Your search found 21 records
1 Nyssen, J.; Poesen, J.; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Haregeweyn, N.; Haile, M.; Moeyersons, J.; Frankl, A.; Govers, G.; Munro, N.; Deckers, J. 2008. Effects of region-wide soil and water conservation in semi-arid areas: the case of northern Ethiopia. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, 52(3):291-315.
Soil conservation ; Water conservation ; Highlands ; Erosion ; Bunds ; Reservoirs ; Sedimentation / Ethiopia / Tigray
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H041844)
(0.94 MB)
Studies on the impacts of environmental rehabilitation in semi-arid areas are often conducted over limited space and time scales, and do typically not include detailed biophysical components. This study makes a multi-scale assessment over a time span of 30 years of environmental rehabilitation in one of the world's most degraded areas: the Tigray highlands of Northern Ethiopia. The study shows that in Tigray sheet and rill erosion rates have decreased by approximately 68%, infiltration and spring discharge are enhanced and vegetation cover has improved. These impacts are evidenced and quantified by a comprehensive comparison of the current landscape with a coverage of 30-year old photographs and substantiated by field investigations. The positive changes in ecosystem service supply that result from these conservation activities in the Tigray highlands are an issue of global concern.
2 Descheemaeker, Katrien; Poesen, J.; Borselli, L.; Nyssen, J.; Raes, D.; Haile, M.; Muys, B.; Deckers, J. 2008. Runoff curve numbers for steep hillslopes with natural vegetation in semi-arid tropical highlands, northern Ethiopia. Hydrological Processes, 22:4097-4105.
Hydrology ; Soil conservation ; Water conservation ; Rangelands ; Highlands ; Vegetation ; Eucalyptus ; Rainfall-runoff relationships / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H041539)
(0.30 MB)
Daily runoff from 27 plots (5 m ð 2 m) recorded during two rainy seasons in the Tigray highlands (Ethiopia) were analysed together with daily rainfall to calculate runoff curve numbers for hillslopes covered by semi-natural vegetation in varying stages of vegetation restoration. Curve number model parameters were derived using a least squares fitting procedure on the collected rainfall–runoff datasets. Curve numbers varied from 29 to 97. Land use type was an important explanatory factor for the variation in curve numbers, whereas hydrologic soil group was not. Curve numbers were negatively correlated with vegetation cover. Taking into account antecedent soil moisture conditions did not improve runoff prediction using the curve number method. As runoff prediction was less accurate in areas with low curve numbers, two separate regression functions relating curve numbers with vegetation cover were proposed for different land use types.
3 Descheemaeker, Katrien; Amede, Tilahun; Haileslassie, A. 2009. Livestock and water interactions in mixed crop-livestock farming systems of Sub-Saharan Africa: interventions for improved productivity. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 34p. (IWMI Working Paper 133) [doi: https://doi.org/10.3910/2009.316]
Farming systems ; Livestock ; Water productivity ; Water scarcity ; Land degradation ; Feed production ; Fodder ; Grazing systems ; Animal production ; Food production ; Policy / Africa South of Sahara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 636 G110 DES Record No: H042205)
(445KB)
Focusing on mixed crop-livestock farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa, this review brings together the available knowledge in the various components of the livestock and water sectors. Through an analysis of livestock-water interactions, promising strategies and interventions to improve Livestock Water Productivity are proposed. In the biophysical domain, the numerous interventions relate to feed, water and animal management. These are interlinked with interventions in the socio-political-economic domain. The paper identifies critical research and development gaps in terms of methodologies for quantifying water productivity and integrating different scales, and also in terms of institutions and policies.
4 Descheemaeker, Katrien; Raes, D.; Nyssen, J.; Poesen, J.; Haile, M.; Deckers, J. 2009. Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise. Rangeland Journal, 31(2):237-249. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ09010]
Water balance ; Simulation models ; Soil water ; Measurement ; Experiments ; Highlands ; Sloping land ; Grazing lands ; Pastures ; Vegetation ; Regeneration ; Water productivity ; Percolation ; Evapotranspiration ; Runoff / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 636 100 AME Record No: H042211)
(0.61 MB)
The establishment of exclosures (i.e. areas closed for grazing and agriculture) is a common practice to reverse land degradation through vegetation regeneration in the semiarid highland areas of northern Ethiopia. In order to assess the effect of exclosures on water flows, the water balance components for different vegetation regeneration stages were assessed through field measurements and modelling. Successful model calibration and validation was done based on soil water content measurements conducted during 2 years in 22 experimental plots. In the protected areas, vegetation regeneration leads to an increase in infiltration and transpiration and a more productive use of water for biomass production. In areas where additional lateral water (runon) infiltrates, source–sink systems are created. Here, up to 30% of the annual rainfall percolates through the root-zone towards the groundwater table. Increased biomass production in exclosures leads to possibilities for wood harvesting and cut and carry of grasses for livestock feeding. Together with water conservation and more productive use of water, the latter contributes to increased livestock water productivity. At the landscape scale, the creation of vegetation filters, capturing resources like water and nutrients, reinforces the rehabilitation process and healthy landscape functioning.
