Emphasis to water
Water
resource
Status
People
Implementation
level
The
Netherlands
Ample
No scarcity
&
Controlled
flooding
concerned
With different
approach
= efficient
Ethiopia
Enough
Scarcity &
Leading to
land
degradation
and poverty
Not so much Few areas by
concerned
engineering
means only
= inefficiency
1
Some of manuscripts
Chain of water uses
1. Crop production
2. Ecology
3. Domestic water supply
4. Irrigation
5. Hydropower
6. Fishery
7. Transportation
8. Industry
9. Tourism, …
4
3
2
1
5
6
Works
1. in all towns
2. in all villages
3. in all micro-watersheds
4. in the whole highlands of Ethiopia
IWRM and MUS in Ethiopia
Rainwater management
based on IWRM principles:
for chain of water uses
House-hold and community experience in
Amhara region, Ethiopia. November 22, 2010
By
Mastewal E. Ademe
IFAD – PASIDP Coordinator
BoA
Titles
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Introduction
Objective
Materials and Methods
Results and Discussions
Conclusion and recommendation
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1. Introduction
IWRM which promotes the coordinated development and
management of water, land and related resources, is accepted as
a guiding principle for attaining water use



equity,
economic efficiency and
environmental sustainability of a watershed area.
Interrelated nature of
different: Sources,
 Impacts, and
 Uses
of water is a major
driving force to the
introduction of IWRM
process.
5

In line with this Ethiopian water
resources management policy
(MoWR, 1999) based itself on the
core values of IWRM.

Nevertheless, circumstances on
ground to manage water resources
are not full-fledged in the country
particularly to Amhara region.
6
Associated problems
- land erosion, degradation, flooding
- sedimentation to the lake & reservoirs
- low/no groundwater/baseflow during dry period for water
supply/irrigation
Silted up Adrako
Micro-earth irrigation dam
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Rib river brought a lot of biomass,
Women and Children were collecting
Wood materials,
Date: Friday 15-06-07
Date: Tuesday 19-06-07
Rib irrigation dam is under construction
Flooding treat to Lake Tana Basin

In the region rainwater, which is the major water resource, having
the highest water value is not managed explicitly for ecological
and social development, in well-organized and sustainable
manner.

Despite its tremendous water potential and value, water scarcity,
poverty and land degradation in the region remains rampant.
Water resources overview

Generally, Ethiopia has adequate average annual rainfall in most areas, several
major rivers and lakes, and significant groundwater resources.




Surface water resources are estimated at 122 billion cubic meters per
year (12 major river basins and 22 lakes).
Renewable groundwater resources are estimated to be about 2.6
billion cubic meters (MoWR, 2002a).
Although less than 2 percent of these resources are diverted for use, the current
estimated per capita renewable freshwater resources of 1,900 cubic meters
(MoWR, 2002b) indicates an abundance of water.
The Amhara National Regional State has


29 % of the country’s annual surface water potentials and
20 % of the potentially irrigable land of the country (3.5 million
hectares).

Four river basins are found in the region namely

Abay, Tekeze, Awash and Afar-danakil river drainage basins.
Those rivers have huge potentials for crop production, ecology, domestic water


supply, irrigation, hydropower, fishery, transportation, industry, tourism, …
However, these huge potentials of water resources are under developed
(BoFED, 2006; MoWR, 1998).
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Table 1: The water resources of basins that the region has major shares (ESP, 2003)
River basin
Catchment
area (km2)
Abbay (46 %)
199,812
52.6
1.23
Tekeze (30 %)
89,000
7.63
0.18
Awash (18 %)
112,700
4.6
0.13
Danakil (6 %)
74,00
0.86
0
475,512
65.69
1.54
Total


Annual Ground water
Runoff (bm3)
(bm3)
a huge gap between annual runoff with the remaining ground water
reserve. That is probably due to lack of proper rainwater management
activities based on IWRM principles on most part of the region.
In addition, there are significant evaporation losses that require similar
treatment.
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Fig. 1: General overview of rainfall partitioning in farming systems in the
semi-arid tropics of sub-Saharan Africa. (Source: Rockstrom et al., 2003).
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2. Objective
The objective of the study was to evaluate farmers practice on
rainwater management based on IWRM principles satisfying:
 ecology,
 economic efficiency and
 equity of water use.
following source to end user from increased chain of water use.
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3. Materials and Methods




