Resource Mobilization

Rehabilitating and Upgrading Irrigation and Water Resources in Afghanistan

The Western Basins in Afghanistan have significant potential for agricultural intensification. Decades of civil unrest have impeded maintenance and repairs to the existing irrigation systems of these basins, and the entire canal networks are in urgent need of rehabilitation and upgrading. Against this background, the project aimed to support the rehabilitation and upgrading of irrigation and water resources in Pashtun Zarqhundistrict, Hari Rudriver basin, in order to improve rural livelihoods and increase household incomes of farmers of this district. The project was part of the larger “Western Basins Water Resources Management Project”, funded by Asian Development Bank.

What did the project do

The project provided technical support to the Programme Management Unit (PMU) of the Ministry of Energy and Water to complete technical proposals, prepare bidding documents, and carry out construction supervision for 17 irrigation canals in Pashtun Zarqhundistrict, which are expected to be completed within about a year, with government support. Training programmeswere conducted for government officials in various aspects of irrigation design, management and construction supervision, enabling them to effectively supervise the construction works, and implement similar projects and programmesin the country. The project also built the capacity of PMU in project management, and trained 530 farmers in canal operation and maintenance. The strengthened capacities of government staff and the farming community will help sustain the results achieved during the project in the long run.

Impact

The project contributed to the Government of Afghanistan’s poverty reduction strategy, and strengthened ongoing government efforts to foster economic growth and stability in rural areas through increased food security. Given that the construction activities have still to be completed, it is too soon to report the impact of the project in terms of agricultural production and productivity and livelihood change. However, it is expected that strengthened integrated water resources management, improved irrigation service delivery and enhanced agriculture practices will lead to increased agricultural productivity and income-generative capacity of primary producers, and improved food quality for consumers.

Activities

  • Technical proposals, design and tender documents prepared, and PMU supported in tendering and contracting process for the rehabilitation of 17 irrigation canals, covering 10 000 ha in Pashtun Zarqhundistrict in Hari Rudriver basin.
  • Participatory framework for implementation of irrigation works developed.
  • Training needs assessment carried out, and report produced identifying key capacity development areas, specially focusing on design and management of irrigation systems; operation and maintenance; resource mobilization; conflict resolution; quality control in construction works; and agriculture extension.
  • PMU capacity developed on design and management of irrigation systems through on the-job training and structured training programmes, covering over 250 participants.
  • Capacity developed for 530 farmers in canal operation and maintenance.
  • Operation and Maintenance manual for 17 canals prepared according to the designed structures and conditions.
  • Terms of Reference prepared for staff of PMU.
  • Testing plan for materials and workmanship prepared in accordance with technical specifications, work plan and supervision plan for smooth and timely implementation of the project.
  • Training materials prepared on on-farm water management, agriculture extension methods, and environmental and social safeguard measures.
Project title: Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Irrigation and Water Resources Management (RUIWRM) in Pashtun ZarqhunDistrict -Herat
Contact: FAO Office in Afghanistan / PuspaRaj Khanal(Lead Technical Officer)
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Download PDF: http://www.fao.org/3/CA2210EN/ca2210en.pdf