1. CASE: GASH SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS PROJECT (SUDAN)

2. Red sea
Gash Die
GASH RIVER
eritrea

3. POPULATION: Estimated 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

4. Map

5. 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)

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

7. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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 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

13. 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

14. 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. .

15. 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).

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

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

18. REHABILATION AND RE-EXCAVATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE

19. CONSTRUCTION OF FLOOD PROTECTION KASSALA TOWN

20. Mechanical uprooting
REMOVING MESQUITE, WITH ROOTS
Manual uprooting
Producing charcoal

21. AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

22. PROVIDING DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS

23. VACCINATION OF LIVESTOCK

24. ESTABLISHMENT OF WATER USERS ASSOCIATIONS

25. IN THE FUTURE: REGISTERING INDIVIDUAL LAND TITLES

26. With thanks to Hamid Mohammed Hamid, GSLRP