Download 2.4 Case Gash Systainable Livelihood Project Sudan

CASE: GASH SUSTAINABLE
LIVELIHOODS PROJECT (SUDAN)
Red sea
Gash Die
GASH RIVER
eritrea
POPULATION:
Estimated 87 000 households comprising (500 000 persons)
Semi-nomadic pastoralists (mainly Hadendowa tribe) with agriculture as a
secondary activity to provide staple grain at subsistence level
CLIMATE
Semi-arid to arid
Maximum temperatures: from 42OC in May to 34OC in August
Minimum temperatures: from 25OC to 16OC in January-February
Average annual rainfall: from 260 mm in the southeast to less than 100 mm in
the northwest.
Rainy season: between July and October
Rainfall pattern extremely variable in amount, intensity and distribution
Average altitude: 500 masl
Map
Map
Upstream of Kassala Bridge:
River training (spurs and dykes to
maintain velocity of flow and
avoid Gash river is diverting course)
One minor off-take (Fota)
Downstream of Kassala Bridge:
Six main off-takes:
-Salam Alaikom
-Mekali
-Degain
-Tendeli
-Metateib
-Hadaliya
short channels (masga channels) located at cross regulators on
the main cannels take water to fields. Regulation of flow in canals
and masga channels carried out by stop logs
From here single fields of 420 hectars (1000 feddan)
are irrigated in one flush to spread sediment
Command Area of the GAS (feddans)
Irrigation Block
Kassala
Headworks
Fota
Salam Alaikom
Block Canals
Fota Main
Rabakasa Branch
Tograr Main
Amber Branch
Total Kassala Command Area
Mekali
Degain
Mekali
Degain (Magawda)
Mekali
Old Magawda
New Magawda
Total Degain Command Area
Tendeli
Tendeli
Tendeli Main
Tendeli West Branch
Tendeli North Branch
Total Tendeli Command Area
Metateib
Hadaliya
Metateib
Hadaliya
Metateib
Hadaliya Main
Illibili Branch
Behabini Branch
Total Hadaliya Command Area
Total Command
Area
7 200
8 700
22 830
7 900
46 630
37 200
37 200
14 000
51 200
15 200
19 300
15 300
49 800
42 300
38 580
23 850
7 800
70 230
Beyond the command area all water is
dissipated on the flood plain and terminal fan
(Gash Die).
Here it is used for rangeland and forestry
Water Management
Challenges
• Sedimentation is a major challenge:
– 129 mm/year
– Land slope = 0.1 %
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This results in substantial sedimentation in the canals, requiring
considerable excavation
Agricultural Features
• The Gash system was initially developed (1924) for commercial
cotton production
• In the past land preparation and cotton marketing were done by
the Gash Agricultural Scheme (GAS)
• When cotton prices fell in late 1960’s, castor (oilseed) was
introduced in 1967. From 1984 this lost its popularity.
• Now most common crop is smallholders sorghum
• There is no groundwater in the command area due to fine clays
• However in the flood plain there is small horticultural production
using groundwater
Institutional Features
• There have been problems with maintenance:
– Annual requirement is USD 1.8 Million
– Land and water fees are low (USD 15/ha and USD 0.40/ha) –
insufficient to pay for full maintenance
– Payment of problems
– Limited funding for maintenance by government
– No permanent staff of Irrigation Ministry since 1990’s – until recently
– Earthmoving equipment obsolete
– System not maintained for nearly fifteen years – massive deterioration
Institutional Features
• The scheme is operated by the Gash Agricultural Scheme (GAS)
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GAS is responsible for land use in the irrigation scheme, including the registration of tenants,
admission of new tenants in the irrigation scheme, supervision of land allocation, irrigation,
and overall operation and maintenance.
It has a Board of Directors, chaired by the Federal Minister of Agriculture. The Board
members comprise the Director of the GAS, the State Minister of Agriculture,
representatives of the MOFNE and ABS, and three representatives from the Farmers Union
The current scheme management is severely restricted in its overall capacity and
capabilities. It has lacked a sound financial base since the late 1960s when foreign currency
resources were stripped.
The move to subsistence food crop production in the early over much of the irrigation area in
the early 1980s has meant that its revenue base is severely eroded
It cannot at present operate the scheme without direct assistance from MOFNE.
Land Tenure
Features
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All land belongs to Government under the Unregistered Lands Act (1970)
Irrigation is done by the GAS – after which plots are allocated on an an
annual basis to tenant
The GAS rotates irrigation bi-annually between two command areas
Allocation is done by lottery – through committees in the irrigation blocks
These six committees are part of the Farmers’ Union, which to a large
degree reflects the interests of the tribal clan sheikhs
This system prevents individual improvement and investment in the land
There is large demand for land: registered tenants have increased from
22,000 (1988) to 45,000 (2003)
Moreover tribal leader have a prior claim to land (among other for local
social welfare)
As a result effective land holdings are less than 1 feddan (0.42 ha).
Environmental
challenges
Mesquite infestation is a major
problem – with the deep-rooted
mesquite invading land and
flood-channels and consuming
precious groundwater
ACTIVITIES OF GSLRP
GASH SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS REGENERATION PROJECT
REHABILATION AND RE-EXCAVATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE
CONSTRUCTION OF FLOOD PROTECTION KASSALA TOWN
REMOVING MESQUITE, WITH ROOTS
Manual uprooting
Mechanical uprooting
Producing charcoal
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
PROVIDING DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
VACCINATION OF LIVESTOCK
ESTABLISHMENT OF WATER USERS ASSOCIATIONS
IN THE FUTURE: REGISTERING INDIVIDUAL LAND TITLES
With thanks to Hamid Mohammed Hamid, GSLRP