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A decision support approach for the selection and implementation of water harvesting techniques in arid and semi-arid regions

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  • Grum, Berhane
  • Hessel, Rudi
  • Kessler, Aad
  • Woldearegay, Kifle
  • Yazew, Eyasu
  • Ritsema, Coen
  • Geissen, Violette

Abstract

Water harvesting techniques (WHTs) improve the availability of water, which is essential for growing crops, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. A decision support approach can help in the selection of WHTs suitable under site-specific bio-physical and socio-economic conditions. This paper describes a participatory approach for the selection of suitable WHTs in watersheds in (semi) arid regions. It builds on a database of suitability indicators for WHTs, which was developed by integrating worldwide knowledge on their suitability. Once developed, the approach was applied on a case study for WHTs in the upper Geba watershed in northern Ethiopia. First, based on evaluation criteria and participants’ scientific and local knowledge, a pre-selection of most promising WHTs took place in a multi-stakeholder workshop. Next, the suitability indicators and a GIS-based multi-criteria analysis (MCA) were used to identify suitable areas for these WHTs. The results of the MCA were presented to stakeholders during a second stakeholder workshop. At this workshop, a final selection of WHTs to test was made based on a participatory ranking of WHTs using economic, ecological and socio-cultural criteria. The MCA approach was validated by comparing the predicted suitable areas with the already existing WHTs in the watershed. This led to the result that 90% of the existing check dams and 93% of the percolation ponds were correctly identified by the approach. We conclude therefore that this approach can be successfully applied for the participatory selection of WHTs and the identification of suitable areas for their implementation. Given that this approach is based on the newly developed database of WHTs, it can be easily applied in other (semi) arid regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Grum, Berhane & Hessel, Rudi & Kessler, Aad & Woldearegay, Kifle & Yazew, Eyasu & Ritsema, Coen & Geissen, Violette, 2016. "A decision support approach for the selection and implementation of water harvesting techniques in arid and semi-arid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 35-47.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:173:y:2016:i:c:p:35-47
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2016.04.018
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    1. Espoir Mukengere Bagula & Jackson-Gilbert Mwanjalolo Majaliwa & Twaha Ali Basamba & Jean-Gomez Mubalama Mondo & Bernard Vanlauwe & Geofrey Gabiri & John-Baptist Tumuhairwe & Gustave Nachigera Mushagal, 2022. "Water Use Efficiency of Maize ( Zea mays L.) Crop under Selected Soil and Water Conservation Practices along the Slope Gradient in Ruzizi Watershed, Eastern D.R. Congo," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, October.
    2. Musaed Aklan & Muhammed Al-Komaim & Charlotte Fraiture, 2023. "Site suitability analysis of indigenous rainwater harvesting systems in arid and data-poor environments: a case study of Sana’a Basin, Yemen," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 8319-8342, August.
    3. Paul, Manashi & Negahban-Azar, Masoud & Shirmohammadi, Adel & Montas, Hubert, 2020. "Assessment of agricultural land suitability for irrigation with reclaimed water using geospatial multi-criteria decision analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    4. Mohamed Arbi Abdeladhim & Luuk Fleskens & Jantiene Baartman & Mongi Sghaier & Mohamed Ouessar & Coen J. Ritsema, 2022. "Generation of Potential Sites for Sustainable Water Harvesting Techniques in Oum Zessar Watershed, South East Tunisia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-20, May.
    5. Ajaykumar K. Kadam & Sanjay S. Kale & B. N. Umrikar & R. N. Sankhua & N. J. Pawar, 2022. "Assessing site suitability potential for soil and water conservation structures by using modified micro-watershed prioritization method: geomorphometric and geomatic approach," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 4659-4683, April.
    6. Grum, Berhane & Assefa, Dereje & Hessel, Rudi & Woldearegay, Kifle & Ritsema, Coen J. & Aregawi, Berihun & Geissen, Violette, 2017. "Improving on-site water availability by combining in-situ water harvesting techniques in semi-arid Northern Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 153-162.
    7. Nouri, Milad & Homaee, Mehdi & Pereira, Luis S. & Bybordi, Mohammad, 2023. "Water management dilemma in the agricultural sector of Iran: A review focusing on water governance," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).

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