Storing water in low-cost ways
Simple, low-cost water retention methods can prevent water shortages and make irrigation possible throughout the year.
Summarised
- In the Hindu Kush Himalaya 80% of all rain falls during the monsoon.
- Climate change gives more intensive rainfalls and droughts, creating challenges for local farmers.
- Water can be retained locally and used in a smarter way by establishing low-cost ponds and environmentally friendly irrigation and farming techniques.
- The benefits include better access to water, increased yields, reduced time for water collection and better climate resilience.
What is the issue?
The Hindu Kush Himalaya has an abundance of water during the monsoon and scarcity of water in the dry season. Climate change exacerbates both seasons. This leads to intensive rainfalls during the monsoon accompanied by increased risk for floods and soil erosion, but also, to longer and dryer dry seasons increasing the risk of water shortage and drought. This challenges local farmers and threatens their livelihood.
What is the solution?
Local, low-cost water retention and smart water management can help farmers access water all year-round.
Most of the time, the collected water is originating from nearby streams and collected when their level is high. The water is then used when for irrigation of crops grown in the vicinity of the pond. In some cases, waste-water or rainwater from households can be stored and used for irrigation as well
The water ponds make it possible to irrigate my crops even when it is dry conditions
Sabitri Kuikel, from Namobudhha municipality, Nepal.What can it be combined with?
Smart farming and irrigation techniques can reduce water usage and help farmers meet their needs or even grow more crops with existing water resources. Examples of such techniques are mulching and drip-irrigation. Mulching is to cover the soil around the crops with a layer of straw, bark chips, grass, or pebbles. This protects the soil during heavy rain and keep the soil moist during droughts. The illustration shows a drip-irrigation system, where water is lead and released close to the plants. Less water is needed and less is lost to evaporation.
Are there any challenges?
Water retention and management require prior analysis of the local conditions. This will help put in place measures suitable for the area, considering available water resources and the farmers’ needs. It is also important to avoid that water retention up-stream negatively influence the access to water down-stream. For communal water storage ponds, there is benefit in strengthening communities’ capacity in water management and conflict resolution. Smarter storage, management and use of water is a scalable solution, that can address water scarcity at the local as well as the regional level.
