Wheat Cultivation in Dryland through Winter Irrigation

Growing Resilient Wheat, Even in the Hottest Seasons.

The technology of "Expanded Production of Irrigated Wheat" involves cultivating wheat during the cool season, known as winter production, in the dry lowlands of Sub-Saharan Africa. This approach helps to bypass the detrimental effects of heat stress that often impair wheat crops during the hot rainy seasons. As a result, the cultivation of wheat in the cooler, dry season requires the implementation of irrigation systems due to limited precipitation in these regions. This technology facilitates the production of wheat with stable, high grain yields and quality, fostering a more resilient food supply chain and allowing for the expansion of wheat cultivation in non-traditional dryland areas. The success of this innovation aids in achieving self-sufficiency and reducing the dependency on expensive wheat imports in various key regions of Africa.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•8

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 8/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive low

Under 18: Positive medium

Women: Positive medium

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Carbon footprint: Same amount of carbon released

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility

Water use: More water used

Problem

The problems addressed by the technology "Expanded Production of Irrigated Wheat" are:

Adverse Effects of High Temperatures and Limited Precipitation in Sub-Saharan Africa's Dry Lowlands.
Traditional Cultivation During the Hot Rainy Season Leads to:
- High Diurnal Temperatures.
- Significant Yield Losses.
- Crop Failure.
Increased Heat Events Due to Climate Change Exacerbate Yield Losses.
Technology Shifts Wheat Cultivation to Cooler, Dry Season (Winter Production).
Reduces Exposure to Heat Stress.
Avoids Heat-Related Yield Losses.
Dry Season Receives Limited Rainfall.
Requires Irrigation Systems to Ensure Full Potential of Wheat Crops.
Requires Between 300 to 500 mm of Water for Successful Cultivation.

Solution

Stable, High-Quality Grain Yields: The technology ensures stable, high-quality grain yields by investing in irrigation infrastructure, reducing the risks associated with climate-related shocks.
Expansion into Non-Traditional Dryland Areas: It enables wheat cultivation in non-traditional dryland areas.
Crop Rotation for Soil Enhancement: The technology promotes crop rotation, especially with legumes, to improve soil quality.
Applicability Across Various Regions: The strategy of irrigated winter production is applicable to regions facing similar heat-related challenges, such as dry sub-humid and semi-arid belts across Africa and areas prone to above-normal temperatures during hot rainy seasons.
Tailored Wheat Varieties: The technology recommends specific wheat varieties tailored for different water availability conditions and temperature variations.
Diverse Irrigation Methods: It advocates for diverse irrigation methods based on water sources and field topography to optimize winter wheat production and achieve self-sufficiency.

Key points to design your project

This technology aims to enhance food security, reduce poverty, and promote sustainable agriculture. It contributes to more sustainable water management while mitigating the impacts of climate change, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals such as Zero hunger, Life on land and Responsible consumption and production.

To integrate this technology into your project, create a list of project activities and prerequisites, including:

Educating farmers and investors about the advantages and costs of crop irrigation,
Providing access to quality seed of improved varieties, affordable irrigation systems and technical advisory services on their use,
Linking producers with markets and food processors through prices allowing fair profits,
Considering wheat value chains within public sector water infrastructure development project,
Linking producers to financial support and markets.

- Estimate the quantity of wheat seed, organic and mineral fertilizers, and pesticides needed for your project,

- As the technology is available in Ethiopia, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, include the delivery cost to the project site and account for import clearance and duties if relevant.

Training is important. A team of trainers could provide training and support during project installation. Include the cost for training and post-training support for using the technology.

Communication support for the technology should be developed (flyers, videos, radio broadcasts, etc.)

For better optimization of this technology, it is recommended to associate this technology with Furrow Irrigated Raised Bed Wheat Production Heat and Drought Tolerant Wheat Varieties.

To implement the technology in your country, you could collaborate with agricultural development institutes and seed multiplication companies.

Cost: $$$ 373 USD

Total cost of a winter production using surface irrigation

4 - 6 ton/ha

Grain yields increased

100,000 - 300,000 Ha

Possible area for cultivation expansion

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Burkina Faso	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Malawi	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Mali	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Mozambique	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Niger	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	–Not adopted
Senegal	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Sudan	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Zambia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 13: climate action

These steps outline the process of cultivating wheat in the dry season of African drylands, especially considering the challenges associated with the narrow window available for growth due to limited cooler temperatures.

Select Early Maturing Wheat Varieties: Choose wheat varieties with short production cycles of 90 to 100 days that can mature within the narrow growing window of 2-3 months during the dry season.
Prepare the Land for Cultivation: Ensure the land is adequately prepared for sowing by irrigating through the opening of a dam or pumping water from nearby rivers that collected water during the rainy season.
Planting the Seeds: Plant the seeds into moist beds created using water from dams or rivers.
Soil Preparation: Plough and level the soil either manually, using animals, or with a tractor. Incorporate farmyard manure or other organic resources at this stage.
Line Planting: Plant the seeds in lines to facilitate effective weed control and ensure a more even distribution of water.