64 research outputs found
Transboundary water governance institutional architecture: reflections from Ethiopia and Sudan
Transboundary water resource governance is premised on equitable water and water-related benefit sharing. Using the case of the Blue Nile (Ethiopia and Sudan), we explore the conceptual issues that need consideration in the crafting of cross-border cooperation within the water sector. First, drawing on global experiences with transboundary water management, we evaluate how upstream and downstream concerns are addressed by transboundary water management institutions. Second, we explore the kinds of institutional design and the issues which need to be considered to result in ‘win-win’ scenarios for both upstream and downstream users, as well as the mechanisms of benefit sharing negotiated amongst different stakeholders. Third, we examine ways of addressing equity and livelihoods in transboundary institutional arrangements. Finally, we attempt to assess how transboundary institutions can address broader historical, political and economic issues and their implications for sustainable transboundary water governance. This paper raises key issues that need to be addressed in establishing transboundary governance institutions.Length: pp.246-253Water governanceInstitutionsInternational watersInternational cooperationRiver basin management
Enhancing farming system water productivity through alternative land use and water management in vertisol areas of Ethiopian Blue Nile Basin (Abay)
Until recently, the Ethiopian government's investment did not systematically target high potential areas for agricultural intensification, limiting the potential productivity gains. Waterlogged vertisols, which cover about 2.7 million hectares in the Ethiopian part of the Blue Nile Basin, are among the high potential soils where management interventions could result in positive impacts. This study utilized soil, climate, crop and livestock productivity data and models to demonstrate intensification strategies which can increase crop-livestock system productivity. To understand the effects of alternative land use and water management interventions on water productivity, the areas have been classified into three drainage status depending on slope classes. Accordingly, non-drainable (0–2%), drainable (2–5%) and naturally drained (>5%) respectively, represented areas where artificial drainage is not feasible, where drainage using broad bed and furrows (BBF) is recommended, and areas where waterlogging is not a problem and no intervention is needed. Early planting of wheat (Triticum spp.) on BBF instead of the traditional late planting on flat beds in drainable areas and rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation instead of the traditional extensive grazing or growing grass-pea (Lathyrus sativus) on the flat areas provide viable alternative cropping options. Yield data of the crops and biomass of the native grass were obtained from research stations in the area while the effective rainfall and crop water requirement were estimated using CROPWAT Model. The value of the native grass and crop straw as livestock feed was estimated based on previous works. With respect to effective rainfall, the water productivity increase due to BBF over the control ranged from 5% to 200%, with an average increase of 57%. Despite higher water consumption of rice, feeding its residues to livestock enhanced the overall economic water productivity of the system as compared to the natural grazing or grass-pea cultivation. This can be accounted for by higher rice biomass productivity and the greater demand for its grain. The study demonstrated that draining the excess water when the slope allows, growing suitable high value crops on non-drainable areas, and integration of livestock into improved land and water management enhance overall agricultural system water productivity
Assessment of Agricultural Technologies for Dryland Systems in South Asia: A Case Study of Western Rajasthan, India
Western Rajasthan accounts for 61% of the total hot arid zone in India (31.7 m ha). The rest of the arid
area is spread over Gujarat (20%), Punjab and Haryana (9%), as well as small parts of Andhra Pradesh and
Karnataka (10%). The arid region receives <450 mm annual rainfall with 40-80% coefficient of variation.
