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!