A scoping review of research funding for small-scale farmers in water scarce regions

Vincent Ricciardi (), Abdrahmane Wane, Balsher Singh Sidhu, Cecile Godde, Divya Solomon, Ellen McCullough, Florian Diekmann, Jaron Porciello, Meha Jain, Nicola Randall and Zia Mehrabi
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Vincent Ricciardi: University of British Columbia
Abdrahmane Wane: International Livestock Research Institute
Balsher Singh Sidhu: University of British Columbia
Cecile Godde: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Divya Solomon: University of Michigan
Florian Diekmann: The Ohio State University
Jaron Porciello: Cornell University
Meha Jain: University of Michigan
Nicola Randall: Harper Adams University
Zia Mehrabi: University of British Columbia

Nature Sustainability, 2020, vol. 3, issue 10, 836-844

Abstract: Abstract Water scarcity is a global issue that disproportionately affects small-scale farmers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Through geospatial analysis, we estimated that less than 37% of small-scale farms probably have irrigation in water scarce regions across LMICs, compared with 42% of non-small-scale farms. Through a literature synthesis assisted by machine learning, we then systematically mapped the existing research for on-farm interventions that improve the incomes or yields of small-scale farmers in water scarce regions. We mapped over 888 on-farm interventions used to combat water scarcity from 560 publications and showed a research bias towards yields rather than livelihoods. We found gaps in evidence for many commonly proposed solutions, including livestock management, digital technology and solutions to protect natural resources at the farm-level, such as buffer strips. Our findings can be used to set a funding agenda for research on the geographies that are most at risk of water scarcity and the interventions that most lack evidence.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-00623-0

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