5 Amede, Tilahun; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Peden, D.; van Rooyen, A. 2009. Harnessing benefits from improved livestock water productivity in crop–livestock systems of Sub-Saharan Africa: synthesis. Rangeland Journal, 31(2):169-178. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ09023]
Water scarcity ; Livestock ; Crop production ; Water productivity ; Water conservation ; Institutions ; Policy ; Water market ; Local government / Africa South of Sahara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 636 100 AME Record No: H042279)
(0.22 MB)
The threat of water scarcity in sub-Saharan Africa is real, due to the expanding agricultural needs, climate variability and inappropriate land use. Livestock keeping is the fastest growing agricultural sector, partly because of increasing and changing demands for adequate, quality and diverse food for people, driven by growing incomes and demographic transitions. Besides the economic benefits, rising livestock production could also deplete water and aggravate water scarcity at local and global scales. The insufficient understanding of livestock–water interactions also led to low livestock productivity, impeded sound decision on resources management and undermined achieving positive returns on investments in agricultural water across sub-Saharan Africa. Innovative and integrated measures are required to improve water productivity and reverse the growing trends of water scarcity. Livestock water productivity (LWP), which is defined as the ratio of livestock outputs to the amount of water depleted, could be improved through: (i) raising the efficiency of the water inputs by integrating livestock with crop, water and landscape management policies and practices. Improving feed water productivity by maximising transpiration and minimising evaporation and other losses is critical; (ii) increasing livestock outputs through improved feed management, veterinary services and introducing systemc ompatible breeds; and (iii) because livestock innovation is a social process, it is not possible to gain LWP improvements unless close attention is paid to policies, institutions and their associated processes. Policies targeting infrastructure development would help livestock keepers secure access to markets, veterinary services and knowledge. This paper extracts highlights from various papers presented in the special issue of The Rangeland Journal on technologies and practices that would enable improving water productivity at various scales and the premises required to reverse the negative trends of water depletion and land degradation.
6 Haileslassie, A.; Peden, D.; Gebreselassie, S.; Amede, Tilahun; Descheemaeker, Katrien. 2009. Livestock water productivity in mixed crop–livestock farming systems of the Blue Nile Basin: assessing variability and prospects for improvement. Agricultural Systems, 102(1-3):33-40. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2009.06.006]
Livestock ; Water productivity ; Farming systems ; River basin management ; Cereals / Africa / Ethiopia / Blue Nile River Basin / Gumera Watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042535)
(0.46 MB)
Water scarcity is a major factor limiting food production. Improving Livestock Water Productivity (LWP) is one of the approaches to address those problems. LWP is defined as the ratio of livestock’s beneficial outputs and services to water depleted in their production. Increasing LWP can help achieve more production per unit of water depleted. In this study we assess the spatial variability of LWP in three farming systems (rice-based, millet-based and barley-based) of the Gumera watershed in the highlands of the Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. We collected data on land use, livestock management and climatic variables using focused group discussions, field observation and secondary data. We estimated the water depleted by evapotranspiration (ET) and beneficial animal products and services and then calculated LWP. Our results suggest that LWP is comparable with crop water productivity at watershed scales. Variability of LWP across farming systems of the Gumera watershed was apparent and this can be explained by farmers’ livelihood strategies and prevailing biophysical conditions. In view of the results there are opportunities to improve LWP: improved feed sourcing, enhancing livestock productivity and multiple livestock use strategies can help make animal production more water productive. Attempts to improve agricultural water productivity, at system scale, must recognize differences among systems and optimize resources use by system components.
