WORKSHOP ON THE EXPERIENCE OF WATER HARVESTING TECHNOLOGY IN EAST SHEWA AND ARSI ZONES Proceedings of a Workshop February 23-24, 2006 Melkassa Agricultural Research Centre Organised by Project for Irrigation Farming Improvement (IFI Project, OIDA-JICA) and Project on Strengthening Technology Development, Verification, Transfer and Adoption through Farmers Research Groups (FRG Project, EIAR-OARI-JICA) Published March 2006 Cover Participants visiting different water harvesting sites during the workshop Editing Yusuf Kedir, and Kiyoshi Shiratori © EIAR, OARI, OIDA and JICA 2006 Workshop on the Experience of Water Harvesting Technology in East Shewa and Arsi Zones: 23-24 February 2006 Contents Acronyms...................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 3 Keynote Speech............................................................................................................ 5 1. Experiences of Adama Area Development Program in Water Harvesting Technology ................................................................................................................... 9 2. Water Harvesting Experiences of Self Help Development International Dodota Project......................................................................................................................... 15 3. Implementing Drip Irrigation: Water Harvesting and Utilization Project......... 24 4. Implementing Water Harvesting Structures for Integrated Watershed Management: experiences of J-Green and Melkassa Research Center................... 39 5. Experiences of Oromia Irrigation Development Authority (OIDA) and Irrigation Farming Improvement Project (IFI-JICA) on WHT................................................. 49 Minute on the discussion held on February 23, 2006 .............................................. 55 Minutes of the discussion on February 24, 2006...................................................... 57 Minutes of the discussions on February 24, 2006/06/21 .......................................... 60 Recommendations...................................................................................................... 60 WHT Workshop Schedule.......................................................................................... 61 General guideline for preparation of paper and presentation for the workshop .... 62 Attendee List.............................................................................................................. 67 1 Workshop on the Experience of Water Harvesting Technology in East Shewa and Arsi Zones: 23-24 February 2006 Acronyms ABP Area based programme ADB African Development Bank ADLI Agricultural Development Led Industrialisation ADP Area Development Programme ARDP Agricultural and Rural Development Office ASSP Agricultural Sector Support Programme CCF Christian Children’s Fund CIS Corrugated iron sheet DA Development Agent EIAR Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research FDS Family Drip System FRG Farmer Research Group HH Household IFI Irrigated Farming Improvement (Project) JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency KA Kebele Administration MARC Melkassa Agricultural Research Centre MoARD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development OARI Oromia Agricultural Research Institute OIDA Oromia Irrigation Development Authority OIDA-CB Oromia Irrigation Development Authority-Central Branch PA Peasant Association PE Poly ethylene PSNP Productive Safety Net Programme PVC Polyvinyl chloride RWH Rain Water Harvesting SG2000 Sasakawa Global 2000 SMS Subject Matter Specialist SNNP Southern Nations USAID United State Agency for International Development WHT Water Harvesting Technology WV World Vision 2 Workshop on the Experience of Water Harvesting Technology in East Shewa and Arsi Zones: 23-24 February 2006 Introduction This workshop on Water Harvesting Technologies (WHT), held on February 23-24 2006, was a first attempt to provide major stakeholders who were operating in the field of WHT an opportunity in one way or another to exchange experiences gained and lessons learnt in their activities in east Shewa and Arsi Zones. Efficient use of WHT can provide farmers in the area, where unreliable rainfall and moisture stress is the most priority issues for agricultural production, increase production thus better nutrition and income. A diverse group of participants from different organization, government offices, NGOs, farmers union and farmers, gathered at Melkassa Agricultural Research Centre, to share field experiences and lessons learnt in two days of presentations, discussions and field visit. The workshop was organised by: - Project on Irrigation Farming Improvement (IFI Project), which is jointly implemented by Oromia Irrigation Development Authority (OIDA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), facilitates rehabilitation and improving irrigated agriculture in the Central Rift Valley since September 2005; and - Project on Strengthen Technology Development, Verification, Transfer and Adoption through Farmers Research Groups (FRG Project), which is jointly implemented by Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI) and JICA, promotes participatory research and innovative farming in the Central Rift Valley since July 2004. We werepleased to have 53 participants, 5 from ministries, 14 from research, 21 from local government offices, 6 from NGOs, 6 were farmers and 1 from a donor agency. WHT has been one of the core interventions by the government and NGOs in the area. There are different types of WHT such as water harvesting pond, ground tank, treadle pump, drip irrigation and others in combination with high value production mainly vegetables and fruits. The workshop was convened to grasp what were the types of technologies and approaches being introduced to the farmers and what were the outcomes and their constraints. The workshop was expected to consolidate experience of different stakeholders and their constraints. Although, there were major players on WHT in the area but the workshop investigated only a part of the whole issues on WHT. It was rather regarded as a start for more close communication and collaboration among the 3 Workshop on the Experience of Water Harvesting Technology in East Shewa and Arsi Zones: 23-24 February 2006 stakeholders to maximise the impact through more coordinated interventions which were previously made individually. These proceedings make available to persons who could not attend the workshop what was presented and discussed. Since this was a first WHT stakeholder meeting in the area, the information here is more indicative than conclusive. We hope that this report will heighten stakeholders’ interest in exchanging information and collaborative activities where it is possible for better farmer practices. The papers were prepared in English by contributors based on what they presented their experiences in Amharic during the workshop. We thank all the staffs of IFI and FRG Projects for their effort to prepare and manage the workshop. Special thanks go to Dr. Fasil, Centre Manager of Melkassa Agricultural Research Centre (MARC) for accepting the idea of the workshop and allow us to use the centre’s facility. We thank also the catering staffs of MARC for their services for food and refreshment. We appreciate all the participants of the workshop who contributed to the discussions. This workshop has brought a considerable amount of information on what is happening on WHT in the area and shown a possibility of further advancement through linking some of our activities. We are pleased to share the following information with readers and we look forward to increasing production and income of farmers through WHT in the Central Rift valley. The Editors 4 Workshop on the Experience of Water Harvesting Technology in East Shewa and Arsi Zones: 23-24 February 2006 Keynote Speech Lakew Desta Water Harvesting Coordinator Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Distinguished Workshop Participants! Ladies and Gentlemen! I feel honoured and extremely delighted to make a keynote speech on this important experience-sharing workshop. Also I would like to thank the organizers for giving me this opportunity. In the country's ADLI policy and food security programs water is considered as one of the three pillars (land, labour and water) for development. Although the total surface and groundwater potential of the country is estimated at more than 120 billion cubic meter, there is a serious problem in terms of access. Out of the total 1 4.25million hectare irrigation potential it is only 247,500ha (5.8%) that is developed in small, medium and large-scale irrigation programs. Of this developed 55% is traditional. Oromiya region comprises the highest irrigation potential, which is 32% of the country. To harness the available potential effectively financial, physical and human capitals are not adequately available. Obviously there are a number of physical, technical and socio-economic problems. Intensive and high amount of rainfall during the wet season in the highlands is the major cause of degradation particularly soil erosion. The rain/runoff washes down the nutrient rich soil, seed and applied fertilizer. Big gullies are acting as permanent drainage ditches thus depleting soil moisture regime. During the dry season water is a major constraint in