The monitoring of groundwater levels in subsaharan africa must therefore be expanded to improve the understanding and management of ground water resources at community, regional and country scales. Reliability analysis of roof rainwater harvesting systems in a semiarid region of subsaharan africa. Could water harvesting technologies be made more effective in subsaharan africa. Poorly distributed andor highly variable rainfall is the main cause of. The issues of access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation is well articulated and prioritized in the various national, continental, and international policy documents, strategy papers, declarations, and conventions. Accessing water for productive agricultural use remains a challenge for millions of poor smallholder farmers, who constitute the majority of producers in sub saharan africa ssa. Only million m 3 4 percent was used in mining at the time, although this amount has increased due to the development of mining in particular uranium mining after 2000. Effective rainwater harvesting schemes for subsaharan west. More precisely, it is the process of collecting and concentrating runoff water from a catchment area into a. These whts should be sustainable under dynamic global and regional pressure, and strengthen rainfed agriculture, improve rural livelihood and increase food production and security in sub saharan africa. A study was undertaken in makanya catchment of rural tanzania to assess sustainability of storage type of rainwater harvesting systems including microdam, dug out pond, subsurface runoff harvesting tank. However, just the willingness to help does not necessarily lead to a successful project. Microcatchment and in situ rainwater harvesting techniques could improve the root zone soil water content by up to 30%. More precisely, it is the process of collecting and concentrating runoff water from a catchment area into a runon area, where the collected.
The regions population is set to more than double by 2050 to almost 2. Sub saharan africa is a vast region which sees too little water, or too much, in the wrong place or at the wrong time. Theme 3 water harvesting home food and agriculture. This foreign aid covered 21% of all expenditures in water supply and sanitation in subsaharan africa, and was principally directed to investments in infrastructure.
The situation of access to clean water and sanitation in rural africa is even more dismal than the previous statistics imply. Integration of rainwater harvesting with soil amendments has shown spectacular water and crop productivity performances. The monitoring of groundwater levels in sub saharan africa must therefore be expanded to improve the understanding and management of ground water resources at community, regional and country scales. Experts say wise economic development focused on infrastructure and improved treaties on water.
Sustainability of rainwater harvesting in enhancing water productivity in various biophysical and socioeconomic conditions of ssa is a key in large scale livelihood improvement. The objective of this paper was to examine farmerdirected technology adaptation of selected water harvesting technologies whts in order to enhance their potential contribution to food security and livelihood improvement in sub saharan africa. Mali, west africa, as a water and sanitation volunteer in a small rural town of four thousand people, with the hopes that i would be able to continue to build upon my research on rainwater harvesting methods in developing countries, specifically large scale rooftop catchments for potable water. The who 2006 stated that, in 2004, only 16% of people in subsaharan africa had access to drinking water through a household connection an indoor tap or a tap in the yard. A growing awareness of the potential of water harvesting for improved crop production arose in the 1970s and 1980s, with the widespread droughts in africa leaving a trail of crop failures. Nearly a billion people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water. Faostat rainfed agriculture in africa, the untapped potential. These whts should be sustainable under dynamic global and regional pressure, and strengthen rainfed agriculture, improve rural livelihood and increase. It covers a broad range of topics, including terminology and classification, environmental.
In order to achieve this, rural programmes must tap the proven rich source of indigenous knowledge more than is presently the case. Water harvesting in subsaharan africa kindle edition by critchley, william, gowing, john, gowing, john. Water harvesting experience in subsaharan africa lessons for sustainable intensi. This paper looks at the underlying causes for such a. Smallscale projects like rainwater harvesting systems can be funded by multiple sources. A study was undertaken in makanya catchment of rural tanzania to assess sustainability of storage type of rainwater harvesting systems including microdam, dug out pond, subsurface runoff harvesting tank and rooftop. Increasing access to water for smallholders in sub saharan africa. Case study of soroti, uganda submitted by fahad kimera a thesis submitted to graduate program in sustainable development in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of science in sustainable development under the supervision of. Within the ministry the department for water resources management and the department for rural water and sanitation coordination are in charge of water supply and sanitation. There is an urgent need heightened by climate change for appropriate technologies to address the problems of variable rainfall, frequent drought and low water productivity in. In 2006, 225 million hectares of land was cultivated in ssa.
It covers a broad range of topics, including terminology and classification, environmental factors, production aspects and socioeconomic. Water harvesting for plant production english abstract. Agriculture in subsaharan africa is constrained by highly variable rainfall, frequent drought and low water productivity. Water harvesting in subsaharan africa william critchley. Water harvesting in subsaharan africa, critchley, william. Pdf on jan 1, 1993, johan van dijk and others published opportunities for expanding water harvesting in subsaharan africa. Structure of presentation ntrends in lending norigin of trends. Subsaharan africa is the epicentre of this challenge.
A study was undertaken in makanya catchment of rural tanzania to assess sustainability of storage type of rainwater harvesting systems including microdam, dug out pond, sub surface runoff harvesting tank and rooftop. We propose a water harvesting innovation coordination mechanism for africa under. This has been an ongoing issue that has been persistent, especially in recent years. The municipal sector including tourism and industry used 73 million m 3 24 percent, while the bulk of water use is for agriculture and livestock. Highlights in subsaharan africa, agricultural water scarcity is much linked to rainfall variability and nonproductive losses. Opportunities for expanding water harvesting in sub. The stimulus was the welldocumented work on wh in the negev desert of israel evanari et al. Yet most soil and water conservation projects in subsaharan africa have failed.
