Water-Irrigation for Food Security in Amhara National Regional State

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1 Water-Irrigation for Food Security in Amhara National Regional State Mamaru Tsediku Head, Bureau of Water Resources Development Cell: Bahir Dar/Ethiopia

2 1. Introduction & Background Ethiopia faces challenges related to water resources management primarily is from extreme variability of hydrology and seasonality and International nature of most of significant water sources, The effect is reflected : in devastating drought and floods, on land degradation and sedimentations, Even in good rainy season is observed on the economy of the country; The country s economy is highly reliant on rain-fed subsistence agriculture making it vulnerable to hydrology variability. There are attempts to build few hydraulic infrastructures towards water resources management especially related to irrigation development, The trend indicates that if the efforts are maximized towards the development of hydraulic infrastructure in water resources management, it could bring changes in the growth of the economy.

3 2. Potential 2.1 Water and land resources: The region s catchment area is greater than160,000 Km 2, Average annual rainfall amount ranges from 600mm to 1600mm, Four major basins with small tributaries are found in the region; Abay, Tekeze, and Awash River systems, Danakil depression, Estimated annual renewable surface water potential is about 35BCM, Lake Tana is the largest water body in the region; It acts as natural water storage, Potential land for surface irrigation system greater than 700,000ha (of which less than 10% has been developed); If the irrigation system was improved in to systems either pressurized or gravity supply or both, the potential could be more compared to the total arable land.

4 2.2 Opportunities for investment High water potential; earmarked in various regions for irrigation development, At the moment, high level commitments from govt., donors, NGOs, etc (New Coalition on Food Security in Ethiopia), Wide range of technologies now exist worldwide and can be adapted, and up-scaled through applied research - little known in Ethiopia, Small scale irrigation Micro-irrigation (low cost treadle pumps, drip, etc) Rainwater harvesting (in situ and ex situ) More effective ways of implementing projects based on experiences in Asia, elsewhere - little known in Ethiopia, Must move from business as usual to new ways of doing business to avoid wasting another decade

5 3. Challenges Rainfall variability and unreliability Runoff variability; causes flood and draught Minimum storage; due to finance and skill shortage Erosion and sedimentation Most rivers are transboundary by their nature

6 4. Development strategy 4.1 General Ethiopian Development Strategy ADLI is a national policy basis for Ethiopia s development Land and human (labor) is considered key factors Water is considered as a third pillar for development Other capitals are scarce in most cases Three successive targets for development: Step 1- Household food security, Step 2- Absence of poverty in communities, and Step 3- National economic growth targets Step 3 Step 2 Step 1 development

7 4.2 Approaches: Development strategies in irrigation followed in the past 15 years are the following: Small scale irrigation development donor funded (before 2002) Co-SAERAR, Kobo-Girana, Household water harvesting structures (2002), SWHISA project, Food security program Small to large scale irrigation development (PASDEP) starting Koga, Ribb, Megech,etc Some of developed schemes in the region are;

8 4.2. Impact of irrigation on growth and poverty reduction Agricultural growth in SSA (including Ethiopia) has failed to have an impact on poverty reduction; because it is based on extensification.

9 8,000 7,000 irrigation potential (1000 ha) existing irrigation (1000 ha) 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 Burundi DRC Egypt Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda Sudan Tanzania Uganda Source: World Bank 2005

10 Irrigation and Growth Poverty reduction requires per capita agricultural growth; Agricultural intensification requires reliable access to water; Capturing potential of irrigation requires agricultural services provision, input supply, strong WUAs, market access, roads, rural finance, appropriate policy framework, etc.

11 4.3. Technologies used for Irrigation development 1. Traditional River/spring diversions using: Soil or sand filled Sacks Stones, Earth materials, Wood poles Farmers skill with some technical personals involvement 2. Modern irrigation systems Diversion weirs, Small dams, very few pressurized irrigation systems; 3. Water lifting technologies Treadle pumps at HH level Rope and washer pumps Diesel pumps 4.Low cost HH water harvestingtechnologypackages Ponds lined with concrete Ponds lined with geo-membrane Ponds lined with earth materials Hand dug wells

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13 Ethiopia: rainfall, GDP and Ag GDP % rainfall variability GDP growth Ag GDP growth year Source: World Bank Report, 2006

14 High temporal and spatial variability 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec FLOW m 3 x ABBAY (BLUE NILE) 5000 OMO AWASH 4000 BARO WABI 3000 TEKEZZE GENALE Months of the Year Source: IWMI, Addis Ababa/Ethiopia

15 Most rivers are Transboundary

16 The Status of SSI Development in the Regional State No Descriptions Unit Before June 1994 Up to June 2005 Up to June Diversions No Area covered ha. 1,730 7,500 10,227 Beneficiaries HH 6,920 28,328 42,342 2 Micro earth Dams No Area covered ha Beneficiaries HH 332 3,500 3,860 3 Traditional up grading No Area covered ha. 1,546 5,520 Beneficiaries HH 6,184 14,667 4 Pressurized irrigation No Area covered ha Beneficiaries HH 562 1,099 5 Total Modern irrigation No Area covered ha. 1,813 10,090 17,070 Beneficiaries HH 7,252 38,575 61,968