Reference books, Video camera, Semi structured questioner,
This study was carried out together with experts from different discipline,
administrative leaders and the study team in respective Kebeles, districts and
Zones where the study was conducted.

at regional level 5 experts,

at Zonal level 7 experts,

at district level 16 experts and

at Kebele level 20 community members were participated beside two
development agents in each Kebele,
 totally 362 persons were participated. Out of them 240 are farmers.
Direct observation, interviews and discussions were employed,
The study was conducted in

3 Zones of Amhara region and

2 Woreda in each Zone
 totally 6 Woreda were investigated of use of IWRM principles.

2 Kebeles in each Woreda were selected one potential and one least
potential Kebele.
 Totally 12 Kebeles were investigated.
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4. Results and discussions

From the observed 240 farming-community members about


20 % of the farmers have adequate knowledge to implement
rainwater management with IWRM principles.
 9 % of the community members are at implementation
 11 % at concept level they show at least the watershed area
where water drains out.
91 % of the farmers do not integrate their limited resources and activities to
manage the rainwater resource.

This significantly correlates with the current major problem of the
region i.e. water scarcity, land degradation, sedimentation, flooding
and poverty.
Household and Community Experiences

Those practices were commencing under the assistance of multi-disciplinary
experts from BoA and NGOs acting at different times basically to:


reduce sedimentation to Angereb Water supply Dam (household)
increase groundwater reserve (community).
 Opportunity:- awareness, training, and technical support.
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At house-hold level

The area is situated within Angereb dam watershed in Tana sub
basin; this particular area is located on steep mountainous part.
 From all observations this house hold in Lay-Armachiho district
Chirakedisty Kebele is at best experience level to achieve
optimized rain-water use.

This approach is integrated within their micro-watershed area
 As upland is treated with appropriate soil and water conservation
measures to recharge groundwater.
 It allows resources to recycle with in it, and
 At the outlet of the micro-watershed, wells are used for
 Irrigation and
 Domestic water supply.
 Also close follow up and maintenance got higher attention by the
family members for increased chain of rain-water use.
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Watershed Development for
High crop yield, wood,
compost, bee having, …
Irrigation Development
Environment
Water supply Development
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



This practice took:
 6 years for irrigation and
 7 years for water-supply to get ground water.
In their small watershed their limited farm-resources and activities
are integrated to manage the rain-water resource basically by
reducing runoff and evaporation losses.
 Rockstorm et. al. (2003) confirmed that evaporation can be
transformed into useful transpiration, thus contributing to
increased water productivity including augmentation of ground
water.
The house-hold leader that was interviewed by the group said that all
community members should contribute for rain-water management
for coordinated development of the watershed.
 For this important initiation they have an agreement to cooperate
similar interventions in their Kebele to watershed management.
He and his wife are also capable to discuss IWRM principles properly
from their experiences.
 That can be used for experience sharing to other community
members.
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At community level

From communities where assessment was made Kobo district
Shewoch-Mariam Kebele is found to be the best.

Here the major types of watershed activities implemented include
 terracing, water way, agro-forestry, green manure, mulching
using crop residues, composting, water supply and irrigation.


close follow up and maintenance got higher attention by the
implementers.
This was on an area where there was critical drinking water scarcity
before 4 years. But now they achieved water surplus for drinking
and beyond that for irrigation.
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Stone-faced soil bund
Rehabilitated
watershed
9%
Increased soil moisture
Check-dams
4 years hard work for
Getting spring after 17 yrs
11 %
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Rehabilitated watershed
good rain-fed farming
Increases the chain of water uses
Cloth washing/Sanitation
Water supply
Cattle trough
Irrigation with
the excess water &
groundwater
Cattle feed,
Ecology and
Downstream water users
Imagine also the reverse
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
In both cases the result of watershed developments for irrigation and
water supply based on IWRM principles at family and community
level shows significant groundwater reserve for later use during dry
periods.

Moreover, both practices also have important returns for down
stream water-users, which further optimizing water use.

To observe more advantages of these experiences it is good to look
it at different angles.

