Sustainable Water Harvesting and Institutional Strengthening in Amhara

(SWHISA)

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Goncha Project 2009/10 Report

Achievements at Different outcomes:

1. Improved knowledge and skills of farm families and community-based organizations in HHWH, Irr Agri &Wshmgt;

a. FFGs Established, Strengthenend; and Partner Institution’s Capacity Strengthened

• 3 HHWHS ,2 farm irrigation and 1 watershed FFGs established and supported at target KAs

• 42 HHWHS farmer focus groups trained on irrigated crop production technology, Drip systems and water management

Cont…

• 13 (1F) woreda experts and DAs trained on construction, operation and maintenance of geomembrane plastic sheet lined pond, pumps, and irrigated crop production

• 50 (2) DAs and supervisors trained on participatory extension approach, irrigated crop production technology and water management

• 23 (1F) farmer technicians trained practically on Geo-membrane lined ponds construction, operation and maintenance by Menjar experts and experienced farmers

Cont…

b. Utilization of Water Harvesting Improved– Drip system installed on 6 masonry lined ponds which

have harvested runoff in the past rainy season; and on one hand dug well.

– On these structures,11 households (4 FHH) have undertaken vegetable demonstrations in three target kebeles, 2,028 m2 cultivated

– Types of vegetables demonstrated are Cabbage, Onion, Beetroot, Carrot and Pepper.

.

Cont…

– Irrigation schedule prepared and given to HHs to properly utilize the stored water.

– HHs have participated in the over all management of water harvesting based irrigated agriculture.

• They produced seedling, cultivated their plot of land, installed the drip system, transplanted the seedling produced, participated in weeding, cultivating, irrigating and chemical application e.t.c

Cont.

– This participation HHs will help to adopt the technologies and to improve ownership and sustainability of the project

– The training helped them to improve knowledge and skill on irrigated crop production technologies and water management; and to share experiences among them selves.

• 3 Hand dug wells constructed with full participation of selected farmers ( 5 HHs).

• May-wuha spring development preliminary study and design has been completed.

Cont…

c. On-farm Use of Irrigated Agricultural Production Techniques Improved

• Farm irrigation demonstrations conducted at two Irr.schemes using improved potato variety. 10 farmers at Azuari and 12 farmers at Tigdar participated in the demonstration.

• 114 (14F) Irrigation water users including team leaders and water committee of Azuari and Tigdar schemes trained on irrigation water management, scheme operation and maintenance

• 41 (6f) FFG members and other irrigation water users trained on irrigated water management

Cont…

d. Watershed Management Strengthened• One model community watershed (May-wuha)

site selected and integrated watershed management plan prepared.

• 177 (22FHH) HHs have participanted in the watershed and the area is 214 ha

• 25 participants have got experience share on integrated watershed management at well developed model sites of North Wello zone-Meket

Cont…

• 35 (4F) community members of May-wuha watershed trained on integrated watershed management.

• 86 ha of soil bund and different physical SWC structures constructed based on the watershed plan prepared.

• 0.375 ha Community nursery site established in the watershed and different types of seedlings produced (about 221,400 seedlings).

Cont.

• 8 hand dug wells have been constructed by individual households in the watershed

• 4(2F) experts have got practical training on Environmental Impact Assessment

• IEE conducted for Azuari small scale Irrigation rehabilitation project, May-wuha integrated watershed project and Cheleche HDW constructions. The report has been sent to Woreda EPLUA office for certification and certified.

Cont…

e. Women are participating actively in Water Harvesting and Irrigated Agriculture

• In every activity of the project gender equality is considered

• 3 woreda expert have got ToT training on Gender equality and HIV/AIDS

• 76 (25F) Farmer focus group members trained on gender and HIV/AIDS mainstreaming by woreda TOT trainees

Cont…

• Support given to Top It Up program participants– 3 experts from WoARD are attending degree

program (Summer Program)– 4 female workers have completed Diploma.– 5 female workers are attending Degree program

– 16 poor female students are attending technique school in different departments

Cont…

2. Contribute to Schemes Owned and Sustainably Managed by Owners

• Diffused light potato storage with 200 qtl storage capacity constructed for Azuari IC.

• 114 (14F) IC, team leaders and beneficiaries of Azuari and Tigdar irrigation schemes trainedc on irrigation water management, operation and maintenance, on IC administration law

• Azuari modern irrigation scheme has been maintained

• 2 Woreda IADP experts and 2 irrigation technicians have got training on Irrigation schemes monitoring and evaluation

Cont…

• Construction (irrigation scheme) manuals and guidelines prepared and given to WoARD

• Review workshop conducted to create a common understanding among Woreda level project Partners and Woreda decision makers

• Reconnaisance study conducted on ground water potential catchment at one KA and 3 Hand dug wells constructed in this catchment.

Cont…

3. Contribute to Strengthening the Woreda and the Development of an Integrated Institutional platform

• 25 (7) woreda experts, heads and process owners trained on basic computer application

• 5 DA offices constructed at FTCs furnished with equipments and office furnitures.

• Construction of 2 WHS ( Geomembrane lined pond and hand dug well) finalized at 2 FTCs.