7 Nyssen, J.; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Zenebe, A.; Poesen, J.; Deckers, J.; Haile, M. 2009. Transhumance in the Tigray Highlands (Ethiopia) Mountain Research and Development, 29(3):255-264. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1659/mrd.00033]
Highlands ; Grazing lands ; Pastures ; Livestock ; Rangelands ; Transhumance / Ethiopia / Tigray Highlands
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042534)
(0.80 MB)
Transhumance, the seasonal movement of herds occurring between two points and following precise routes repeated each year, is practiced on a broad scale in the open field areas of Tigray (North Ethiopia). This article presents a characterization of the practice, factors that explain its magnitude, and recent changes. Eleven villages were selected randomly, semistructured interviews were conducted, and data on the sites were collected both in the field and from secondary sources. The transhumance destination zones are characterized as better endowed with water and fodder resources, essentially due to their great extent. The sample villages can be classified into three groups: annual transhumance (average one-way traveling distance 8.1 km), home range herding (average traveling distance 2.2 km), and keeping livestock near homesteads. Movements are basically induced by the fact that there is little to no space for livestock near the villages during the crop-growing period—not by the significantly different temperature or rainfall conditions in the grazing lands. Adults will only herd the flocks when the distance for transhumance is great or considered unsafe; otherwise, young boys tend the livestock for the entire summer rainy season. Faced with social (schooling) and technological (reservoir construction and establishment of exclosures) changes, transhumance in Tigray has adjusted in a highly adaptive way, with new routes being developed and others abandoned. Transhumance does not lead to major conflicts in the study area even when livestock are brought to areas that belong to other ethnic groups (Afar, Amhara).
8 Descheemaeker, Katrien; Amede, Tilahun; Haileslassie, A. 2010. Improving water productivity in mixed crop–livestock farming systems of Sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural Water Management, 97(5):579-586. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2009.11.012]
Livestock ; Feeds ; Animal husbandry ; Water productivity ; Water management / Africa South of Sahara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042572)
(0.57 MB)
In sub-Saharan Africa problems associated with water scarcity are aggravated by increasing demands for food and water, climate change and environmental degradation. Livestock keeping,an important livelihood strategy for smallholder farmers in Africa, is a major consumer of water, and its water consumption is increasing with increasing demands for livestock products. At the same time, current low returns from livestock keeping limit its contribution to livelihoods, threaten environmental health and aggravate local conflicts. The objectives of this review are to: (1) synthesize available knowledge in the various components of the livestock and water sectors in sub-Saharan Africa, (2) analyze livestock–water interactions and (3) identify promising strategies and technological interventions for improved livestock water productivity (LWP) using a framework for mixed crop–livestock systems. The interventions are grouped in three categories related to feed, water, and animal management. Feed related strategies for improving LWP include choosing feed types carefully, improving feed quality, increasing feed water productivity, and implementing grazing management practices. Water management for higher LWP comprises water conservation, watering point management, and integration of livestock production in irrigation schemes. Animal management strategies include improving animal health and careful animal husbandry. Evidence indicates that successful uptake of interventions can be achieved if institutions, policies, and gender are considered. Critical research and development gaps are identified in terms of methodologies for quantifying water productivity at different scales and improving integration between agricultural sectors.
9 Descheemaeker, Katrien; Mapedza, Everisto; Amede, Tilahun; Ayalneh, W. 2009. Effects of integrated watershed management on water productivity in crop-livestock systems in water scarce areas of Ethiopia. [Abstract only]. In 10th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium, IWRM: Environmental Sustainability, Climate Change and Livelihoods, Entebbe, Uganda, 28-30 October 2009. Volume of abstracts. Entebbe, Uganda: Waternet, GWP, WARFSA.
