Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
manage to fence the irrigated area from livestock, otherwise they do
communal policing to protect their crops.
The size of farm plots irrigated with water from dugouts depends on the
amount of water stored in the dugout and thus differs from season to season.
In some cases the embankments of the dugouts fail due to flooding resulting
in less water stored for irrigation thereby reducing the potential irrigable
area. Private dugout owners have permanent shallow wells on their farms or
resort to riverine alluvial dugouts (see section 5.3.6) which they use to
supplement water supply to their fields in situations when there is shortage
of water in the dugout. The main crop cultivated with dugouts is tomatoes
followed by onions and sometimes okra.
Management
Private dugouts are maintained and used by their owners; no one else is
allowed to use the water in critical periods such as the dry season, nor fish
from the dugout. Dugouts belonging to communities are managed by the
people who use it for various activities. Even though there are many uses,
(e.g. fishing, domestic, construction, livestock and irrigation) those who
usually take the leading role in the management of such dugouts are the
irrigation farmers. In the absence of irrigation farming the fishermen take
over the leading role. The irrigation farmers try to maintain the
embankments from collapse so as to store enough water for the dry season.
In such cases the irrigation farmers organise themselves and contribute
towards the maintenance and also elect leaders who handle the management.
Land around a community dugout usually has clearly defined ownership
rights and as such interested persons need to contact the landowners before
they can be allowed to farm around the dugout. Due to the existing
relationships and land tenure system in the communities, these arrangements
are normally easily made. The percentage participation of women in this
irrigation technology is comparable to that of small reservoirs, except for
private dugout schemes.
5.3.3
Permanent Shallow Well Irrigation
Technology
Historical Background and Development
The permanent shallow well irrigation technology is one of the oldest
irrigation technologies practised in the sub-basin. Some of the wells found in
the study area were over 40 years old. In some cases the current users did
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