Cont…

• In the upgraded 5 FTCs, training of farmers as per BoARD modular courses has been started. So far, 977 (107F) farmers training need identified and out of this 360 farmers have started training

• Different short term trainings organized by DAs and/or Woreda experts have been given to farmers in these FTCs. Among these, 175 (46F) farmers trained on water harvesting technologies; 1042 (131F) farmers trained on irrigation agronomy and water management; 173 (32F) farmers trained on watershed development.

Cont…

• One model FTC selected at Enesekol KA.To estabilish information resource centor and facilitate training of farmers at this model FTC, different IT materials: 29 inch flat screen Television, DVD, Satelite Dish with accessories provided and installed.

• Different Office Equipments supplied for PIs project facilitation

– 2 Yamha 175 Motor cycles, 2 Laptops, 1 Disel Generator, 2 Digital Cameras, 7 HP Compaq Desktop PCs, 2Printers, 2 LCDs and other surveying equipments

Project Results

• HH are initiated to replicate the project results- HHs started constracting water harvesting schemes using geomembrane plastic sheet, hand dug wells. 97 geo-membrane sheet distributed.

• HHs started dry season irrigation practices on vegetation using streams and traditional dug wells.

• HHs have diversified their income sources and produce assets by selling vegetable products. W/ro Birehan Aynalem has changed her house from straw roof cover to Corrogated iron sheet roof this year.

Cont…

• HHs have started to raise vegetable seedlings by purchasing from market by their own—Ownership improved

• Farmers are demanding drip systems and other improved technologies as a result WoARD has distributed single (bucket system) drip lines 214 in 2009 and 219 in 2010.

• Farmer’s knowledge and skill of irrigation practice improved through field demonstrations, different trainings and experience sharings. As a result the irrigated land area of the woreda increased from 3,901 ha to 5,777 ha.

Cont…

• Trainings and experience share tours organized for the irrigation water users, team leaders and committee members of Azuari and Tigdar schems:– Initiated members to fully participate in overall management of

the irrigation schemes. – They better tried to maintain the canals on time,– Insure equitable water use up to the tail of the command, total

beneficiaries increased from 456 to 615 (Azuari).– The water fee collection has also increased. – Total area cultivated using irrigation increased from 50% in the

past years to 100% in this season ( Increased from 75 ha to 150 ha).

– WoARD planned different types of water harvesting structures using other project fund-MERET

Cont…

• Experts of W-IAD and DAs are able to install and operate family drip systems and pumps

• Experts of W- IAD are able to design and construct WH schemes (Geo-membrane lined , HDW)

• Experts of WoARD are able to train DAs and farmers on participatory extension approach, irrigated crop production technology and water management

• Experts of WoARD are able to prepare integrated watershed management plan

Cont.

• Except very few HHs, the sense of ownership in the implementation of demonstrations improved.

• W-IADP experts involvement in the project implementation has shown improvement when compared to the previous years

• As a result of FTC up grading and different trainings given to Experts and DAs training of farmers as per BoARD modular courses has been started.

• Woreda able to facilitate different trainings in the upgraded FTCs, .

Budget Utilization

• The 5th year budget planned for Goncha woreda was Birr 843,500.00. Out of this amount Birr 520,566.00 utilized, which is 62% utilization.

Challenges…

• Frequent Staff turnover (PI’s staff) and newcomers unable to understand quickly the project essence,

• Lack of sense of ownership of some Households

• Working with various partner institutions• Implementing project activities using teams

(difficulty to integrate)• Shortage of skilled man power

Cont.

• Workload of existing staff

• Frequent reorganization of partner institutions

• lack of commitment by some of the partner institutions

• unable to prepare project progress reports on time (Process owners)

• Delay of budget release from Pro.

Cont.

• The Geo-membrane plastic sheet now is being demanded by people for different uses other than water harvesting. It can be sold illegally to individuals and its black market price is Birr 2000 to 3000 per sheet. Therefore, illegal farmers always steal one’s plastic sheet installed in the pond during the night.

• The procurement procedure Woreda finace and economic development follows is lengthy which made most activities delayed.

6 th year Project Plan

• The work plan of this year incorporated completely in the woreda annual plan of 2003. Action plan /Gant Chart of the Project work plan/ also prepared by process owners.

Cont.

Strategies to be followed to implement the six year project plan

• Ensure active participation of target communities in implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project activities

• Woreda heads, Process owners, experts and Kebele DAs will be fully involved in the project implementation and monitoring

• Incorporate plan and achievements of SWHISA project into PI’s annual plan and achievement reports

• Prepare and submit project progress reports, financial reports and evaluation reports

Cont.

• Implement project activities as per the work plan• Approve project expenditures followed with

verification from head of the respective process owners

• Organize project review workshops and disseminate the feed backs and lessons to other KAs

• Scale up the findings of the past project achievements/results/ --Low cost lining materials like Geomembrane sheet and HDW will be used for Water harvesting structure.

Cont.

• Participatory extension approach, field demonstratiuons and farmer field days will be used to disseminate improved technologies

• Credit strategy will be employed to create access for different inputs and technologies

• Project budget has been transferred to WoARD through Woreda Finance and Economic Development Office. This has strengthened the woreda ownership on the project. This strategy will continue for the next year.

Cont.

• Finance procurement procedure should be revised in such a way that it should be allowed to purchase materials with out tendering and proforma for small purchase (budget limit to be determined), Hiring of labour and purchase of local materials should be the responsibility of WoARD and Finance should pay based on the receipt delivered by experts from WoARD

Thank You!