25 April, 2025
Incatema has begun conducting studies for small-scale irrigation projects and overseeing their implementation for farmers in Kwanza Norte and Huila. These farmers are beneficiaries of the CADP (Commercial Agriculture Development Project). Producers, or producer associations, who received funding from the program to develop a business plan and support the transition toward commercial agriculture, will now be able to benefit from this new initiative. It represents another step toward increased technification and the efficient use of water in agricultural production through the implementation of small irrigation systems in productive areas.
The technical assistance is expected to last approximately 10 months and has a budget of €445,000. Each individual irrigation project will cover an area of up to 5 hectares, with around 20 projects planned and supervised in each of the two provinces.
The project aims to support agricultural production during dry periods and reduce dependence on rainfall, which is often erratic and scarce. The development of irrigation will enable the cultivation of high-value crops such as vegetables and greens. Incatema will assess water sources, availability, and optimal, environmentally respectful and sustainable use. To this end, Incatema will identify environmental and social risks, starting with environmental and social screening in the early identification phases, followed by public consultations to ensure community engagement. Mitigation measures will be developed to address potential impacts on ecosystems and local communities. All of these measures will be included in Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), in line with World Bank requirements and local environmental and social legislation.
The goal is to diversify agricultural production, increase resilience during drought periods, promote high-value crops and their year-round availability, and improve overall agricultural output through the efficient use of natural resources, particularly water in agriculture.
Development of sustainable irrigation infrastructure to enhance climate change adaptation and promote sustainable agriculture
The project will support the development of small-scale irrigation infrastructure that enables farmers to achieve sustainable production through the efficient management of water resources.
Incatema will develop georeferenced digital maps based on both primary and secondary sources, providing accurate information on the layout of irrigation infrastructure, including the location of water pumps, reservoirs, pipelines, and other key components. As Adelaida Pérez Milán, Incatema’s Director of Consultancy, explains, “efficient resource management is essential for the modernization of agriculture. The use of georeferenced maps of the intervention areas will serve as a basis for decision-making processes and the design of irrigation projects. Different scenarios will be assessed, and irrigation systems will be planned based on the most technically and economically advantageous alternatives. The project is expected to have a significant impact by improving agricultural production and increasing the resilience of beneficiary farmers and communities within the intervention area.”
The CADP is a project of the Government of Angola funded by the World Bank and the French Development Agency, to which Incatema has been providing technical assistance since 2018.