Water Resource Management and Food Security in Ruvu Basin, Tanzania. John Mhagama Doctoral Student

Transcription

1 Water Resource Management and Food Security in Ruvu Basin, Tanzania John Mhagama Doctoral Student

2 Field Trip Case Study during a short course on Climate Change & Sustainable Development at University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania from 14 th to 25 th November 2016 Course Organized under African Climate Change Fellowship Program (ACCFP)

3 Back Ground of Ruvu Basin Ruvu Basin is located in the eastern part of Tanzania lying between latitudes 6 05 and 7 45 south and longitudes and east The basin has Ruvu River which is originating from Mt. Uluguru in Morogoro region. Total catchment area of 11,789 km2 and 316 km long

4 Background It runs through Morogoro region, Cost region (Kibaha and Bagamoyo districts) and drains out to the Indian Ocean. It is in mostly low lying areas, except for the Uluguru Mountains in the extreme West

5 Background The Ruvu River basin can be subdivided into five main sub-catchments: Mgeta, including Msoro ;The Ngerengere (both in Morogoro); Upper Ruvu; Middle Ruvu; and Lower Ruvu (in Cost region). Trip conducted in Lower Ruvu The Ruvu River is the source of surface water supply for domestic and industrial uses for about 4 million residents of Dar es Salaam City, Kibaha and Bagamoyo towns

6 Map of Ruvu basin catchment area

7 Sections of Ruvu river

8 Economic Activities Traditional irrigation in highlands in Morogoro In the lowlands of the basin there are a number of irrigation schemes run by communities (but many are not operational) Rain fed agriculture Pastoralism is wide spread in the Ruvu subbasin Over the years a large migration has taken place into the Ruvu sub-basin due to the availability of good pasture and water for the livestockrts

9 Economic Activities Conflicts sometimes arise when cattle enter people s farms while trying to access water. These conflicts are generally resolved by discussion and negotiation, although some are solved in legal court. Provision of livestock infrastructure and land use planning would contribute to resolving this longstanding conflict. However, planning for the water use of migrating groups is a challenge as they are not stationary and their abstractions tend to be seasonal Railways and Road high way to Dar Es Slam crosses the basin

10 Field Trip Course participants visited lower Ruvu Basin

11 Field trip Mate: Horticulturalist Bagamoyo Irrigation Development Project officials (BIDP) Food Market place

12 Farming systems at Lower Ruvu Basin Rice Horticulture Maize All Rain fed and irrigated

13 Rice Production Main farming activity BIDP & Individual (small scale) producers Block farm under BIDP Established in 1987 by JAICA & the government of Tanzania It is an integrated project (farmers involvement) Involves 120 farmers who have formed a group (70 women, 50 men) and other farmers who are not in the group. Total 250 Project split in three phases Phase I covered 8 ha- started in 1987-completed Phase II intended to cover 100 ha-started in Covered 72 ha. Remaining with 60 ha after 12 ha have been taken by road. Phase III planed to cover 2000 ha-not started The project has trained between farmers

14 Rice Production Grow rice twice a year March-September September-February Rain fed during rain season and irrigation during dry season Grow mainly TXD 306 variety which performs well during wet season. But this time has been seen to do well during dry period as well

15 Rice production-inputs Fertilizers applied previous were TSP & DAP Currently use UREA and DAP at application rate of kg N/ha/year (282.9 kg from Urea kg from DAP) and 23 kg of P₂O₅. Poses risks of water pollutions Government provide 1 bag (50 kgs) as subsidy Introduced Minjingu Mazoa fertilizer (MRP) but rice was cracking Incorporate residues into the soils. Have residues chopping machine Use pesticides and fungicides to control pests and fungal diseases. Critical during booting stage Use herbicides to control weeds

16 Rice Production-Costs Costs per season in Ts are tractor (35,000); OM (45,000); membership fee (5,000); administration (2,000); travel and meetings (8,000); registration (non members) (10,000) Current yield bags (75 kgs)/ha during wet season bags (75 kg)/ha during dry season Storage facility established

17 Irrigation water from Ruvu River Acquired water use permit Extract 10m 3 /minute 14000m 3 /day. Water use efficiency is estimated at 80%. Leakages on concretized open channels were seen Feasibility study was conducted at initial stage of the project. EIA? Obtained environmental permit Follow up to monitor maintenance of at least 60 m riparian streap from river banks.

18 Irrigation water from Ruvu River Supply water on rotation basis. Three Blocks (A, B, C) Water requirement 2-5mm (flooding) Irrigation interval 8 days

19 Part of BIDP Block farm

20 Challenges Experiencing climate change effects Floods which has affected cultivation calendar Birds infestation accompanying floods High tides when river level has decreased forcing to stop irrigation to avoid introducing salts in the soil Saline soils Adaptation and copying methods Built dikes to prevent floods Changing cultivation calendar Farmers are informed not to enter farms once the officials have been notified from upper Ruvu that floods are going to happen Apply system of Rice Intensification (SRI)

21

22

23 Individual farmers outside BIDP Some Farmers outside irrigation scheme do both rain fed and irrigation rice production They have got pumping machines for extracting water from Ruvu river Some of them have got water permits They face some challenges: In addition to challenges faced by farmers under BIDP: High cost of inputs Use of poor seeds Untimely and extreme rains causing losses to farmers Copying by shifting to horticulture but still failed

24 Small scale Horticulture Micro-irrigation horticulture. Water sourced from seasonal river next to irrigation scheme Water from rice pads is drained into adjacent river and then pumped into vegetable gardens Water pumped by machine Crops grown include: tomato, water melon, egg plants, Tomato production was high but fetched low prices due to over production in the country. Agro processing industries is a must Fishing activities carried out during wet season Earn income from horticulture for buying food

25 Small scale Horticulture Depends only on water drained from rice pads if rains are poor, production decreases Planning to grow maize as fallback (diversification) in case of horticultural crops failure Provided with extension services from inputs supplying companies Husbandry practices HE & and provide full PPE kits The farmer mate with the group was well knowledgeable Trained on how to grow tomato and other crops on clay soils

26

27 Small scale Horticulture Challenges Poor market when there is high production in other areas in the country Poor quality input: chemicals and seeds Saline soils

28 At the Market All food sold are fresh Green maize and horticultural crops are produced within the Ruve basin produce through irrigation using pumping machines can t produce during wet season Green maize and other foods crops are transported from up country regions during off season

29 Conclusion The catchment area has sufficient food. Increase production by using available water to produce during dry period (irrigation) Some farmers have a 3 years stock It is said that many consumers prefer rice with aroma from Kyela and Shinyanga. People from outside Bagamoyo are showing interest to get land from the project area Extraction of water from Ruvu river is regulated by the government to make sure that there is no over extraction Lack of agro processing industry causes loss to farmers when there is overproduction Drained water from rice pads is used to irrigate horticultural crops There is no mechanism in place to monitor and control agrochemicals from polluting environment including water