RECYCLING OF WASTE WATER FOR PADDY IRRIGATION FARMING

AS COMMUNTY RESPONSE TO SHORTAGE OF FRESHWATER RESOURCES DUE TO CLIMATE

CHANGE

Nehemiah MurusuriNational Coordinator

GEF Small Grants ProgramTanzania

Project Location

• Tanzania, East Africa

• Moshi, at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain

Photo of Mt. Kilimanjaro- Source of almost all rivers in Kilimanjaro Region

Why the project ?

• Reduced rainfall due to climate change

• Reduced flow of freshwater to paddy farms

• Low food production/incomes• Scramble for insufficient water

occasioning conflicts

The Project

• Municipal waste water through stabilization ponds

• Establishment of main and secondary canals

• Changing mindset of farmers

• Setting up of a farmers cooperative

Evidence Based Impact• Adaptation to CC realized• Sufficient water for 500

farmers• 45ha of new farmland

irrigated• Agricultural production

and incomes doubled• Cost of production cut

down by 40% due to presence of nitrates and phosphates in waste water

Evidence based impact …/cont• Food security at

household level assured• Conflict for freshwater for

irrigation is history• Collaboration between

local farmers and scientists thriving

• Cooperation between local farmers and local Government Authorities fruitful

Water divides bridged

• Climate change

• Technological

• Governance

• Conflict

• Cost

• CooperationFiltering raw waste water

Way forward

Policy dialogue:

Provide policy advice to the Government so that all oxidation ponds in the country replicates the Moshi waste Water recycling scheme

Message to the 5th World Water Forum

Success of the Moshi irrigation project was a result of COOPERATION. Cooperation is critical in addressing climate change challenges. No one can win the battle against climate change acting alone. Cooperation is not an option but an imperative.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH