Images of climate innovation
Water Saving Rice Irrigation
These rice plants, growing in a glass house at Lancaster University, are helping us to develop new ways of growing rice in west Africa using less water. Demand for rice in the region is growing exponentially and existing irrigation infrastructure is insufficient to cope. Technologies that reduce water inputs needed to grow crops offer a cost free and quickly implementable solution to help improve food security for millions of vulnerable people.
Working with our partners in Ghana, as part of the UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund RECIRCULATE project, researchers at Lancaster University are helping to develop new ways of growing rice that require less water.
We are trialling a technique called alternate wetting and drying, in which plants receive regular cycles of dry and wet conditions. This has been shown to substantially reduce water usage, but maintain yield, and has been widely adopted across Asia.
The picture shows a trial in a greenhouse at Lancaster University, where we have the equipment to tightly control and monitor the plants in more detail than if we grew them in a field. This Custom-built experimental system, allows us to precisely control irrigation scheduling whilst measuring many aspects of soil chemistry and plant growth. All this is done within in a controlled environment replicating the temperature and sunshine typical for Ghana, in the North West of England.
Together with field experiments in the country, we have successfully trialled alternate wet and drying in Ghanaian rice varieties and are actively fostering its uptake by farmers in West Africa. Demand for rice is growing exponentially across west Africa, and with an ever-increasing population, this trend looks set to continue. Meeting the growing demand for rice will require innovative measures. Rice requires more water than most crops to grow and is not very tolerant to drought. Irrigation infrastructure across much of West Africa is sparse and substantial time and investment will be needed to improve it.
There is a clear need for simple low-cost technologies to reduce water usage that can be implemented immediately. By reducing the amount of water needed, farmers can grow more rice with the limited resources available, increasing production and helping to improve food security in the region. Ghana already imports over 50% of the rice consumed in the country each year. We have successfully trialled this technology in Ghanaian rice varieties and in Ghanaian conditions.
In addition to this, we have held many educational days introducing the technology to local farmers. Reception has been overwhelmingly positive and by having a research presence on the ground actively working alongside farmers we are hoping to foster further adoption within these communities.
Entrant: Ryan Edge , Lancaster University
Copyright: Ryan Edge
Funding: UKRI through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF)
Collaborators: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)- Institute of Industrial Research & Water Research Institute; Green Advocacy Ghana and Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited.