from AgWA-FAO program in Africa International Symposium on - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Experiences and Lesson Learned from AgWA-FAO program in Africa

International Symposium on Rainwater Harvesting and Resilience Addis Ababa, June 1-2 2015

Fethi Lebdi, AgWA Coordinator

Arable land (million ha) Rainfed area (million ha) % of rainfed area Africa 247 234 94.5 Northern Africa 28 21.5 77.1 Sub-Saharan Africa 218 211 96.7

The context - Rainfed agriculture in Africa

• 80% of Ugandans depend on rainfed farming which covers

60% of export earnings (CDKN)

• In Burkina Faso there are 3.5 millions ha of farming land of

which 0.68% is irrigated (INERA);

• In Morocco there are 8.4 million ha of farming land of which

1.5 millions ha are irrigated (potential of 1.6) (Aquastat)

Countries overview

Burkina Faso is recurrently hit by droughts that curb agricultural production; Precipitations range between 500 mm/yr in the north and over 1000 mm/yr in the south-west The extreme droughts of the 70s raised the attention

• n the issue and

consequently triggered numerous interventions with strong WH components (e.g. GERES, PAF)

(Source: Atlante de l’Afrique, 2005)

(Source: F. Sambalino) Zai pits

• Local practice originated in the

northern province of Yatenga. It is now also spread all over the central plateau;

• Dug during the dry season and

enriched with composted manure;

• Coupled with stone lines and

stone bunds;

• Yield can be as high as 1500

kg/ha with good use of FYM;

• OM is the limiting factor to

higher productivity.

(Source: J. van der Zaag) Cordon Pierraux

• Used on gentle slopes to slow

down runoff, spread it and augment infiltration;

• Used in conjunction with Zai pits

and demi-lunes;

• Can be implemented step-wise
• ver the years as resources

become available;

• Stones are often the limiting

factor.

(Source: F. Sambalino) Private water harvesting ponds

• Government initiative to provide

loans and technical assistance to construct over 10.000 ponds (ca. 300 m3);

• Used for SSI in small vegetable

gardens but designed to water 0.25 ha of Maize;

• Promoted all over the country,

but started from local initiative near Ouagadougou (Rawalgue).

Morocco

Water Harvesting

• Precipitations range between

1200 mm/year in the Rif in the North and < 100 mm/year in the south and on the fringes of the Sahara;

• In most of the country, crop

production is not possible without some forms of irrigation

• r WH.

Source: E. Roose

Morocco

Water Harvesting Water Harvesting in Morocco

• In the Rif: Metfias, diversion

weirs, trenches, and terraces;

• In the Semi-arid Areas: ,

Metfias, terraces, stone and soil bunds, check-dams;

• In the South: Metfias, water

spreading weir, spate irrigation and Khettara.

Morocco

Water Harvesting Metfia – Cisterns

• In arid and semi-arid areas
• Great variation in size and

design;

• Communal or private;
• Multiple uses, sometimes

SSI of small vegetable gardens;

• Good government support.

Morocco

Water Harvesting Jessours

• In arid areas, to

harvest water from degraded lateral slopes;

• Earthen embankment

(Tabia) across dry valleys;

• To capture water and

build up fertile soil;

• Equipped with a lateral

spillway;

Morocco

Water Harvesting Lac Collinaire and Liman

• At the confluence of two

(Liman) or three valleys (lac collinaire);

• It is being spread on the hills

and higher valleys;

Morocco

Water Harvesting Spate irrigation

• Use of flash floods for

production purposes;

• Common on the southern

side of the Haute Atlas where precipitations are < 200 mm/year;

• Can be spread in all arid

regions where a wadi and an appropriate topography are present.

UGANDA

Water Harvesting

• Bimodal rainfall pattern that

is more suitable for rainfed production;

• Water harvesting for crop

production is not well spread except in few locations (e.g. the southwest).

UGANDA

Water Harvesting Trash-lines

• Improved following a participatory

process (ISWC)

• Crop residues and weeds are

heaped in mounds along contour lines;

• Preferred to physical structures

because they require less work;

• Higher yield near the trash-line;

UGANDA

Water Harvesting Terraces

• Common in the Kabale district

(SW) and surrounding hills;

• As the population is increasing

their use is spreading also in more gentle landscapes – intensification;

UGANDA

Water Harvesting Valley dams/tanks

• built in Karamoja and in the

cattle corridor;

• They are used to water cattle

even though some first experiences with SSI are present;

• Smaller ponds constructed by

MoA (with drip - SSI).

Water Harvesting

Considerations – The downstream

Externalities of (small) WH – Downstream effects

• Very few studies available;
• There are examples of reduced dam impounding,

but also examples of Groundwater Recharge

Water Harvesting

Considerations

Critchley, 2012: “an increasing number of studies show that when these small water harvesting interventions become numerous they can have an aggregate impact downstream” Bouma et al., 2011: “The results indicate that the downstream impacts are considerable and that net benefits are insufficient to pay back investment costs” Nyssen et al., 2010: “Emerging wells and irrigation are other indicators for improved water supply in the managed catchment. Cropped fields in the gullies indicate that farmers are less frightened for the destructive effects of flash floods.” Aboaubdillah, 2009: “The simulation results have clearly shown that contour ridges (considered as pothole in this study) within the watershed have an important role of the retention of sediments; whereas, they showed to have an impact on the hydrologic regime in the catchment by reducing the surface runoff by 32 %.”

Water Harvesting

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Burkina Faso Morocco Uganda Diagnostic studies Mapping of past initiatives and opportunities is being prepared (INERA-MoA- WaHaRA) Many studies are available or in the process (Roose, AGIRE factsheets) Scattered information, no study at national level; Political Agenda WH high up in the agenda (PNSR) WH high up in the agenda (Maroc Vert) Only few technologies are prioritized (Valley dams), but present in main policy (NDP) WH on the ground Some regions have been changed by a farmer movement promoting in situ WH; Relevant initiatives in promoting WH ponds and SSI Water harvesting in many forms throughout the country; WH and valorisation

• f production coupled

to boost benefits; Lower adoption of WH measures except valley tanks in the cattle belt and in Karamoja; Presence of local agronomic measures to upscale (trash- lines, mulching)

Water Harvesting

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Burkina Faso Morocco Uganda Agricultural Extension System (AES) AES at municipal level, but under funded; AES restructured (ONCA--CCA) NAADS disbanded, due to mismanagement and corruption; Education and Research Inera, 2iE have a strong focus on AWM; At university level WH can be strengthened; CAP-Matourkou can be a key entry to technician formation IAV, INRA, ENAM cover aspects on WH, but could benefit

• f specific courses;

Some technical schools that form technicians have WH in their programs; Research need strengthening on WH; Specific courses on WH are lacking; Need of trainings on landscape approach that integrates disciplines Crosscutting Lack of information on downstream externalities Excellent potential to support SSI

Water Harvesting

(Some) RECOMMENDATIONS

Burkina Faso Morocco Uganda Technical

• Fertility management

enhancement (vermicomposting, rock dust, micro-dosing);

• Promote cheap carts for

stone transportation;

• Siltation of Lac

Collinair can be curbed with SWC;

• WH and

Groundwater recharge against salinity

• Valley tanks

coupled with capacity building;

• WH

demonstration plot should be affordable;

• Control ET, leakge and siltation from ponds
• Couple road development with WH and SSI
• Build up on local initiatives and aim to boost short term benefits
• Couple fertility management with WH
• Work at landscape level and promoting Recharge, Retention and Reuse (3R)
• WH storage developed jointly with skills of users

Capacity building and knowledge sharing

• Farmers innovators and local champions – Farmers Field Schools
• Exchange visits and in-country as well as inter country knowledge exchange
• Capacity building of government staff
• Curricula strengthening
• On the job coaching of technician

Water Harvesting

(Some) RECOMMENDATIONS

Burkina Faso Morocco Uganda Institutional/ financing Support collaboration between MASA and others

• Make farming appealing

to young farmers where suffering from

• utmigration;
• Support the newly

created ONCA;

• Boost force on account

system to support private investments or support private contractors;

• NAADS is not a good
• ption for the project;
• Landscape approach that goes beyond IWRM – embed in a cross sectorial

visions/policy;

• Endorsement of national guidelines;
• Differentiate interventions according to livelihoods and AEZ;
• Policy are generally satisfying – but the implementation is lacking in

transparency and resources;

• Coordination between ministries;
• Private investment support – loans, MF

Research

• Research downstream and off-stream effects of WH;
• Document successful stories and showcase them;
• Investigate low-input options for small holder farmers (Participatory Action

Research);

• Joint research between institutes and disciplines;

THANK YOU