Participatory Planning of Appropriate Rainwater Harvesting and Management Techniques in the Central Rift Valley Dry Lands of Ethiopia

Abstract

Despite the extensive efforts of rainwater harvesting and management (RWHM) interventions for moisture-stressed areas in Ethiopia, the adoption and wider dissemination of the newly introduced techniques have been generally meager. The objective of this study was, therefore, to develop appropriate RWHM techniques through a participatory planning process in the Central Rift Valley (CRV) dry lands of Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, a combination of literature reviews, focus group discussions, questionnaire surveys, agro-meteorological analyses and field experimentations were undertaken. Perceived agro-meteorological challenges were determined through the questionnaire survey and validated through meteorological data analyses. Potential in situ RWHM techniques were selected in a participatory process and field-tested for two consecutive growing seasons to evaluate their performances. Those techniques which were selected in a participatory process showed statistically higher crop yields than the existing practices under both low and normal rainfall years. The result of this study implied that the introduction of new RWHM techniques can be successful when they are adjusted and modified in accordance with the existing tillage, hoeing and related land management practices. It was concluded that participatory planning of in situ RWHM techniques allows both the utilization of existing knowledge and opportunities while empowering the farmers to select and introduce new practices as per the existing socioeconomic and environmental settings. The new participatory planning approach will augment the recent efforts of promoting various types of RWHM techniques for improved rainfed agriculture in the vast dry lands of Ethiopia.

Woodland Cover Change in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

“…For the rural people living in the CRV, the Acacia woodlands are used to obtain alternative means of livelihood [30]. They are also a major source of income and a contingency food particularly during crop failures which are not uncommon due to shortage and uneven distribution of rainfall, drought, high rate of evapotranspiration and shortage of rivers and streams which can be used for irrigation [23,31]. Moreover, woodlands can play an important role in improving the adaptive capacity of the local people [16].…”

“…Several studies have been conducted in Ethiopia to examine forest/woodland decline and land-use and land-cover changes. However, very few have attempted to address land-use and land-cover issues in the center of the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) [17,23,31,[33][34][35]. Most of these studies were either carried out far away from the main CRV, or were focused on overall land changes, rather than woodland cover changes.…”

“…From 1991 onwards, after the overthrow of the socialist regime, land was declared as both a state and public property, meaning that farmers only had user rights. The association of these governance regimes and the transitional periods on the status of woodland resources was not adequately addressed [31].…”

Crop Upgrading Strategies and Modelling for Rainfed Cereals in a Semi-Arid Climate—A Review

“…However, when tied ridges are used in areas with modest slopes, they markedly increase soil water reserves at 0.15 to 0.60 m depths after maize harvest [102]. This strategy is limited by the difficulties related to mechanization [150] and excess rainfall. The limitations necessitate "an assessment of the major agro-meteorological challenges, existing tillage, hoeing and associated land management practices" [150].…”

“…This strategy is limited by the difficulties related to mechanization [150] and excess rainfall. The limitations necessitate "an assessment of the major agro-meteorological challenges, existing tillage, hoeing and associated land management practices" [150].…”