The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska has received a three-year, $3.5 million grant from the Gates Foundation to study the impact of irrigation as a service for small-scale farmers.
The project will explore how providing subscription-based irrigation access—rather than requiring farmers to build and maintain their own systems—can improve crop yields, reduce climate-related risks, and enhance food security. The research will focus on implementing this model in Sub-Saharan Africa to help small farmers gain reliable water access without the financial burden of full system ownership.
Nick Brozović, the institute’s director of policy, emphasized the growing global adoption of irrigation as a service but noted that limited research exists on its effectiveness. He said the Gates Foundation grant will support research that helps guide strategic investments in agricultural water access for small-scale farmers.
The project will also build on the institute’s ongoing initiatives focused on sustainable water use in small-scale farming.
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