Irrigation Systems for Smallholder Farmers

irrigation system in the Castilla y Leon cereal estates in Spain

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Irrigation Systems for Smallholder Farmers
SectorMost major industry classification systems use sources of revenue as their basis for classifying companies into specific sectors, subsectors and industries. In order to group like companies based on their sustainability-related risks and opportunities, SASB created the Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®) and the classification of sectors, subsectors and industries in the SDG Investor Platform is based on SICS.
Food and Beverage
Food and Agriculture
Business Model Description

Manufacture and distribute water and energy efficient irrigation equipment, including main conveyance, distribution network and on-farm infrastructure of precision irrigation techniques, micro-drip irrigation and solar-powered water pumps.

Expected Impact

Sustainably increase agricultural productivity, reduce food insecurity and support farmer livelihoods.

Indicative ReturnDescribes the rate of growth an investment is expected to generate within the IOA. The indicative return is identified for the IOA by establishing its Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Return of Investment (ROI) or Gross Profit Margin (GPM).
5% - 10% (in IRR)
Investment TimeframeDescribes the time period in which the IOA will pay-back the invested resources. The estimate is based on asset expected lifetime as the IOA will start generating accumulated positive cash-flows.
Medium Term (5–10 years)
Market SizeDescribes the value of potential addressable market of the IOA. The market size is identified for the IOA by establishing the value in USD, identifying the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) or providing a numeric unit critical to the IOA.
93,220 ha of irrigation potential with only 53% utilized
Average Ticket Size (USD)Describes the USD amount for a typical investment required in the IOA.
> USD 10 million
Direct ImpactDescribes the primary SDG(s) the IOA addresses.
No Poverty (SDG 1) Zero Hunger (SDG 2) Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10)
Indirect ImpactDescribes the secondary SDG(s) the IOA addresses.
Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) Good health and well-being (SDG 3) Life on Land (SDG 15)
Sector Sources
  • 1) Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. 2019. The Kingdom of Eswatini Voluntary National Review. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/24651Eswatini_VNR_Final_Report.pdf 2) Finmark Trust. 2020. Financial Inclusion Refresh. https://finmark.org.za/system/documents/files/000/000/391/original/Eswatini_Financial_Inclusion_Refresh.pdf?1614849476 3) Government of Eswatini. 2020. Post COVID-19 Kingdom of Eswatini Economic Recovery Plan. http://www.gov.sz/images/CORONA/FINAL-POST-COVID-19-ECONOMIC-RECOVERY-PLAN-ESWATINI-14082020_compressed.pdf 4) Ministry of Agriculture. 2015-2025 Swaziland National Agricultural Investment Plan (SNAIP). http://www.gov.sz/images/MOAG/SWAZILAND-NATIONAL-AGRICULTURE-INVESTMENT-PLAN-SNAIP.pdf 5) Ministry Of Agriculture. 2018- 2023. Ministry Of Agriculture Strategic Plan. http://www.dairyboard.co.sz/images/MOA%20STRATEGIC%20PLAN_WP_2020.pdf 6) World Food Programme (WFP). 2020-2024. Eswatini country strategic plan. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000108645/download/?_ga=2.10006454.280993457.1629980379-1623016762.1629980379 7) Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. 2020. The Eswatini Zero Hunger Strategic Review. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000111397/download/?_ga=2.179858791.2122312585.1630921482-428469450.1630921482 8) Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. 2017. The Strategy for Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth (SSDIG) 9) EUROPEAID. 2016. Final Detailed Report: Strategic Environmental Assessment Of The 11th EDF Programme’s Focal Sector Agriculture In Swaziland. 10) Inter Press Services Nes Agency. Climate-Smart Agriculture means More Time for Eswatini Women Farmers. http://www.ipsnews.net/2020/02/climate-smart-agriculture-means-time-eswatini-women-farmers/ 11) World Food Programme. Eswatini country strategic plan (2020–2024). 2020 https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000108645/download/?_ga=2.10006454.280993457.1629980379-1623016762.1629980379
IOA Sources