Watershed management ; Water productivity ; Water scarcity ; Farming systems ; Livestock ; Feeds / Africa / Africa South of Sahara / Ethiopia / Lenche Dima watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042712)
(0.35 MB)
10 Nyssen, J.; Clymans, W.; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Poesen, J.; Vandecasteele, I.; Vanmaercke, M.; Zenebe, A.; Van Camp, M.; Haile, M.; Haregeweyn, N.; Moeyersons, J.; Martens, K.; Gebreyohannes, T.; Deckers, J.; Walraevens, K. 2010. Impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment hydrological response: a case in north Ethiopia. Hydrological Processes, 24(13):1880-1895. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7628]
Catchment areas ; Water conservation ; Soil conservation ; Hydrology ; Runoff ; Water table ; Measurement ; Water balance / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042876)
(0.59 MB)
Impact studies of catchment management in the developing world rarely include detailed hydrological components. Here, changes in the hydrological response of a 200-ha catchment in north Ethiopia are investigated. The management included various soil and water conservation measures such as the construction of dry masonry stone bunds and check dams, the abandonment of post-harvest grazing, and the establishment of woody vegetation. Measurements at the catchment outlet indicated a runoff depth of 5 mm or a runoff coefficient (RC) of 1Ð6% in the rainy season of 2006. Combined with runoff measurements at plot scale, this allowed calculating the runoff curve number (CN) for various land uses and land management techniques. The pre-implementation runoff depth was then predicted using the CN values and a ponding adjustment factor, representing the abstraction of runoff induced by the 242 check dams in gullies. Using the 2006 rainfall depths, the runoff depth for the 2000 land management situation was predicted to be 26Ð5 mm (RC D 8%), in line with current RCs of nearby catchments. Monitoring of the ground water level indicated a rise after catchment management. The yearly rise in water table after the onset of the rains ( T) relative to the water surplus (WS) over the same period increased between 2002–2003 ( T/WS D 3Ð4) and 2006 ( T/WS >11Ð1). Emerging wells and irrigation are other indicators for improved water supply in the managed catchment. Cropped fields in the gullies indicate that farmers are less frightened for the destructive effects of flash floods. Due to increased soil water content, the crop growing period is prolonged. It can be concluded that this catchment management has resulted in a higher infiltration rate and a reduction of direct runoff volume by 81% which has had a positive influence on the catchment water balance.
11 Descheemaeker, Katrien; Mapedza, Everisto; Amede, Tilahun; Ayalneh, W. 2010. Effects of integrated watershed management on livestock water productivity in water scarce areas in Ethiopia. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 35(13-14):723-729. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2010.06.006]
Watershed management ; Water harvesting ; Water balance ; Livestock ; Feed production ; Energy ; Water productivity ; Ecosystems / Ethiopia / Lenche Dima Watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042377)
(0.31 MB)
In the water scarce Lenche Dima watershed in the northern Ethiopian highlands community based integrated watershed management was implemented to fight land degradation, raise agricultural productivity and improve farmers’ livelihoods. The effects of two interventions, namely exclosures and water harvesting structures, were assessed based on data from farmers’ interviews, measurements of feed biomass production, and estimates of energy production and requirements. Water used for livestock feed production was obtained through simple soil water balance modelling. By protecting 40% of the rangelands, the water productivity of the feed increased by about 20%. This indicated that exclosure establishment could lead to similar improvements in livestock water productivity (LWP, defined as the ratio of livestock benefits over the water used in producing these). Water harvesting structures ensured yearround water availability in the homestead, which resulted in less energy used for walking to drinking points. A considerable amount of energy was thus saved, which could be used for livestock production and improved animal health without additional water use. Besides restoring regulating and supporting ecosystem services, both interventions led to a more efficient use of the scarce water resources for biomass and livestock production.
12 Mapedza, Everisto; Amede, Tilahun; Geheb, Kim; Peden, D.; Ayalneh, W.; Faki, H.; Mpairwe, D.; Alemayehu, M.; Boelee, Eline; van Hoeve, E.; van Koppen, Barbara; Tegegne, S. D.; Descheemaeker, Katrien. 2010. Gendered aspects of livestock-water interactions in the Nile River Basin. In Institute of Water and Sanitation Development. 11th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, 27-29 October 2010. IWRM for national and regional integration: where science, policy and practice meet: water and society. Harare, Zimbabwe: Institute of Water and Sanitation Development (IWSD). pp.191-211.
Gender ; Livestock ; Water productivity ; Women ; Households ; Case studies / Ethiopia / Sudan / Uganda / Africa South of Sahara / Nile River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H043403)
http://www.waternetonline.ihe.nl/11thSymposium/WaterandSocietyFullPapers2010.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H043403.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H043403.pdf
(0.25 MB)
Gender is central in understanding crop and livestock systems within the developing world. The different roles and responsibilities that society ascribes to both men, women, children and the different age groups will impact on the innovations within the Livestock Water Productivity in the Nile Basin. Livestock can be a mechanism for improving the livelihoods of the rural farmers in the Nile Basin. It is however important to understand who benefits from such livestock innovations and improvements. Using a gender disaggregated approach will shade more light on the costs and benefits from the improved livestock water interactions. This study focused on the costs and benefits for women and men but do appreciate that gender goes beyond women and men. The major findings were that for successful poverty alleviation, it is important to understand which types of livestock are benefitting women, men and children and under what circumstances they have improved the livelihoods of the poor. This paper attempts to make such an assessment for Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda.
13 Descheemaeker, Katrien; Amede, Tilahun; Haileslassie, A.; Bossio, Deborah. 2011. Analysis of gaps and possible interventions for improving water productivity in crop livestock systems of Ethiopia. Experimental Agriculture, 47(Supplement S1):21-38. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479710000797]
Water productivity ; Crop production ; Livestock ; Mixed farming ; Farming systems ; Water scarcity ; Water conservation ; Models ; Feeds ; Milk production / Ethiopia / Lenche Dima Watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H043509)
(0.35 MB)
Low crop and livestock productivities in the mixed farming systems of Ethiopia hamper efforts to meet the increasing food demands from a stressed natural resource base. Important reasons for the low agricultural productivity are water scarcity and poor spatial and temporal rainfall distribution. Although improving agricultural water productivity would safeguard people’s livelihoods and the environment, the lack of information on best bet interventions and strategies to achieve this impedes targeted decision making. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct an ex-ante evaluation of the potential effect of selected interventions on livestock water productivity (LWP) in mixed crop-livestock systems. Baseline data were collected from a water scarce area in the Ethiopian highlands. An analysis of productivity gaps and stakeholder interviews helped to identify promising interventions, which were categorized in three groups related to feed, water and animal management. A spreadsheet model was developed that was composed of the various production components of the farming system, their interactions and influencing factors. By linking water use for feed production with livestock products through the energy supplied by the feeds, the potential effect of interventions on LWP could be simulated. The evaluation showed that the various interventions targeting feed, water and animal management could result in LWP improvements ranging from 4 to 94%. Feed and energy water productivity increased particularly with interventions like fertilizer application, and the introduction of fodder trees, concentrates, improved food-feed crops, and soil and water conservation measures. Combining the different interventions led to a stronger improvement than any of the single interventions. The results of the evaluation can inform policy-makers and development actors on which best bets to promote and invest in.
14 Derib, S. D.; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Haileslassie, A.; Amede, Tilahun. 2011. Irrigation water productivity as affected by water management in a small-scale irrigation scheme in the Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. Experimental Agriculture, 47(Supplement S1):39-55. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479710000839]
Irrigation schemes ; River basins ; Evapotranspiration ; Canals ; Water loss ; Statistical methods ; Water productivity ; Crop production ; Irrigation efficiency ; Mixed farming ; Livestock / Africa / Ethiopia / Blue Nile Basin / Guanta Small-Scale Irrigation Scheme
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H043513)
(0.38 MB)
In Ethiopia, irrigation is mainly implemented in small-scale irrigation schemes, which are often characterized by low water productivity. This study reports on the efficiency and productivity of a typical small-scale irrigation scheme in the highlands of the Blue Nile, Ethiopia. Canal water flows and the volume of irrigation water applied were measured at field level. Grain and crop residue biomass and grass biomass production along the canals were also measured. To triangulate the measurements, the irrigation farm management, effects of water logging around irrigation canals, farm water distribution mechanisms, effects of night irrigation and water losses due to soil cracking created by prolonged irrigation were closely observed. The average canal water loss from the main, the secondary and the field canals was 2.58, 1.59 and 0.39 l s-1 100 m-1, representing 4.5, 4.0 and 26% of the total water flow respectively. About 0.05% of the loss was attributed to grass production for livestock, while the rest was lost through evaporation and canal seepage. Grass production for livestock feed had a land productivity of 6190.5 kg ha-1 and a water productivity of 0.82 kg m-3 . Land productivity for straw and grain was 2048 and 770 kg ha-1, respectively, for teff, and 1864 kg ha-1 and 758 kg ha-1, respectively, for wheat. Water productivities of the crops varied from 0.2 to 1.63 kg m-3. A significant volume of water was lost from small-scale irrigation systems mainly because farmers’ water application did not match crop needs. The high price incurred by pumped irrigation positively affected water management by minimizing water losses and forced farmers to use deficit irrigation. Improving water productivity of small-scale irrigation requires integrated interventions including night storage mechanisms, optimal irrigation scheduling, empowerment of farmers to maintain canals and proper irrigation schedules.
15 Ali, H.; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Steenhuis, T. S.; Pandey, S. 2011. Comparison of land use and land cover changes, drivers and impacts for a moisture-sufficient and drought-prone region in the Ethiopian highlands. Experimental Agriculture, 47(Supplement S1):71–83. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479710000840]
Land use ; Land cover ; Drought ; Arid lands ; Livestock ; Crop production ; Mixed farming ; Remote sensing / Ethiopia / Lenche Dima Watershed / Kuhar Michael Watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H043515)
(1.00 MB)
Land use and land cover changes are driven by human actions and, in turn, drive changes that alter the availability of products and services for people and livestock. For proper planning, these cause-and-effect interrelations need to be understood. This is especially important for Ethiopia where the resource base is declining and should be improved in order to feed the growing population. To better understand these interrelations,we studied trends in the natural resource base over a 35-year period for two contrasting sites in the Ethiopian Highlands: semi-arid and water-short Lenche Dima, and sub-humid and moisture-sufficient Kuhar Michael. Information was obtained using time-series satellite images, geographical positioning system, a socio-economic survey and a document review. Results showed that for sub-arid Lenche Dima there were minimal changes in land use and land cover patterns, while in water-sufficient Kuhar Michael cropland greatly increased at the expense of the grazing land and bare soil. At the same time land holding size and cattle numbers decreased in Lenche Dima while they remained the same in Kuhar Michael, although overall land holdings remained larger in Lenche Dima than in Kuhar Michael. This study thus found large differences in development of agriculture since the 1970s: intensification of agriculture is possible in the water-sufficient sub-humid climate by displacing animal husbandry with high value crops that need irrigation during the dry monsoon season. This is not possible for the semi-arid area where water is the limiting factor in production even if a market is close by. Agriculture in the semi-arid areas also requires larger land holdings because of the risk of droughts and low yields during some years. This comparative analysis suggests that without sufficient water, the shift from subsistent to commercial market-driven agriculture cannot be easily accomplished.
16 Mekonnen, S.; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Tolera, A. 2011. Livestock water productivity in a water stressed environment in northern Ethiopia. Experimental Agriculture, 47(Supplement S1):85-98. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479710000852]
Mixed farming ; Livestock ; Water productivity ; Water stress ; Water scarcity ; Households ; Animal husbandry ; Water management ; Feed production ; Organic fertilizers ; Livestock products / Ethiopia / Lenche Dima Watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H043516)
(0.17 MB)
Agricultural systems of Northern Ethiopia are under pressure from demographic expansion leading to land degradation and increasing water scarcity. Livestock water productivity (LWP) is an important component in improving overall productivity in mixed crop-livestock systems. The objective of the study was to characterize the existing farming system in a typical water stressed environment in the Ethiopian highlands in terms of crop and livestock production and to assess LWP at household level.To this end, the characteristic watershed of Lenche Dima watershed was chosen. An exploratory assessment of LWP variables and potential differences between farmers’ wealth classes was conducted based on a survey of 54 sample households and focus group discussions. LWP was determined as the ratio of beneficial outputs over used water. We used market values of livestock products and services to unify the livestock outputs. Water used to produce the livestock outputs was determined based on water consumption to produce the feed. The overall water used per household for livestock production ranged from 3079 ± 2335 (s.d.) m3 per year to 11 975 ± 4080 (s.d.) m3 per year for poor and better-off households, respectively. If fully valued as fuel and fertilizer, manure contributed an overall 34% of the total financial livestock output, followed by draught power (22%), transport (17%) and milk production (16%). LWP ranged from 0.07 to 0.09 US$ m-3 and was not significantly different between farmers’ wealth classes. The small differences were an indication that all farmer types had very limited access to potential LWP improvements through increased feed quality and quantity, improved animal husbandry and better veterinary care.
