulation and enforcement, unlimited access to water provided by SPIS can accelerate groundwater depletion and threaten the long-term sustainability of aquifers.
Related links
- FAO delivers Two Solar Powered Irrigation Water Lifting stations to Egypt
- Solar powered irrigation: climate-friendly, reliable and affordableSolar powered irrigation: climate-friendly, reliable and affordable
- International Forum on Solar Technologies for Small-scale Agriculture and Water Management
- Positive prospects for solar-powered irrigation systems
FAO's Solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) in action
Burkina Faso
Conjunctive use and solar lifting
FAO supported a participatory pilot combining solar-powered water lifting with the conjunctive use of water resources for multiple purposes. The project upgraded existing storage infrastructure and introduced separate water supply systems for livestock, irrigation and domestic use – including dedicated water points for women – demonstrating how solar energy can anchor an integrated, multipurpose water system.
Egypt
Nile Delta
In Egypt’s Nile Delta, irrigation canals often run below ground level, requiring pumps to lift water to crops. In a context of water scarcity and growing energy demand, FAO supported the deployment of solar-powered water lifting systems, providing a reliable, cost-effective and climate-friendly alternative that reduces dependence on conventional energy sources and secures water supply for smallholder farmers.
Jordan
Integrated approach to water scarcity
In one of the world's most water-scarce countries, FAO piloted a community-based programme combining rainwater harvesting, conjunctive use of groundwater and solar-powered water lifting for irrigation. The solar component provided a sustainable and affordable energy source for water lifting, reducing dependence on costly conventional energy while enabling year-round irrigation and improving food production under conditions of severe water stress.
Uganda
Smallholder water productivity
FAO piloted an integrated approach combining soil and water conservation, in situ water harvesting and solar-powered water pumping. The solar component enabled reliable and affordable water lifting for small-scale irrigation of high-value crops during dry periods, directly improving water access, productivity and incomes for smallholder farmers who previously depended on rainfall alone.
Publications
Strengthening agricultural water efficiency and productivity on the African and global level
2018
The agricultural sector plays a key role in the social and economic development of the African continent. However, productivity levels are far from reaching their full potential and the improvement...
The Benefits and Risks of Solar Powered Irrigation - a global overview
2018
The report gives a state-of-the-art overview of policies, regulations andincentives for the sustainable use of solar-powered irrigation technologies(SPIS) around the world. SPIS offer a viable, low-tech energy solution forirrigated agriculture,...