Strict structured modular supply-led irrigation
Many irrigation commentators observe two types of irrigation; traditional and modern (both come loaded with beliefs and baggage but that is not my point here). My point is there are … Continue reading
AI may not deliver irrigation performance gains
On the 5th June 2025 meeting of the Tony Allan Society, I argued that AI employed by irrigation scientists will not help us deliver significant analytical breakthroughs and improvements in … Continue reading
Water equity; local, participatory, incremental
This blog builds on my comment on the important Water Alternatives forum topic “What is ‘equitable access to water’?” by Barbara Schreiner and Barbara van Koppen. Please read their excellent … Continue reading
Can indicators and metrics guide resilience adaptation?
The diagram above shows two adaptation pathways for irrigated agriculture in a semi-arid drought-prone catchment over a period of 8-12 years. One pathway in green is becoming more resilient to … Continue reading
A cubic metre of water for mystery, learning & courage
Water is many things and takes many guises or forms1. Through these guises (see below) water surprises and tests us. It promotes learning, teaching and understanding, which are ingredients in … Continue reading
On the water literacy and distributive risks of GCEW’s ‘new’ drop of water
The 2024 Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW) says we can create a new water drop by improving the recycling of water in two of its five missions, … Continue reading
Irrigation is colonising water and is being colonised; on research and teaching gaps in irrigation
I reflect on the current lack of meaningful irrigation research and teaching, and three consequences of this inaction. These are personal reflections spurred by being part of Lankford and Mabhaudhi … Continue reading
Hydromodule numeracy unlocks the puzzles of irrigation
Forty years ago, on this date (28 Sept 1983), I started my first job on a large-scale irrigation system in the Swaziland/Eswatini lowveld in Southern Africa. I’ve learnt a lot … Continue reading
REWAS’ problems lie with water accounting
In my 2023 ISA paper, I point out that the water accounting (WA) schema is mainly descriptive while ISA is predictive. When I wrote this, I was not aware that … Continue reading
Really real ‘real water savings’
Which of two irrigation models (ISA and REWAS) accurately calculate a decrease in aggregate (net) depletion across an irrigated basin system (known as real water savings) as compared to a … Continue reading
Bruce Lankford 