Abstract Alluvial aquifers in seasonal rivers are a yet underutilised resource in many (semi-)arid regions of Africa. These so-called sand river aquifers provide nature-based water storage within easy reach because they are shallow. They form a significant potential renewable source of water for irrigation development. Innovative approaches and solutions are needed to sustainably increase productive use of this resource to enhance rural livelihoods. The A4Labs action research explores the potential and pitfalls of introducing solutions designed for individual smallholder farmers. This entails innovation in three domains: the technology used (manually-installed shallow well-points in or next to a sand river combined with solar-powered water pumps), the arrangement (individual smallholder farmers), and the purpose (market-oriented farming). Pilots were established in the Limpopo river basin in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Monitoring and assessment are ongoing, but preliminary findings indicate that successful adoption of the approach was not constrained by water availability. Despite the fact that these pilots were established during two subsequent drought years, there was no difficulty in accessing freshwater in sufficient quantity. Instead, successful adoption depends on previous farming experience, market access, and the possibility to grow adaptively in terms of technology, scale and financial risks. In addition, establishing an individual farm to grow cash crops requires acceptance and new skills, as irrigation for smallholder farmers in Africa has traditionally been framed as a communal activity in “collective” irrigation schemes with strong support by outside agencies, and with the well-known collective action challenges. This action research has also estimated that the potential for upscaling this innovation in the Limpopo river basin is significant. Our innovative solution for accessing water stored in shallow alluvial aquifers can start small, is within reach of smallholder farmers (initial investment being less than US$1,000/0.2 ha), and is scalable as farmers can gradually improve their system and expand. Moreover, the solution allows for the application of “adaptive development pathways” at the river-stretch scale.

中文翻译：

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在非洲旱地的小农灌溉农业中使用基于自然的蓄水：莫桑比克和津巴布韦节俭创新试点的经验教训

摘要 季节性河流中的冲积含水层是非洲许多（半）干旱地区尚未充分利用的资源。这些所谓的沙河蓄水层很浅，因此可以轻松获取以自然为基础的蓄水。它们形成了用于灌溉发展的重要潜在可再生水源。需要创新的方法和解决方案来可持续地增加对这种资源的生产利用，以改善农村生计。A4Labs 行动研究探索了引入为个体小农设计的解决方案的潜力和陷阱。这需要在三个领域进行创新：使用的技术（在沙河中或旁边手动安装浅井点与太阳能水泵相结合）、安排（个体小农）和目的（以市场为导向的农业）。在津巴布韦和莫桑比克的林波波河流域建立了试点。监测和评估正在进行中，但初步结果表明，该方法的成功采用不受可用水量的限制。尽管这些试点是在随后的两年干旱期间建立的，但获得足够数量的淡水并不困难。相反，成功采用取决于以前的农业经验、市场准入以及在技术、规模和财务风险方面适应性增长的可能性。此外，建立个人农场来种植经济作物需要接受和新技能，因为非洲小农的灌溉传统上被视为“集体”灌溉计划中的一项公共活动，并得到外部机构的大力支持，以及众所周知的集体行动挑战。这项行动研究还估计，在林波波河流域推广这一创新的潜力是巨大的。我们用于获取储存在浅层冲积含水层中的水的创新解决方案可以从小规模开始，小农可以使用（初始投资低于 1,000 美元/0.2 公顷），并且随着农民可以逐渐改进他们的系统和扩大规模，可以扩展。此外，该解决方案允许在河流范围内应用“适应性开发路径”。小农可以接触到（初始投资不到 1,000 美元/0.2 公顷），并且随着农民可以逐渐改进他们的系统和扩大规模，它具有可扩展性。此外，该解决方案允许在河流范围内应用“适应性开发路径”。小农可以接触到（初始投资不到 1,000 美元/0.2 公顷），并且随着农民可以逐渐改进他们的系统和扩大规模，它具有可扩展性。此外，该解决方案允许在河流范围内应用“适应性开发路径”。