Sep 30, 20 current practices for water and wastewater treatment in africa are insufficient to ensure safe water and basic sanitation. Application of expert knowledge based multi criteria evaluation mce process to select suitable areas for water harvesting systems in subsaharan africa, a case study of tanzania. In fact, many ngos like the water project or charity water fund rainwater harvesting technologies 1819. Effective rainwater harvesting schemes for subsaharan. Water harvesting improving agriculture water management awm is. Highlights in sub saharan africa, agricultural water scarcity is much linked to rainfall variability and nonproductive losses. Could water harvesting technologies be made more effective in sub saharan africa. Development aid and access to water and sanitation in sub. Economic benefits of surface runoff harvesting for. Renewed attention for the teras the teras technique for water harvesting is based on the principle of. To address this challenge, joint efforts are needed, including transforming to green economy, innovating technologies, improving operation and maintenance, harvesting energy, improving governance and management, promoting.
Water management for sustainable agricultural intensification and smallholder resilience in subsaharan africa. This paper describes how rainfall harvesting could be implemented to improve the availability of water in certain parts of west africa. The whater project aims to contribute to the development of appropriate water harvesting techniques whts. Current practices for water and wastewater treatment in africa are insufficient to ensure safe water and basic sanitation. In many african countries considerable efforts have been made during and since colonial times to conserve soil and water resources.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Summary water scarcity is a major challenge for smallholder farmers in the drylands of subsaharan africa, where agriculture is predominantly rainfed. These guidelines provide an overview of proven good practice in water harvesting from all over the world. Collecting runoff from road surfaces and culverts may help. Where is water harvesting used at present in africa. Water harvesting potential in sub saharan africa a. Accessing and putting water to productive use in subsaharan africa. Stone lines have been used to harvest rainfall in sub saharan africa for the past 30 years but adoption and effective implementation are patchy. Sustainability of rainwater harvesting systems in rural. There is an urgent need, heightened by climate change, for appropriate technologies to address this problem through managing and increasing the quantity of water on farmers fields water harvesting.
Definition in its broad sense, water harvesting can be defined as the collection of runoff for its productive use siegert, 1994. Water stress in subsaharan africa council on foreign relations. Subsaharan africa suffers from greater levels of water stress than many other regions in the world. This report examines specific water harvesting systems in sub saharan africa. Water and wastewater treatment in africa current practices. Irrigation in subsaharan africa issues and challenges ijsbrand h. Water stress in subsaharan africa council on foreign. Summary water scarcity is a major challenge for smallholder farmers in the drylands of sub saharan africa, where agriculture is predominantly rainfed. The objective of this paper was to examine farmerdirected technology adaptation of selected water harvesting technologies whts in order to enhance their potential contribution to food security and livelihood improvement in subsaharan africa. This gold standard project, based primarily in uganda and malawi, provides clean drinking water to small rural. Irrigation in sub saharan africa issues and challenges ijsbrand h. Aug 03, 2006 sub saharan africa suffers from greater levels of water stress than many other regions in the world. In sub saharan africa access to water supply and sanitation has improved, but the region lags behind all other developing regions.
The case of the tieras of kassala find, read and cite all the. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading water harvesting in subsaharan africa. There is an urgent need, heightened by climate change, for appropriate technologies to address this problem through managing and increasing the. Too many demands are placed on too few resources, with too many people, agencies, or institutions trying to manage these resources. Water supply and sanitation in subsaharan africa wikipedia. The implementation of rainfall harvesting strategies could result in very effective and sustainable water supply alternatives in the regions considered.
Road runoff harvesting in the drylands of subsaharan africa. Water harvesting for plant production english the world bank. They form a practical reference guide while providing support and specific technical. The opening chapters presented by editors critchley vrije u. Scottie bolin water scarcity in subsaharan africa it is no secret that there is a serious lack of drinkable water, and water in general in subsaharan africa. Providing safe drinking water and basic sanitation to citizens is one of the major challenges facing the african governments. Economic benefits of surface runoff harvesting for supplemental irrigation for subsaharan africa. Stone lines have been used to harvest rainfall in subsaharan africa for the past 30 years but adoption and effective implementation are patchy. United nations sustainable development goals time for global action for people and planet.
Pdf opportunities for expanding water harvesting in sub. Introduction to water harvesting water resources harvest. Subsaharan africa is a vast region which sees too little water, or too much, in the wrong place or at the wrong time. Managing rainwater and small reservoirs in subsaharan africa. Renewed attention for the teras the teras technique for water harvesting is based on the principle of increasing soil. Reliability analysis of roof rainwater harvesting systems. There is an urgent need heightened by climate change for appropriate technologies to address the problems of variable rainfall, frequent drought and low water productivity in subsaharan africa. Increasing access to water for smallholders in subsaharan africa. Water and sanitation united nations sustainable development. International journal of water resources development 335. However, the total area equipped for irrigation was 7. Water harvesting experience in subsaharan africa lessons. Theory and application of agricultural innovation platforms for improved irrigation scheme management in southern africa. We suggest a green water initiative for africa to lead the path towards achieving the food security and hunger alleviation goal, which in turn is a precondition for all the other sdgs.
Opportunities for expanding water harvesting in subsaharan. Economic benefits of surface runoff harvesting for supplemental irrigation for sub saharan africa. This report examines specific water harvesting systems in subsaharan africa. Could water harvesting technologies be made more effective in. Online publication or dissemination does not imply endorsement by the united. Box 128, shashemene, ethiopia bwageningen university, land degradation and development group, p. Introduction to water harvesting free download as powerpoint presentation. Rainwater harvesting and management in rainfed agricultural. The ministry of agriculture, water and forestry is in charge of water resources management, drinking water supply and sanitation in namibia.