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In managing water resources, local knowledge counts much
2007-10-29 08:36:43
By Deodatus Mfugale
Alphonce Mdeka, a peasant farmer of Lulanzi village in Kilolo, a District in , Iringa region, stood defiantly before the environmental experts , having disagreed completely with the new theory propounded by the experts that: Bamboo trees are water guzzlers and in the face of the water crisis that people in every corner of the world are facing, they should be uprooted.
`That is something I don’t accept. Bamboos are part of my life and I have never known them to affect water supply. In fact ask anyone in the village, those of my age group. I mean, and they will tell you that without these trees, the whole area would be dry,` Mdeka explained.
His argument was based on a point indigenous of knowledge that might not be available in books but at 52, he had proof that bamboos conserve water, retain soil moisture, combat soil erosion and provide the villagers with a handsome income.
He had 24 clusters of bamboo trees on his farm which were producing plenty of wine.
He gets 5,000/- from the sale of about 20 litres he taps every day.
At some place on the farm, Mdeka has a small forest of sugarcanes, which his son sells to the villagers.
There is also a tree nursery from which he sells mature seedlings to neighbours and other people in an effort to promote conservation of the environment.
However Mdeka takes pride in a small spring neatly concealed by natural vegetation and sheltered from sunlight by bamboo trees.
`This spring has never dried up and I know it is because of the bamboo trees that I have planted here. Now when you tell me that these trees consume a lot of water and may lead to water shortage, I do not understand, and I don’t believe it,` he said clearly challenging the experts.
As water shortage continues to bite, governments and private institutions alike have come up with measures to combat the situation.
These include evicting people who have settled close to water sources, prohibiting human activities near water bodies and, recently, launching a campaign to uproot all bamboo trees.
The last measure is being undertaken in many parts of Iringa region.
However, many communities are against the move as it defies tradition and indigenous knowledge.
Besides its economic value arising from the sale of bamboo wine, to many communities the trees have a social value as elders communities often gather for a drink during which they discuss important issues.
Most importantly for them, bamboos play an important role in conserving the environment as they strengthen the soil combat erosion, the leaves provide soil cover and increase fertility and they generally prevent evaporation from soil or nearby water bodies.
This is typically a showcase of integrated water resources management (IWRM) where communities apply traditional methods to conserve land, trees and water and realize economic and social gains in the process.
Briefing journalists on efforts being made to conserve water sources in Kilolo District the Ward Coordinator for Ruaha Water Programme, Makungu Lubigili, explained that researchers have proved that bamboos consume a lot of water, more that than other tree species and with the acute shortage of water which many people are likely to face, it was decided that all bamboos should be uprooted.
The Programme, financed by WWF – UK and implemented by WWF-Tanzania Programme Office seeks to address mismanagement of water and rampant environmental destruction in the Usangu valley that has led to water shortage and, for quite sometime, threw the country into an energy crisis.
It started in 2003 and scheduled to end in 2008.
However, he admitted that the phenomenon was new to communities who for ages grew bamboos without noticing its adverse impacts on water supply.
`We have launched a campaign to educate people on the effects of bamboos on water supply in an area and why the plants should be uprooted. It will take time before we succeed to change their mindset,` he explained.
The resistance by Mdeka and a lot other members of the community reveals two things at most; one is that the experts did not take into account the knowledge of the local people as far as water conservation is concerned.
As a tribe and a community they surely have their traditional knowledge on how to conserve water and natural resources for their own benefit and the same should have been incorporated in the modern methods of water conservation, which entail uprooting certain types of trees.
The other thing is that communities were not given enough education to prepare them for the new measures.
When local communities are educated to understand the connection between trees, water, land and their livelihoods, they are more likely to take care and protect these resources.
This is particularly the case when their views are considered and incorporated in the implementation of the new measures.
It is also important that local communities should be consulted from the time the project is being formulated instead of embarking on educational camapaigns when the project is already on course and important decisions like uprooting of the bamboos have already been taken by other people.
Otherwise they tend to reject the measures and become `rebellious.`(You could emphasise here that consultation should begin right at project formulation not merely coming to `educate` the farmers when the decision has been taken to uproot their beloved bamboos.)
One thing, which however was obvious here was that the bamboos were being uprooted while there was no ready replacement for them which means that there will be no soil cover in the place, exposing the soil to the vagaries of weather.
`I am going to uproot not even a single bamboo from this place. That will be like killing myself. I am not convinced with this new phenomenon but if the government says so let its officers come and cut down the bamboos,` Mdeka said with finality.
Elsewhere in Iringa Region the Ruaha Water Programme works with communities to institute good water governance by incorporating in the programme the interests of various users.
`Good water governance is a complex process that is influenced by customs and morals of local people as well as by modern development.
We have thus encouraged communities in Mbarali district to form water user associations which mediate conflicts and ensure equitable distribution of the water resource,` explains Peter Masolwa , National Coordinator of Ruaha Water Programme.
He adds that the associations comprise farmers, livestock keepers, fishers and domestic users all of whom contribute to the conservation and management of water so that each can protect their interests and benefits.
Usangu valley is part of the Rufiji basin, which encompasses nine regions.
In order to realize a comprehensive management of water in the basin, the programme has formed catchments coordinating committee that oversees the efficient management of water and the conservation of the environment in general.
The committee comprises representatives from water user associations, Kitulo and Ruaha National Parks as well as Usangu Game Reserve.
Others come from forestry, lands, agriculture, livestock development, water and natural resources departments at district and regional levels.
`We realize that the programme will only succeed if all those with interest in water have a say and that they are practically involved in its management,` Masolwa explained, adding that the implementation of IWRM should not be by legislation, politics or directives, rather by education and empowering communities to make decisions.
This feature has been produced with support from SARDC and SADC/DANIDA.
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