Current and Future Responses to Drivers of Change for Water Availlability and Use for

Agriculture

Presentation by: Prof. Elijah K. Biamah, Environmental and Water Systems Engineer and Chairman/Head of

Department of Environmental & Biosystems Engineering, University of Nairobi, Kenya

November 22, 2010

INTRODUCTION

Sustaining water availability a challenge and opportunity.

Water quality and availability Vs population and expanding economies.

Focus of ACP countries:

o Equitable distribution of water

o Maintenance of water quality,

o Preservation and protection of environment.

Key drivers of change: demographic, technological, social, environmental and governance.

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AFRICA’S WATER

End of 20th Century Predicted change: End of 21st Century

Less than 400mm

400-1000 mm

More than 1000 mm

End of 20th Century

Drop by 10-20%

Drop by up to 10%

Increase by up to 10%

Increase by 10-20%

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN AGRICULTURE - KENYA CASE

Livestock deaths

Soil erosion and land degradation

Flash floods

Crop failure

Domestic water shortage

Death of wild animals and loss of

biodiversity

Factors affecting water availability and quality

Land use changes

Policy and legislation

Impacts of climate change

Effects of human activities

Future water requirements

Enabling Conditions for Land and Water for Agriculture

Adoption of Appropriate Land Use Policy

Focus on Smallholder Conservation Agriculture

Integrated Water Resources Management Policy

Promotion of Public and Private Partnerships

Adoption of International Water Initiatives

Legislative and Regulatory Interventions

Proper Water Resource Planning. Adaptation of Water Reources

Management to climate change. Response to Key Drivers of

Change. Integrated Watershed Management

Approach Rainwater Harvesting and

Conservation Technologies for Agriculture

Technologies for Drip Irrigated Agriculture

Future Options of Water Availability for Agriculture

RECOMMENDATIONS

Cross-sectoral co-ordination and harmonization of water activities.

Incorporation of land use and watershed management within national water strategies.

Promotion of rainwater harvesting technologies for increasing small-scale irrigated lands.

Rehabilitation of inefficient water systems, reduction in wastage and unaccounted for water, recycling and reuse of water.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The formulation and enforcement of appropriate legislation Capacity building in project identification, preparation,

implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Involvement of local communities in the conservation and

management of the environment and water Management of land and water as finite resources and on the co-

ordination and integration of water, land-use, and population policies for sustainable development.

THANK YOU!