The Water-Energy-Food

Security NexusWinter Semester 2012 /

2013

Lecture Series

Rainwater Harvesting: Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Food Security

Prof. Dr. Clement Dorm-Adzobu, TU Braunschweig

Monday, 12.11.2012

Supported by

RAINWATER HARVESTING: CLIMATE CHANGE

ADAPTATION STRATEGY FOR FOOD SECURITY.

DELIVERED AT THE LECTURE SERIES ON WATER, ENERGY, FOOD SECURITY

NEXUS,WINTER SEMESTER 2012/13. COLOGNE UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED

SCIENCES

PRESENTED BY

PROF. CLEMENT DORM-ADZOBU, EXCEED GUEST PROFESSOR. T.U. BRAUNSCHWEIG

INTRODUCTION The effects and impacts of climate

change and variability on water resources have in many ways manifested in the loss of sources of livelihood in many developing countries

e.g.: crops and livestock destruction, internal displacement, disasters and spread of diseases.

CONT….1 Higher temperatures, new patterns of

precipitation (especially rainfall) and run-off are increasingly compromising the effective management of water resources.

Climate change variability in the Savanna ecosystems of West Africa further weakens the vulnerability of the populations and undermines their adaptation capacity

CONT….2 The major challenges facing “water

managers” in these countries are therefore summarized as follows:

1. Create awareness among the populations to understand the relationship between changing and varying climate, water resources and the environment.

2. Impress upon local communities that extreme climate events will become more frequent, necessitating the adoption of new strategies

CONT…33. The new adaptive water management

strategies would better address the risk and cope with the uncertainty of changing climatic patterns and variability

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Ministry of Water Resources Works and

Housing (Water Directorate)

Water Resources Commission

National Water Policy

Rainwater Harvesting Strategy

The Water Resources Commission of Ghana has adopted the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach to include climate change adaptation issues in helping local communities to cope with the effects of climate change

CONT…. The strategy was aimed at the following:

1. Conserve Water Supplies.

2. Adopt innovative ways of harnessing water for

irrigation and livestock raising.

3. Increase water storage to improve availability.

4. Explore the availability and role of ground water.

5. Improve river basin management, ecosystem

restoration through buffer zone protection.

6. Enhance awareness of threats to water

resources through education and capacity

building.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

RAINFALL DRAINAGE

RAINWATER HARVESTING “The accumulation of rainwater for

reuse before it reaches the aquifer. Uses include drinking water, water for livestock, water for irrigation”.

These uses underscore the livelihood needs and survival of the people for whom and with whom the strategy was designed as a response to climate change.

CONT…..1 The annual rainfall in the northern

savanna region of Ghana ranges between 885mm to 1033mm.

It is projected that the annual average could decrease under climate change and dry spells during rainy season may become much more frequent

Significant volumes of rainfall are lost through surface runoff during high intensity rainfall

CONT….2 Equally important are losses due to

evaporation from water surfaces under high temperature conditions.

The strategy is therefore to develop a variety of techniques that can harvest rainwater during the rainy season for use during the dry season.

TECHNIQUES ADOPTED

The techniques adopted are as follows

1. Rooftop water harvesting, mainly for

domestic use

2. Runoff harvesting into underground

reservoirs

3. Use of channels and small dams

4. Use of road embankments to store

water, and

5. Flood water receding traps (sandbags)

SPECIFIC PROJECT ACTIVITIES1. WATER CONSERVATION AND

IRRIGATION WITH RESPECT TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Aim is to address the potential increase in water requirement for irrigation to meet food security requirements and promote water conservation measures

IRRIGATION

ACTIVITIES Collect and collate relevant data and

information on irrigation development and water resource use

Generate methodology and consultative processes in the basin area for the strategy

Determine the overall water balance-availability versus the projected demand for irrigation

Promote and pilot test non-traditional water harvesting techniques

2. FLOOD CONTROL AND INFORMATION SERVICES TO FACILITATE ADAPTIVE MEASURES TO CLIMATE CHANGE

These measures are to adequately address the impact of extensive floods under climate change variability and change scenarios

FLOOD CONTROL WITH SANDBAGS

ROCKTOP HARVESTINGRock top harvesting with first streaming holding tank

ACTIVITIES Develop mechanisms for the dissemination of

flood warning information to institutions engaged in climate change actions.

Demarcate flood prone areas and collaborate with National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to develop contingency and emergency preparedness plans.

Set up data and information mechanism on a trans-boundary basis.

Implement the Buffer Zone and promote set-back areas from river banks.

Develop and disseminate materials to raise awareness about flood risks.

PUBLIC AWARENESS CREATION

3. INVOLVEMENT OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN ASSESSING THEIR NEEDS FOR ADAPTIVE MEASURES TO COPE WITH IMPACTS OF SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS

Involve local communities and build their capacities to access relevant information on climate change and water resources

ACTIVITIES Discuss climate change issues at local level

to capture indigenous/traditional knowledge related to coping with impacts of extreme weather conditions

Provide mechanisms for analysis of information and causes on community vulnerability with emphasis on water resources use and livelihoods

Set up basic indicators for assessment and monitoring of climate variability and change and the effects at local community level.

Integrate community-based climate change adaptation strategies into district development plans

AWARENESS CREATION

AWARENESS CREATION

AWARENESS CREATION

PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS1. Project activities have so far built and

strengthened the resilience of the communities with benefits trickling down to poor households

2. Decision making for project activities cut across gender lines, with men and women involved in all phases of the project

3. Water harvesting facilities have been provided for food crop production, livestock watering, house construction, flood control and domestic use

CONT….4. Public awareness creation materials

and flood early warning tools have minimized the impacts of flooding on the local population

5. The project has provided an example of an entry point for adaptation to climate change by integrating land and water sectors

THE FUTURE

Mainstream climate change adaptation strategies in the National Development Planning Programme to ensure sustainability and legitimacy.

THANK YOU FOR

YOUR ATTENTION