NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

One of the most glaring problems in African agriculture is a lack of irrigation. Water, along with sunlight, is the most basic ingredient for growing crops; therefore, without irrigation to provide enough water, yields are likely to fall well below their potential. Farmers that lack irrigation are also much more vulnerable to drought, which can bring devastating crop failures.

Africa lags well behind other regions on access to irrigation. A 2018 report published by the Malabo Montpellier Panel of agricultural experts states that only 6% of cultivated land is irrigated in Africa. This compares to 14% in Latin America and 37% in Asia.

Photo courtesy of Megapixl.