Can there be a green revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa without large expansion of irrigated crop production?

Kenneth G. Cassman, Patricio Grassini

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although large expansion of irrigated agriculture was a pivotal component of past green revolutions, it is not given much attention for Sub-Saharan Africa. At issue is whether this lack of attention is an oversight. Analysis of irrigated agriculture's role in past green revolutions provides insight to address this question. We conclude that expansion of irrigated rice area will likely be an essential component of achieving self-sufficiency in rice production by 2050. For maize it is much less certain and depends on whether the climate and soils in major Sub-Saharan Africa maize-growing regions are more similar to the harsher conditions in the U.S. Western Corn Belt or to the higher-yielding more reliable Eastern Corn Belt.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)203-209
Number of pages7
JournalGlobal Food Security
Volume2
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2013

Keywords

  • Irrigation
  • Maize
  • Rice
  • Wheat
  • Yield
  • Yield stability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Food Science
  • Ecology
  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
  • Safety Research

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