In Tanzania, small landholders living in the tropical semi-arid areas of the country suffer from food shortages and economic losses. This is a result of drought, soil erosion or flooding. Sometimes farmers suffer from both drought and flood in the same season. Up to 70% of the rainwater can be lost to “run-off” that causes flooding and erosion down-stream. Only the smallest fraction remains in the soil long enough to be useful.
What could be done to alleviate these problems?
Initially, policy makers concentrated on getting the farmers to change to more drought-resistant crops. At the same time, they encouraged farmers to get rid of “run-off” water away from crop and range-lands. This, in areas where agriculture and livelihoods are badly affected by water shortage!
About 12 years ago, the Soil-Water Management Research Group[2] at the Sokoine University of Agriculture started working in collaboration with other researchers to see what could be done to help the farmers sustain their livelihoods.
How did they approach the problem?
To begin with, the researchers worked in collaboration with local farmers. They learned how local farmers had managed in the past to exploit the natural concentration of runoff in local depressions and valleys. They also collected indigenous knowledge on farmer practice in rainwater harvesting.
That was the platform. Researchers next worked with local knowledge on rainwater harvesting in collaboration with local stakeholders. The aim was to design and implement on-farm experimentation (including participatory GIS work) to develop a sound scientific understanding of farm practice so they could accurately describe the system’s benefits. They also communicated with stakeholders through media, seminars, workshops and training courses to improve local knowledge on rainwater harvesting.
The change in perception, policy and strategies towards rainfall runoff has been nothing short of remarkable. There is a real demand for rainwater harvesting technology. Government policy now fully recognizes integrated soil-water management, including rainwater harvesting, as the solution to the drought problems of semi-arid areas.
How did this change come about?
Through action research in full collaboration with local stakeholders;
Through sustained communication with stake-holders at all levels informed of the research and findings.
The project has led to a notable change in policy. The President of Tanzania recently outlined the government’s four top priorities in Water Management, and rainwater harvesting heads the list.
|
AN OPERATIONAL DEFINITION |
|
Communication is important to support participatory development. |
|
Communication and participation are, in fact, two sides of the same coin. |
|
Communication for development means the planned use of different strategies (media and others) to help people become aware of and articulate their position, exchange knowledge and skill to take control over their lives, reach consensus and manage conflicts, and improve the effectiveness of organizations. |
|
Communication is about bridging understanding within a human community by exchanging messages to enrich meaning and common knowledge, often with the purpose of embracing change. |
|
[1] This extract is based on
work by Soil-Water Management Research Group, led by Sokoine University of
Agriculture, Tanzania. [2] Started with a project supported by IDRC from 1991-1994 and with DFID, SUA, NORAD, EU-DG6 and SIDA support from 1992 to date. |
