Session 5 „Rainfed Agriculture: Financing Smart Agriculture Projects“
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas.
http://www.icarda.org
Lead Convener
Co- Conveners
DRC, WFP, FAO
FAO Near-East & North Africa Land & Water Days 15 – 18 Dec. 2013
MENA Case Study 1- Water Productivity Enhancement
FAO Near-East & North Africa Land & Water Days 15 – 18 Dec. 2013
Prof. Dr. Dieter Prinz, KIT, Germany
Rainfed Agriculture: Financing Smart Agriculture Projects
Water Harvesting and Supplemental Irrigation
Low Cost Techniques of Water Harvesting for Economic Supplemental Irrigation
Water Harvesting
The collection and concen-
tration of rainfall and its use
for the irrigation of crops,
pastures, trees, for domestic
and livestock consumption.
Supplemental IrrigationAddition of small amounts of water
to essentially rainfed crops during
times when rainfall fails to provide
sufficient moisture for normal plant
growth, in order to improve and
stabilize yields.
Water Harvesting and Supplemental Irrigation. Climate Smart and Efficient Practices
Climate Smart Practices
(A) Fitting to the local climatic
conditions
(B) Well suited for future
climatic conditions (Climate
Change Adaptation)
Efficient Practices(A) Catching the rain optimally
(B) High water-use efficiency(Water Conservation)
(B) Economic / Financial efficiency
Low Cost Techniques of Water Harvesting for Economic Supplemental Irrigation
CASE STUDY 1A:FARM RESERVOIRSIN JORDANIAN BADIA
Dam
Inflow
Farm reservoirs of 25,000 to 40,000 m3 volume.
Location: Muaqqar, Jordan (Typical Badia site)Precipitation: 200 mm/a; evaporation: ~ 2000 mm/aEvaporation of 4 winter months = 1 summer monthFloods: 4 – 5 times / season
Wadi Reservoir 1
Reservoir 3
Reservoir 2
Field & tree crops
Is the eficiency of water used for supplemental irrigation of winter crops higher than that used for full irrigation in (early) summer? Is the emptying of a reservoir as soon as it is filled more efficient than leaving it filled for later use?
Questions
Low Cost Techniques of Water Harvesting for Economic Supplemental Irrigation
• Best yields and highest water use efficiency were obtained, when the stored water was used in winter (and not saved for the summer season) and the reservoirs emptied as often as possible. The water was pumped to fields and stored in the soil matrix.
• Risk: There is the risk of not having runoff water to prolong the growing season after an emptying of the reservoir at the end of the winter season. The risk could me minimized by doing risk analysis based on long-term hydrological data.
• Sedimentation was a problem, but sediment removal every 3 years did extend the lifetime of the reservoirs. The extracted sediments even contributed to an improved soil fertility.
Results
Financing: by CGIAR* Funds
*CGIAR = Consultive Group on International Agricultural Research
Low Cost Techniques of Water Harvesting for Economic Supplemental Irrigation
Subsurface Dam
CASE STUDY 1B:GROUNDWATER DAMS FOR SUBTERRANEAN WATER STORAGE A trench is dug into the wadi sediment across a wadi bed, down to the bedrock
The dam is built from stone or concrete
The aquifer lasts for several months; water extraction by dug or tube wells
Example :120 m long and 2 meters high. 1 flood: ~ 25,000 m3 of water had been accumulated (over a wadi length of 300 m) and were ready to be used for supplemental irrigation.Financing: Material costs covered by an NGO, beneficiaries contribute labour
Low Cost Techniques of Water Harvesting for Economic Supplemental Irrigation
High-tech example from the NegevFinancing: By Government
Bedrock
Subsurface Dam
Pumps
Distribution Pond
A Sand DamSand Dams are constructed in wadis with a thin sediment layer.They are built in steps to retain only the coarser parts of the sediments carried by the wadi flood.
Coarse sand can have a water content of 35 %, fine sand of 5% water only.
Distribution Pond
Low Cost Techniques of Water Harvesting for Economic Supplemental Irrigation
CASE STUDY 1C:GREENHOUSE WATER HARVESTING IN LEBANON
The pond water is flowing by gravity into other greenhouses. It is used there for drip irrigation of ornamental plants.
Pond Size: 1700 m2
Location: 350 m a.s.l.Precipitation:~ 1000 mm/aThere are no springs in the area. Option to harvest rainwater from plastic greenhouses.
The water is stored in a lined pond.
Low Cost Techniques of Water Harvesting for Economic Supplemental Irrigation
The ‘Green Plan’ agency is an autochthonous development authority under the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, partially financed by international donors. Green Plan experts develop together with interested farmers technical and financial development plans for their enterprises. Farmers receive soft loans for their share (18 to 39% of the total costs) The rest is given as subsidies.
Financing
Low Cost Techniques of Water Harvesting for Economic Supplemental Irrigation
SUMMARY
CASE STUDY 1B: GROUNDWATER DAMS FOR SUBTERRANEAN WATER STORAGE (Subsurface Dams and Sand Dams)
CASE STUDY 1A: FARM RESERVOIRS IN JORDANIAN BADIA
CASE STUDY 1C: GREENHOUSE WATER HARVESTING IN LEBANON
Thanks for Your Attention!