With evapotranspiration (ET) four to five-fold higher than rainfall, aridity, deficit water balance, and
scarcity of water for drinking and other purposes are often severe. Natural resources such as water, land
and vegetation are very fragile and partly non-resilient, and hence the area is prone to irreversible land
degradation and desertification under excessive pressure from human and livestock populations. Arable
cropping alone is not a dependable proposition in these drylands. Animal wealth provides sustainable
support to livelihoods, but the sector is not yet well organized. Only one crop can be grown during a good
rainfall year, and on average, a year of good harvest is normal during a cycle of five years, while two are
expected to yield moderate crops and at least two failures are usual. The arid region offers limited scope
for water harvesting and recycling, particularly at a watershed scale. There is better scope for integrated
land resource development on the basis of village clusters, index catchments and dune-interdune complex
Farmer access to irrigation scheduling advice leads to sustainable intensification of high value crops
United States Agency for International Developmen
Opportunities for increasing livestock water productivity in the Nile River Basin
Livestock keeping in the Nile Basin contributes greatly to human security, income, culture and agricultural gross domestic product (GDP). Inappropriate livestock management uses excessive water and causes water and land degradation. Livestock-water interactions are complex, not well understood, and often ignored in agricultural water development. This results in lost opportunities to achieve sustainable and higher investment returns. Typically, livestock management also ignores important livestock-water issues. This lack of integration creates knowledge gaps resulting in inefficient and inequitable use of water resources. This paper summarizes selected research findings on livestock-water productivity (LWP) in the Ethiopian Blue Nile Highlands, Uganda‟s Cattle Corridor, and the Central Belt of Sudan. It suggests selected intervention options to increase LWP, improve livelihoods and reduce land and water degradation. Overall, LWP compares favorably with crop-water productivity. Yet, huge opportunities remain to further increase LWP potentially enabling more agricultural production and support for ecosystem services without depleting additional water. Four strategies to increase LWP are selection of animal feeds derived from plant materials with high crop water productivity, improved water conservation through better management of watering sites, vegetation and soil on grazing, crop and riparian lands, adoption of technologies to improve animal health, genetics, nutrition and husbandry, and strategic allocation of watering sites to adjust grazing pressure to sustainably match the spatial distributions of pasture and drinking water availability. Implications and opportunities for benefit sharing, IWRM, and poverty reduction in the Nile Basin are discussed in the context of the Ethiopian, Sudanese and Ugandan case studies
Farm typology analysis and technology assessment: An application in an arid region of South Asia
The design and diffusion of context-specific technologies is centrally important in the multi-dimensional, complex farming systems in arid and semi-arid regions. This paper uses a mixed-method framework to characterize the complexity and heterogeneity of smallholder farming systems and identifies constraints to and opportunities for sustainable intensification. Specifically, the study: (i) characterized farm household typologies based on the diversity of livelihood assets; (ii) co-designed context- specific interventions through an iterative participatory process; and (iii) ex-ante evaluated such interventions to inform multiple stakeholders. We explored farming system diversity using data from 224 farm households in western Rajasthan, India. Employing multivariate statistical techniques and participatory validation, we identified 7 distinct farm household types. Participatory appraisal with multiple stakeholders revealed heterogeneity across farm household types. For instance, the interest of farmers in integrating perennial fruit trees even among the rainfed farm household types markedly varied: household type 1 preferred the multipurpose forestry tree, khejri which requires low labor inputs; household type 2 preferred market-oriented horticulture production; household type 3 did not opt for perennials but for small ruminants; and household type 4 (dominated by women) opted for small horticulture kitchen gardens. The study demonstrated the utility of a mixed-methods approach that addresses multi-dimensional heterogeneity to generate insights and assist in co-designing locally appropriate technologies across different farm types and agro-ecological regions to achieve sustainable intensification
Nile Basin livestock water productivity
PN37 (Increasing Water-Use Efficiency for Food Production through Better Livestock Management -
The Nile River Basin) set out to improve food security, reduce poverty and enhance agroecosystem
health by managing livestock for more effective overall use of water. PN37 responded to water
challenges posed by the CPWF, to the Nile Basin Initiative’s goal of better sharing benefits of water
use, and to global need for the livestock sector to use agricultural water more efficiently and
effectively. PN37 identified opportunities to increase livestock water productivity (LWP) in key
production systems of Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda. In all countries and systems, the research
revealed important opportunities to increase LWP through site-specific sets of interventions
including improved feed sourcing, enhanced animal production, water conservation, and strategic
provisioning of drinking water. It concludes that better integration of livestock, crop, water, and
land management can sustainably enhance livelihoods of many poor people throughout the Nile
Basin and beyond that across much of sub-Saharan Africa
Quantifying Farm Household Resilience and the Implications of Livelihood Heterogeneity in the Semi-Arid Tropics of India
The vast majority of farmers in the drylands are resource-poor smallholders, whose livelihoods
depend heavily on their farming systems. Therefore, increasing the resilience of these smallholders
is vital for their prosperity. This study quantified household resilience and identified livelihoods
and their influence on resilience in the semiarid tropics of India by analysing 684 households.
A resilience capacity index was devised based on the composition of household food and non-food
expenditure, cash savings, and food and feed reserves. The index ranged from 8.4 reflecting highly
resilient households with access to irrigation characteristics, to -3.7 for households with highly limited
resilience and low household assets. The livelihoods were identified through multivariate analysis
on selected socioeconomic and biophysical variables; households were heterogeneous in their
livelihoods. Irrigated livestock and rainfed marginal types had the highest and lowest resilience
capacity index with the mean score of 0.69 and −1.07, respectively. Finally, we quantified the influence
of livelihood strategies on household resilience. Household resilience was strengthened by the
possession of livestock, crop diversification and access to irrigation. Low resilience is predominantly
caused by low household assets. The resilience capacity index and derived livelihood strategies
helps to understand the complexity of household resilience, and will aid in targeting technology
interventions for development
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