This analysis of 17 small and 3 large irrigation schemes located along the River Senegal attempts to establish benchmarks for both productivity and performance of irrigation schemes along the valley, and to inquire whether small schemes function better than large schemes.The analysis of the indicators revealed that, on average, large schemes performed similarly to small-scale schemes, but small schemes were more variable, particularly in input-use efficiency.

This report is a major outcome of the "WRITESHOP" held 21-24 February 2007 in Dakar, Senegal with its focus on adaptation measures required in response to climate variability and change for water management in West Africa.

This article examines the environmental and socioeconomic consequences of hydraulic infrastructural changes along the Senegal River valley and estuary. It examines the impacts of these infrastructural changes, using on-site measurements (topometry, water salinity and piezometry), analysis of hydrological data, field observations and surveys with dam managers, state regional directions and local stakeholders. It stresses the urgency of elaborating models of hydraulic management to limit the negative consequences of the hydraulic constructions.