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In Goshta District of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan An overview of current water distribution system of Khawajazai canal (intake) in Goshta district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan A Thesis Submitted to Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters in Land and Water Management Rahatullah Mohmand October, 2011 Wageningen The Netherlands. © Copyright Rahatullah, 2011. All rights reserved. PERMISSION TO USE This research project was written for purpose to complete requirements for a postgraduate degree; furthermore I agree that the library of this University may make it freely available for assessment and review. I further agree that permission for copying of this research project in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes may be granted by Larenstein Director of Research. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this research project or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my research project. Requests for permission to copy or to make other use of material in this research project in whole or part should be addressed to: Director of Research Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences Part of Wageningen University Forum-Gebouw 102 Droevendaalsesteeg 2 6708 PB, Wageningen Postbox 411 Tel: 0317- 486230 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS God understands our prayers even when we can't find the words to say them. I wish specially to thank Almighty God, the sustainer of all the worlds, who helped to complete my work. In addition I wish to thank Mr. Henk van Hoof, Mr. Robert baars and Mr. Marco Verschuur for their meaningful suggestions and advice regarding to research and related topics which provided a valuable support in my task completion. Meanwhile I wish to thank all Van Hall Larenstein (VHL) of applied sciences team specially lecturers who provided a friendly environment and persuaded me in straightforward track in my whole Master program particularly in Land & Water Management (LWM) specialization. Special appreciation to the Royal Netherlands government for their support to Afghanistan‘s agriculture education program in which I got the chance to study Agricultural Production Chain Management (APCM) specialization in Land & Water Management. I am extremely grateful and pleased from Dutch people from their hospitality and admiration during our stay in Netherlands and I am also thankful from people of Afghanistan whom I met during data collection and helped me to make my work successful and more enjoyable. I have spent good time being among them such as Mr. Fahim Khan, Mr. Fareed din Noori, Mr. Munsif Khan, Mr. Ajmal Humraz, and Mr. Eng Ahmad Ali Khan. Finally I want to thank my beloved parents and family because parents know the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words, beside they guide and persuade me in throughout my tough time, however I was not faced any problems by their sides during my education expedition. Rahatullah, Department of Land & Water Management, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Wageningen, the Netherlands. iii DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this humble effort to my respectable parents, family and to millions of innocent Afghans martyred, the widows and the Orphans during the war in Afghanistan, I find myself at the extremity of a long beach. How gladly does the spirit leap forth, and suddenly enlarge its sense of being to the full extent of the broad, blue, sunny deep! A greeting and homage to the Sea! I descend over its margin, and dip my hand into the wave that meets me, and bathe my brow. That far-resounding roar is the Ocean's voice of welcome. His salt breath brings a blessing along with it (Nathaniel Hawthorne) iv Abstract Irrigation water management and O&M of the infrastructure in Khawajazai canal of Goshta district, Afghanistan is the responsibility of a community based, traditional system known as Mirab. The Mirab system worked effectively in past but currently the effectiveness of this system has declined. The main theme of this research is to find out “the causes of less effectiveness of the Mirab system” in Goshta district, Afghanistan, by studying the current water distribution system. The Mirab system irrigation water management accounts for 90% and the remaining 10 % is done formally through government agencies in Afghanistan. The research investigated the current Mirab system and main hindrance in Mirab system. For investigation of all influential factors, certain actors from water users were surveyed, interviewed and observed. Survey questionnaires were distributed among randomly selected 30 farmers from Khawajazai canal, whose ages were 30-55 and have full information about current and past Mirab system. One government extension officer, one NGO employee who was working in neighbor district on Mirab system, community elders (Khan, Malik & Mullah) were interviewed for all other additional factors and information. Data collected from survey was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively to find out effectiveness of both past and current Mirab system, its current influencing and hindered factor. The idea was taken about Mirab system selection, payment and its less effectiveness in current situation. The result indicates that several suggestions were given by farmers for the improvement of Mirab system; they mentioned support from government, community elders and NGO in terms of training to acknowledged water rights and tightened social cohesion. Some of them mentioned about making committees from all water users and building of public hall specific to discuss water related problems, Transportation and free democratic annual election for Mirab system. Cleaning of canal on time was also mentioned. It can be concluded that the main problem of less effectiveness of Mirab system is non- availability of Shura, similarly Mirab system has less knowledge in terms of communication. It is recommended to establish committee from representatives of upstream, midstream and downstream to oversee and support the Mirab work. The amount of water needed for irrigation shall be determined according to the area under cultivation, the kind of crop, the irrigation regime, the water rights documents, the local practice and the amount of water in its source. Irrigation association should be made, in which all community elders, local government and representatives of water users should be present to elect four people, one person will be elect for Mirab position, one will be treasure and two will be assistants. Capacity building is also vital for developing institution skills. Capacity building through trainings should be given to Mirab and water users. Key words: Water management in Khawajazai canal in Goshta district, Mirab system v TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE NO PERMESSION TO USE------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ii ACKNOWLDEGMENT------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------iii DIDICATION------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------iv ABSTRACT---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------v TABLE OF CONTENTS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------vi ABBREVATIONS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------vii AFGHAN TERMS-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------viii Chapter Introduction 1. Background information-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 1.1 Afghanistan-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 1.1.1Climate-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 1.1.2 Importance of water-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 1.1.3 Water Management------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 1.2 Water resources of Afghanistan-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 1.2.1 Water resources-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 1.2.1.1Surface water----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 1.2.1.2 Groundwater----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 1.3 Irrigation Methods and Efficiency---------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 1.4 Definition of Effectiveness------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 1.5 Khawajazai canal in Goshta district-------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 1.6 Research problem-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 1.7 Research objective----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
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