CASE: GASH SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS PROJECT (SUDAN)

Red sea Gash Die GASH RIVER eritrea

POPULATION: Estimated 87 000 households comprising (500 000 persons) Semi-nomadic pastoralists (mainly Hadendowa tribe) with agriculture as a secondary activity to provide staple grain at subsistence level CLIMATE Semi-arid to arid Maximum temperatures: from 42OC in May to 34OC in August Minimum temperatures: from 25OC to 16OC in January-February Average annual rainfall: from 260 mm in the southeast to less than 100 mm in the northwest. Rainy season: between July and October Rainfall pattern extremely variable in amount, intensity and distribution Average altitude: 500 masl

Map

Map Upstream of Kassala Bridge: River training (spurs and dykes to maintain velocity of flow and avoid Gash river is diverting course) One minor off-take (Fota)

Downstream of Kassala Bridge: Six main off-takes: Salam Alaikom Mekali Degain Tendeli Metateib Hadaliya

short channels (masga channels) located at cross regulators on the main cannels take water to fields. Regulation of flow in canals and masga channels carried out by stop logs

From here single fields of 420 hectars (1000 feddan) are irrigated in one flush to spread sediment

Here it is used for rangeland and forestry Beyond the command area all water is dissipated on the flood plain and terminal fan (Gash Die). Here it is used for rangeland and forestry

Water Management Challenges Sedimentation is a major challenge: – 129 mm/year Land slope = 0.1 % This results in substantial sedimentation in the canals, requiring considerable excavation

Agricultural Features The Gash system was initially developed (1924) for commercial cotton production In the past land preparation and cotton marketing were done by the Gash Agricultural Scheme (GAS) When cotton prices fell in late 1960’s, castor (oilseed) was introduced in 1967. From 1984 this lost its popularity. Now most common crop is smallholders sorghum There is no groundwater in the command area due to fine clays However in the flood plain there is small horticultural production using groundwater

Institutional Features There have been problems with maintenance: Annual requirement is USD 1.8 Million Land and water fees are low (USD 15/ha and USD 0.40/ha) – insufficient to pay for full maintenance Payment of problems Limited funding for maintenance by government No permanent staff of Irrigation Ministry since 1990’s – until recently Earthmoving equipment obsolete System not maintained for nearly fifteen years – massive deterioration

Institutional Features The scheme is operated by the Gash Agricultural Scheme (GAS) GAS is responsible for land use in the irrigation scheme, including the registration of tenants, admission of new tenants in the irrigation scheme, supervision of land allocation, irrigation, and overall operation and maintenance. It has a Board of Directors, chaired by the Federal Minister of Agriculture. The Board members comprise the Director of the GAS, the State Minister of Agriculture, representatives of the MOFNE and ABS, and three representatives from the Farmers Union The current scheme management is severely restricted in its overall capacity and capabilities. It has lacked a sound financial base since the late 1960s when foreign currency resources were stripped. The move to subsistence food crop production in the early over much of the irrigation area in the early 1980s has meant that its revenue base is severely eroded It cannot at present operate the scheme without direct assistance from MOFNE. .

Land Tenure Features All land belongs to Government under the Unregistered Lands Act (1970) Irrigation is done by the GAS – after which plots are allocated on an an annual basis to tenant The GAS rotates irrigation bi-annually between two command areas Allocation is done by lottery – through committees in the irrigation blocks These six committees are part of the Farmers’ Union, which to a large degree reflects the interests of the tribal clan sheikhs This system prevents individual improvement and investment in the land There is large demand for land: registered tenants have increased from 22,000 (1988) to 45,000 (2003) Moreover tribal leader have a prior claim to land (among other for local social welfare) As a result effective land holdings are less than 1 feddan (0.42 ha).

Environmental challenges Mesquite infestation is a major problem – with the deep-rooted mesquite invading land and flood-channels and consuming precious groundwater

GASH SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS REGENERATION PROJECT ACTIVITIES OF GSLRP GASH SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS REGENERATION PROJECT

REHABILATION AND RE-EXCAVATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE

CONSTRUCTION OF FLOOD PROTECTION KASSALA TOWN

Mechanical uprooting REMOVING MESQUITE, WITH ROOTS Manual uprooting Producing charcoal

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

PROVIDING DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS

VACCINATION OF LIVESTOCK

ESTABLISHMENT OF WATER USERS ASSOCIATIONS

IN THE FUTURE: REGISTERING INDIVIDUAL LAND TITLES

With thanks to Hamid Mohammed Hamid, GSLRP