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| PANGANI Basin Water Board officials collect water samples to test for salinity levels |
THE introduction of high tech equipment for monitoring and modeling
water resources in Pangani Basin has helped to reduce conflicts related to
water allocation and improved the management of the resource.
This was revealed in Dar es Salaam yesterday by a local
Consultant with Pangani Basin, Mr Hosea Sanga, at the ongoing exhibitions to
mark the 6th Africa Water Week which commenced on Monday.
He said that through the use of smart stick, Pangani Basin
has managed to get reliable data on water which are crucial for planning and
management of water, but also reduced conflicts related to water allocation.
Mr Sanga further said that the data are also useful in
helping the communities to resolve water allocation conflicts during river
committee and water user association meetings.
“The Ministry of water and Irrigation in Pangani Basin needs
data in order to make decisions because it is responsible for allocating water to
farmers, but also the data is crucial in decision making and planning,” Mr
Sanga noted.
He added that the technology has helped farmers to have
modern way of knowing what level of water they have to allocate to their
respective farms. Expounding, he said the use of the high tech equipment is
being promoted through the Innovation in Monitoring, Modeling and Managing
Water project being implemented in Pangani Basin.
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| Thanks to technology, farmers are able to know the amount of water needed |
He said the project is being
implemented through the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in collaboration with
the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
“Currently, the project has designed and developed a smart
stick for measuring water levels in the furrows ... the smart stick is used by
communities for managing allocation of water at the farm level.
Mr Sanga noted
that before the introduction of the smart stick, farmers were using normal
stick with some markers during allocation of water but the new technology has
helped to know what level of water they have and can allocate to their
respective farms.
Acting Basin Water Officer for Pangani Basin Water Board, Mr
Philipo Patrick, said that the basin is facing water scarcity due to
unprecedented pressure from population growth and highly irregular rains. He
said more than 50 per cent of the area is semi-arid or arid receiving less than
600mm per year.
Mr Patrick said sometime the water allocation is done on
rationing to ensure that it satisfy the demand. Patrick said that Pangani basin
has a number of water disputes due to water scarcity, thus the allocation of
the precious liquid normally based on the Water Allocation Policy which provide
priority to water for domestic and environment use.
Chairman for Upper Kikuletwa Water User Association Tito
KitomarI said that with a range of stakeholders, the Imomo Initiative has been
working in the Thermi River for helping communities to make better water
decision through greater transparency about allocation activities and on water
availability in different parts of the catchment.
He said that currently reported water disputes have dropped
from 30 per year to one or none.
SOURCE DAILY NEWS
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