Advantages from:





Community
Household
Women’s
Children points views
Downstream
MDGs and for the world.
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Community point of view include;
 soil erosion is reduced,
 down stream sedimentation is minimized,

it reduces non-point pollution sources,

physical scarcity of water is minimized for local people,
local micro-climate is improved,
flooding is controlled and
groundwater is recharged for down stream communal irrigation
schemes i.e. improved hydrologic cycle benefiting local people
for increased chain of water use.



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House hold level;
 They achieved high income from different farm product sells (crop,
honey, livestock, hen, irrigated grass and vegetables…).
 They are able to get hand-pump for irrigation purpose in the form
of prize i.e. they are recognized,
 soil loss is minimized,
 the land is covered with flowering vegetations (good for their beehaving activities),
 local micro-climate is improved,
 improved hydrological cycle (water is stored for latter use in this case
environment, irrigation and water supply near by their house),
 soil fertility enhancement from put into operation of agro-forestry (N2fixing plants), green-manure and compost.
From other perspective applied compost increases soil water holding
capacity and increases infiltration additional benefit compared to use
of chemical fertilizers (also reduces expenses).
 Other farm activities are taking place integrated in their small
watershed; creating good state of bio-interaction in the area.
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Women’s point of view include;
 they will not travel long distance to fetch water hence reduced work burden
and risks on women,
 collect fire wood and wash clothes nearby the house.

Hence with the house hold members can spend spare time (morning
and evening) to follow up their watershed activities.
Children point of view include:
 they put on neat cloth i.e. improved sanitation and hygiene for good health
condition, get more follow up and advice from their parent,
 school expenses will be covered from vegetable sales from irrigation,
 they will be involved in practical knowledge of IWRM, and they will get
opportunity to implement what they learned from school.
Downstream point of view:
 Sustains groundwater and base flow for equity - value addition
 Improves the local micro-climate from increased vegetation
MDGs and for the World:
 Achieving sustainable development is the key to meeting the MDGs
 Significant carbon assimilation is also possible (integrated approach).
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
Those approaches are sustainably integrated because both satisfy
IWRM principles. Because they understood,






water is finite and vulnerable and acted accordingly.
participation to local rainwater management for access to water of
adequate quantity and quality for the sustenance of human well-being.
women interest is on highest agenda.
social and economic cost of water is highly recognized since water is
used with optimum possible efficiency.
Beside from the three “E” point of view
 they use their share of rainwater column i.e. low competition on other
water sources fulfilling equity criteria from the society share,
 they assured evergreen land cover with improved microclimate satisfying
environmental integrity for next generation too,
 they get additional benefits from ground water reserve use achieving
optimum economic efficiency.
Climatic change mitigation
 Improved micro-climate helps to mitigate climatic change effects from
improved rainwater management
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




a lot of activities undertaken as in the form of soil and water
conservation and forestation program but not yet in an integrated
approach
Overall lack of means to store water in times of plenty place the
farming community at risk of drought and chronic food
shortages.
In addition massive efforts of dams, diversions, ponds, soil and
water conservation activities are not yet in place through in many
watersheds,
To meet the ever increasing water demand (food
production/water supply) every peace of land should be treated
with IWRM principles to achieve increased chain of water uses.
The major problem is the approach to increase rainwater
productivity based on IWRM principles are not clearly known to
the majority of the farming-community.


the majority of higher experts (Yonas and Derje, 2008).
runoff and soil erosion are from God.

They do not believe that it is due to their day-to-day
activities on land that influences the water use and loss.
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5. Conclusion and Recommendation






Recognize implementation of IWRM for increased chain of water uses
is the key option to fulfill economic development and mitigate climatic
change effects for highlands of Ethiopia,
It also assists to have low-cost and decentralized water supply and
sanitation implementation everywhere including on degraded lands,
 Water supplying agencies do not get easily groundwater on
highlands (it is possible as long as there is enough rainfall),
Hence to achieve cumulative-joint effort on the ground:
 continues training, experience sharing, technical support and
awareness creation (supported with video films) at community
level is indispensable.
Beside integrated, multidisciplinary and inter-sectoral approach at all
level is necessary,
Guidelines for farmers with relevant trainings should be given to make
them aware of the possibilities to do RWH and IWRM to meet their needs
for multiple use, even if there is not enough groundwater.
As a final point, to execute this enormous task at large it is significantly
important to have multiple use water service guidelines with responsible
IWRM advisory and training institution for the region; at large for the
country.
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Thank you!!
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