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Meeting the food needs of Africa's growing population over the next half-century will require technologies that significantly improve rural livelihoods at minimal environmental cost. These technologies will likely be distinct from those of the Green Revolution, which had relatively little impact in sub-Saharan Africa; consequently, few such interventions have been rigorously evaluated. This paper analyzes solar-powered drip irrigation as a strategy for enhancing food security in the rural Sudano-Sahel region of West Africa. Using a matched-pair comparison of villages in northern Benin (two treatment villages, two comparison villages), and household survey and field-level data through the first year of harvest in those villages, we find that solar-powered drip irrigation significantly augments both household income and nutritional intake, particularly during the dry season, and is cost effective compared to alternative technologies.

To examine the impacts of a Solar Market Garden 1-year solar-powered drip irrigation (SMG) programme in Kalalé district of northern Benin on mothers' nutritional status and micronutrient levels. Using a quasi-experimental design, sixteen villages were assigned to four groups: (i) SMG women's groups (WG); (ii) comparison WG; (iii) SMG non-WG (NWG); and (iv) comparison NWG. Difference-in-differences (DID) estimates were used to assess impacts on mothers' food consumption, diversity, BMI, prevalence of underweight (BMI < 18·5 kg/m2) and anaemia, and deficiencies of iron (ID) and vitamin A (VAD). Kalalé district, northern Benin. Non-pregnant mothers aged 15-49 years (n 1737). The SMG programme significantly increased mothers' intake of vegetables (DID = 25·31 percentage points (pp); P < 0·01), dietary diversity (DID = 0·74; P < 0·01) and marginally increased their intake of flesh foods (DID = 10·14 pp; P < 0·1). Mean BMI was significantly increased among SMG WG compared with the other three groups (DID = 0·44 kg/m2; P < 0·05). The SMG programme also significantly decreased the prevalence of anaemia (DID = 12·86 pp; P < 0·01) but no impacts were found for the prevalence of underweight, ID and VAD. Improving mothers' dietary intake and anaemia prevalence supports the need to integrate gender-based agriculture to improve nutritional status. However, it may take more than a year, and additional nutrition and health programmes, to impact the prevalence of maternal underweight, ID and VAD.

The shortage of electric power and high diesel cost have influenced the desires of irrigation systems. Instead of these types of pumping systems, the solar-powered water pump is respectable in socioeconomic and environmental points of view. Water scarcity during the dry season and traditional irrigation practice becomes a common challenge. The study was conducted in three districts of Hamer, Asaita and Afabo Woreda. The main objective of the study was to investigate and model a solar-powered pump drip irrigation system for establishing resilience livelihood in the water scarce and remote areas. The solar water pump systems are sized considering to irrigating one hectare of land with a maximum daily crop water requirement of 21.35 m 3 /day/0.5 ha (Keske) and 31.5m 3 /day/0.5 ha (Hinale and Humaydota) in 12-h irrigation and a total dynamic head of 14 m. The average solar power potential of Hamer is 0.72 kW/m 2 and 0.57 kW/m 2 in Asaita and Afabo areas. The major constraints of irrigation practices in the areas are water scarcity, market inaccessibility, inadequate technology, and agricultural imputes. Therefore, applying water-saving technology, supplying improved inputs, supporting Agro-pastoralists with training and extension services are required. Implementation of solar-powered pumps and drip irrigation technologies with reservoirs mainly in water-scarce and long dray season areas is necessary.