WH Training Course       

WATER HARVESTING 
FOR IMPROVED RAINFED PRODUCTION AND 
SUPPLEMENTARY IRRIGATION

Large numbers of population are living in the arid and semi-arid belts of the world where rainfall is limited and very irregular. During good years, agriculture in these areas produces satisfactory yields. However reduced rainfall or prolonged dry spells are leading immediately to crop failure. Irrigation would be the logic solution but water scarcity and the high cost of irrigation infrastructure are major handicaps. Alternative solutions should be found to increase the quantity of water on farmers’ fields.
Water harvesting is a proven technology to increase food security in drought prone areas. Erosion control and recharge of ground water are additional advantages of water harvesting techniques.

It has been observed that in most countries, extension and irrigation staff have often very limited knowledge about the various water harvesting techniques and the associated socio-economic implications. The dissemination and adoption of the technology on a larger scale by farmers is hampered by this lack of trained field staff. To address these shortcomings, the Water Resources Development and Management Service (AGLW) of FAO has developed training material for a two weeks training course with the following objectives

• To raise awareness of participants in a widely unknown technology as an alternative to irrigation.

• To train staff of national water resources, irrigation and agricultural services in the planning, design and implementation of water harvesting structures for improved rain fed production, supplementary irrigation and livestock watering.

• To make participants familiar with the associated socio-economic problems which go along with the implementation of Water Harvesting.

• Definition

• Scope (for what purposes can WH be used for?)

• Limitations

• Historical and recent developments

• Microcatchments

• Macrocatchments (External Catchment Systems)

• Floodwater Harvesting

• Texture & structure

• Depth & fertility

• Salinity/sodicity

• Infiltration rate

• Soil water storage capacity

• Soil mechanical characteristics

• Assessment of available water resources to cover the water requirements of different crops

• The farming system concept

• Choice of species and crop husbandry

• Annual crops

• Tree crops

• Microcatchments

Overviews
Advantages and disadvantages
Techniques (Negarim, contour ridges, zay-system etc.)

• Macrocatchments (External Catchment Systems)

Overview
Advantages and disadvantages
Techniques ( Hillside conduit systems, stone dams, liman terraces, cultivated reservoirs, farm ponds shallow wells)

• Floodwater Harvesting (Large External Catchments)

Overview
Floodwater harvesting within the stream bed
Floodwater diversion

• Storage

• People's demand & priorities

• People's experience with WH techniques

• People's participation & gender issues

• Land tenure and water law issues

• Adaption and adoption

• Land suitability & area differences

• The most important parameters

• Identification of suitable areas

• Project approach

• Suitable stage of technology

• Incentives and subsidies

• Monitoring, reporting & evaluation