Eritrea : production of foodstuff involving the catchment of rain.
The northern part of Gash-Barka administrative region, in the western lowlands of Eritrea is characterized by a sahelian climate with only one rainy season from June to September that gets shorter as one moves northwards. Rainfall is erratic in terms of both, time and place and it basically consists of few, often violent storms with dry intervals that can last up to several weeks.
Under these conditions, without irrigation, cereal cultivation (millet or sorghum) is successful only once every 6 years on average. However, there are many intermittent streams, dried up most of the time but carrying large quantities of water after each rainstorm. By diverting those spates to irrigate fields, it is possible to obtain excellent yields of millet or sorghum.
On a small scale, this technique has been traditionally applied by some farmers using makeshift means, such as branches or stones.
A project to assist the local population: In 2001, further to a feasibility study, SOS Faim, in cooperation with the Regional Office of the Ministry of Agriculture in Gash-Barka, embarked on a programme aiming at creating or renovating some 14 irrigation systems which could irrigate 1.355 hectares and thereby increase food production by around 1.211 tons per year. This project also included technical assistance and participation-oriented technical training courses for the local staff.
Irrigation schemes which give results: From 2002 till 2005, 8 schemes were put in place. In 2005, the additional production was estimated at 692 tons of grains and 857.260 bundles of straw which benefited 734 farmer households. Rainfall conditions in 2005 were generally considered as “average”.
The situation is evolving; the Ministry of Agriculture staff are far more proficient in the technical aspects concerning irrigation scheme design and construction. At the same time, the farmers who use them are more aware of their beneficial effects and therefore get more involved in their management and maintenance. Thus, the good results obtained so far are likely to be sustainable in the future.