  • 12) African Development Bank Data Portal. 2021. Swaziland - Lower Usuthu Smallholders Irrigation Project II. https://projectsportal.afdb.org/dataportal/VProject/show/P-SZ-AAC-005 13) Government of Eswatini. 2020. Post COVID-19 Kingdom of Eswatini Economic Recovery Plan. http://www.gov.sz/images/CORONA/FINAL-POST-COVID-19-ECONOMIC-RECOVERY-PLAN-ESWATINI-14082020_compressed.pdf 14) Tibiyo Taka Ngwane. 2021. Investments in Agriculture. http://www.tibiyo.com/investments/agriculture/index.php 15) DUN & BRADSHEET Business Directory. 2021. INYONI YAMI SWAZILAND IRRIGATION SCHEME. https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.inyoni_yami_swaziland_irrigation_scheme.9af555236e58459df767ed7ae4ca146c.html 16) African Development Bank. 2020. Mkondvo-Ngwavuma Water Augmentation Program (MWAP) Study. https://www.afdb.org/sites/default/files/documents/projects-and-operations/eswatini_-_mkondvo-ngwavuma_water_augmentation_program_mnwap_-_mic_grant_report.pdf 17) The Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre (ESEPARC). ESWADE Key to Poverty Alleviation in Eswatini. https://www.separc.co.sz/2021/04/10/eswade-key-to-poverty-alleviation-in-eswatini/ 18) Ministry of Agriculture. 2015-2025 Swaziland National Agricultural Investment Plan (SNAIP). http://www.gov.sz/images/MOAG/SWAZILAND-NATIONAL-AGRICULTURE-INVESTMENT-PLAN-SNAIP.pdf 19) UNDP Stakeholder Interview in Eswatini with Paul Vilane. 2021. 20) FinMark Trust. 2021. Agricultural Finance Scoping. https://finmark.org.za/system/documents/files/000/000/511/original/FMT_SADC_FI_Agriculture_eSwatini.pdf?1629903465 21) Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. 2020. The Eswatini Zero Hunger Strategic Review. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000111397/download/?_ga=2.179858791.2122312585.1630921482-428469450.1630921482 22) Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. 2020. The Eswatini Zero Hunger Strategic Review. https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000111397/download/?_ga=2.179858791.2122312585.1630921482-428469450.1630921482 23) United Nations. 2020 United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Eswatini 2021-2025. https://unsdg.un.org/resources/un-sustainable-development-cooperation-framework-eswatini-2021-2025 24) Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. 2020. Participatory Poverty Assessment II 25) UN Women. 2021 Country Fact Sheet. https://data.unwomen.org/country/eswatini 26) Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. 2021. (IPC). Eswatini: IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis July 2021 - March 2022. https://reliefweb.int/report/eswatini/eswatini-ipc-acute-food-insecurity-analysis-july-2021-march-2022-issued-september 27) Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. 2019. The Kingdom of Eswatini Voluntary National Review. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/24651Eswatini_VNR_Final_Report.pdf 28) SE4ALL UN Assembly. 2016. Kingdom of Swaziland Sustainable Energy for All. https://www.se4all-africa.org/fileadmin/uploads/se4all/Documents/Country_IPs/Swaziland_Investment_Prospectus.pdf 29) Bloomberg Businessweek. 2021. A Tiny Piece of Plastic Is Helping Farmers Use Far Less Water. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-09-23/how-microdrip-irrigation-systems-use-less-water-and-could-change-farming-forever?srnd=businessweek-v2 30) World Food Programme. 2020. Eswatini country strategic plan (2020–2024). https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000108645/download/?_ga=2.10006454.280993457.1629980379-1623016762.1629980379 31) EUROPEAID. 2016. Final Detailed Report: Strategic Environmental Assessment Of The 11th EDF Programme’s Focal Sector Agriculture In Swaziland. 32) Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. 2017. The Strategy for Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth (SSDIG). 33) Government of Eswatini 2019.The Kingdom of Eswatini Strategic Road Map: 2019-2022. http://www.gov.sz/images/CabinetMinisters/STRATEGIC-ROADMAP-2018-2023---MAY-2019.pdf 34) The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini. 2021. Investing in Economic Recovery, Prosperity and Sustainable Development: an Implementation Master Plan 35) Ministry of Agriculture. 2018. Ministry Of Agriculture Strategic Plan (2018- 2023). http://www.dairyboard.co.sz/images/MOA%20STRATEGIC%20PLAN_WP_2020.pdf 36) World Bank Group. 2020. Food imports (% of merchandise imports) - Eswatini. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/TM.VAL.FOOD.ZS.UN?locations=SZ 37) Government of Eswatini. 2003. Eswatini Water Act 2003. http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/swa45031.pdf 38) United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. SDG Indicators. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/UNSDG/IndDatabasePage 39) Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA). Domestic Trade Tax Incentives in Eswatini. https://investeswatini.org.sz/domestic-trade-tax-incentives-in-eswatini/ 40) Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy. August 2018. National Water Policy. https://www.unicef.org/eswatini/media/921/file/National%20water%20policy-report-2018.pdf.pdf 41) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Swaziland National Irrigation Policy. https://www.fao.org/faolex/results/details/en/c/LEX-FAOC170275/#:~:text=The%20main%20objectives%20of%20the,sector%20institutional%20landscape%20characterized%20by 42) AfDB. July 2011. Lower Usuthu Small-holder Irrigation Development Project (LUSIP) Swaziland. https://evrd.afdb.org/documents/docs/PN10326_SR_EN.pdf 43) National Agricultural Marketing Board. 2021. Imports of Scheduled Agricultural Products 44) Eswatini Electricity Company. 2022. Website: Our Clients. http://www.eec.co.sz/clients/ 45) Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency. Public Procurement Regulations 2020. https://sppra.co.sz/sppra/documents/regulations/Pages%20from%20Eswatini%20Government%20Gazette%20-%2018th%20Dec%202020.pdf