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Waternet: The Challenge of Integrated Water Resource Management for Improved Rural Livelihoods: Managing Risk, Mitigating Drought and Improving Water Productivity in the Water Scarce Limpopo Basin            

 

Project Duration: 

2004-2008

 

Geographical Focus: 

Limpopo basin Zimbabwe, Mozambique South Africa

 
Project Description / Background

Balancing needs of water for food with other freshwater dependant ecosystem and social services poses a tremendous challenge in the water scarce and poverty stricken Limpopo Basin. Improved management of green water use in rainfed farming and blue water use in irrigated systems is urgently needed. Soil and water management practices to increase water productivity and raise yields are largely known. Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), from catchment to basin scale, which incorporates both green and blue water uses and their interactions, can unlock the potential of upgrading farming systems in the Limpopo Basin. This will improve rural livelihoods. A comprehensive approach is needed, addressing water productivity in the farmers' fields, options for improved water management, human capacity building, institutional and policy development. The WATERnet project takes on the challenge to develop and IWRM approach to sustainable water for food development.

 

Goal 

To contribute to improved rural livelihoods of poor smallholder farmers through the development of an IWRM framework for increased productive use of green and blue water flows and risk management for drought and dry-spell mitigation at all scales in the Limpopo basin.

 

Specific Objectives

  • Adoption and adaptation of water management strategies among smallholder farmers that reduce risk and which, together with integrated farm systems management, improve farm income and water productivity.
  • Development of appropriate catchment management strategies, based on IWRM principles that incorporate sustainable use of green and blue water resources, which enables poor rural people to reduce risk of food deficits due to water scarcity, and to manage water for improved livelihoods.
  • Develop institutional models for water governance that aim at strengthening policies for water productivity and risk mitigation at catchment and basin scale.
  • Human capacity building among farmers, extension officers, water managers and researchers at local universities in the Limpopo Basin and in southern Africa.

Expected Project Outputs

OUTPUT

ACTIVITY

DETAIL

Output 1

1

Constraints and opportunities of current agricultural practices

 

1.1

Pilot Stakeholder workshops

 

1.2

Baseline Studies

 

1.3

Preliminary water resource evaluation

 

1.4

Assessment of CWP with CN 163

 

1.5

Survey of socio-economic conditions of smallholders

 

1.6

Survey of current land/water management practices

 

1.7

Exchange of information within and across pilot catchments

Output 2

2

Upgrading farming systems - improved WP, risk management and integrated land-water management

 

2.1

Field research on rainfall partitioning and storage fluxes

 

2.2

Farmer-field based action research (FFBAR)

 

2.3

Apply crop-water productvity model developed by CN 163

 

2.4

Linkage to Desert Margin Programme

 

2.5

Training of Farmers, Extension Workers, Local Water Managers (collaborate with CN 163 and CN 274)

 

2.6

Exchange experience between pilot catchments

 

2.7

Develop a comprehensive  knowledge base

 

2.8

Upscaling from field to pilot catchment

Output 3

3

Appropriate institutional models for water governance

 

3.1

Institutional Audit: Survey of structures, policies, capacities and practices

 

3.2

Institutional Audit: Analysis of linkages and gaps

 

3.3

Needs-based IWRM System development

 

3.4

Exchange experience between pilot catchments

 

3.5

Needs-based IWRM System testing and institutionalisation

 

3.6

Training workshops on water governance (Needs-based IWRM System)

Output 4

4

Guidelines for catchment management strategies across political boundaries

 

4.1

Upscaling from pilot catchment to Limpopo Basin

 

4.2

Generic institutional and policy models

 

4.3

Policy and management workshops

Output 5

5

Human capacity building

 

5.1

Farmer training

 

5.2

Extension officer and local water manager training

 

5.3

Capacity building at participating institutions

 

5.4

MSc and PhD students

Output 6

6

Project management, knowledge base and dissemination

 

6.1

Pilot catchment coordination

 

6.2

Project scientific workshops

 

6.3

Outreach and Dissemination

 

6.4

Project overall management and administration

 

Partners 

  • WATERnet
  • Wits University, South Africa
  • University of Limpopo, South Africa
  • World Vision
  • IWMI in South Africa
  • UNESCO-IHE
  • ICRISAT
  • University Eduardo Mondlane,
  • ARASUL
  • INIA
  • University of Zimbabwe
  • Mzingwane Catchment Council
  • AREX
  • ARC, Zimbabwe

 

Donors

Challenge Program Water and Food

 
IWMI's mission is to improve water and land resources management for food, livelihoods and nature
    Last update: 27.02.07