17 Haileslassie, A.; Blummel, M.; Clement, Floriane; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Amede, Tilahun; Samireddypalle, A.; Acharya, N. Sreedhar; Radha, A. Venkata; Ishaq, Saba; Samad, Madar; Murty, M. V. R.; Khan, M. A. 2011. Assessment of the livestock-feed and water nexus across a mixed crop-livestock system's intensification gradient: an example from the Indo-Ganga Basin. Experimental Agriculture, 47(Supplement S1):113-132. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479710000815]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H043518)
(0.35 MB)
Projections suggest that annual per capita water availability in the Indo-Ganga Basin (IGB) will reduce to a level typical for water-stressed areas. Producing more crop and livestock products, per unit of agricultural water invested, is advocated as a key strategy for future food production and environmental security in the basin. The objective of this study was to understand the spatio-temporal dynamics of water requirements for livestock feed production, attendant livestock water productivity (LWP) and implications for the future sustainable use of water resources. We focused on three districts in the IGB representing intensive (higher external inputs, e.g. fertilizer, water) and semi-intensive (limited external input) crop-livestock systems. LWP is estimated based on principles of water accounting and is defined as the ratio of livestock beneficial outputs and services to the water depleted and degraded in producing these. In calculating LWP and crop water productivity (CWP), livestock, land use, land productivity and climatic data were required. We used secondary data sources from the study districts, field observations and discussions with key informants to generate those data sets. Our result showed that the volume of water depleted for livestock feed production varied among the study systems and was highly affected by the type of feed and the attendant agronomic factors (e.g. cropping pattern, yield). LWP value was higher for intensive systems and affected by agricultural water partitioning approaches (harvest index, metaolizable energy). LWP tended to decrease between 1992 and 2003. This can be accounted for by the shift to a feeding regime that depletes more water despite its positive impacts on animal productivity. This is a challenging trend with the advent of and advocacy for producing more agricultural products using the same or lower volume of water input and evokes a need for balanced feeding, by considering the nutritive value, costs and water productivity of feed, and better livestock management to improve LWP.
18 Derib, S. D.; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Haileslassie, A.; Amede, Tilahun; Tischbein, B. 2010. Water productivity as affected by water management in a small-scale irrigation scheme in the Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia [Abstract only]. Paper presented at the Annual Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural and Natural Resource Management (Tropentag) Conference on World Food System - a contribution from Europe, Thematic scientific session on water management, Zurich, Switzerland, 14 -16 September 2010. 1p.
Water productivity ; Irrigation systems ; Water use ; Irrigated farming ; Land productivity ; Plant production / Ethiopia / Blue Nile basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H043611)
(0.09 MB)
19 Descheemaeker, Katrien; Haileslassie, A.; Amede, Tilahun; Bossio, Deborah; Tarawali, S. 2010. Assessment of water productivity and entry points for improvement in mixed crop-livestock systems of the Ethiopian highlands. Advances in Animal Biosciences, 1(2):491-492. (International Symposium on Sustainable Animal Production in the Tropics: Farming in a Changing World) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S204047001000110X]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H043788)
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&pdftype=1&fid=7922207&jid=ABS&volumeId=1&issueId=02&aid=7922206
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H043788.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H043788.pdf
(0.03 MB)
Crop-livestock systems are very important both in terms of area and contribution to people’s livelihoods in the Ethiopian highlands. However, a common problem in these systems is low livestock and crop productivity, which is partly caused by water scarcity and environmental degradation. As water is a key and often limiting input for agriculture and environmental unctioning, there is an urgent need to improve water productivity in order to sustain both people’s livelihoods and a healthy environment. Water productivity, generally de ned as the ratio of agricultural outputs to the volume of water depleted, measures the ability of agricultural systems to convert water into food. In the crop sector, crop water productivity (CWP) has been investigated for many years. By contrast, livestock water productivity (LWP) is a new concept (Peden et al., 2009), for which reference points, standardized de nitions and adequate methods for water partitioning are still in their infancy (Descheemaeker et al., 2010). Also, a systems approach for analyzing water productivity in mixed systems is still to be developed, tested and adapted. This paper therefore examines how water productivity can be assessed in mixed crop-livestock systems, and identi es entry points for water productivity improvement with the wider aim to improve the sustainability of the systems.
20 Amede, Tilahun; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Mapedza, Everisto; Peden, D.; van Breugel, P.; Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele; Haileslassie, A. 2011. Livestock-water productivity in the Nile Basin: solutions for emerging challenges. In Melesse, A. M. (Ed.). Nile River Basin: hydrology, climate and water use. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer. pp.297-320.
Livestock ; Water productivity ; Water governance ; Water conservation ; Gender ; Hydrology ; River basins / Ethiopia / Nile River Basin / Lenche Dima
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: 551.483 G136 MEL Record No: H044035)
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