International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management

| Peer-Reviewed |

Assessing the Use of Hillside Rainwater Harvesting Ponds on Agricultural Production, a Case of Unicoopagi Cooperative Union

Received: 13 May 2020    Accepted: 15 June 2020    Published: 29 June 2020
Views:       Downloads:

Share This Article

Abstract

This research was conducted on the assessment of the use of hillside rainwater harvesting ponds on Agricultural Production in Unicoopagi cooperative union located in Nyamigina cell, Tare sector of Nyamagabe District. The research involved both primary and secondary data. The primary data was collected using questionnaire, interview and observation while secondary data was derived from existing document dealing with rainwater harvesting pond at national and worldwide. The results from collected data showed that the level of adoption of rain water harvesting ponds was used by 51.5% farmers; the main reason of failing level of RWH ponds is due to small plot size of farmers; and the main factors contributing to the use of this technology include land acquisition and irrigation. It is further revealed that the use of rain water harvesting pond impacted positively; the agriculture production on 0.5 hectares per 4 years, has generated the income of 17,772,800 Rwandan Francs for non-irrigated plot, while the same plot irrigated with the use of rain water harvested the income increased up to 20,296,450 Rwandan Francs. Beside this rain water harvesting ponds has some observed negative effect among water users that include social conflicts, accident and breeding of mosquitoes with percentage equivalent to 41%, 27% and 32% respectively. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) results show that the amount of agriculture production and generated income was significantly different between adopted and non-adopted rain water harvesting techniques. The implication of these findings is that the adoption of rainwater harvesting ponds presents a way forward for reducing rural poverty. With the increase of rainfall variability and evaporation due to climate change, rain water harvesting will become a key intervention in adaptation and in reducing vulnerabilities of crop water stress. Therefore, extent knowledge in RWH techniques needs to be considered as an important, manageable resource in water management policies, strategies and plans. Considering that farmer’s perception in increasing crop yield is due to rain water harvesting, this will encourage the adoption of this techniques. Thus for the RWH techniques to be effective and bring higher return to farmers, it should goes hand in hand with other improved agriculture Techniques and Agro- inputs uses such as Land consolidation, improved seeds, pesticide and fertilizers.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200502.15
Published in International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2020)
Page(s) 64-71
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Agriculture Production, Irrigation, Pond, Rain Water Harvesting

References
[1] ECG (Evaluation Cooperation Group), (2011). “Evaluative Lessons for Agriculture and Agribusiness”. Paper No.: 3. World Bank, Washington, DC.
[2] IEG (2010). “Growth and Productivity in Agriculture and Agribusiness: Evaluative Lessons from World Bank Group Experience”. Washington, DC: World Bank.
[3] Ngigi, S. N. (2003) Rain Water Harvesting for Improved Food Security. Promoting Technologies in the Greater Horn of Africa. Greater Horn of Africa Rainwater Partnership (GHARP). Kenya Rainwater Association (KRA).
[4] MINAGRI (2007) Agricultural Rainwater Harvesting Interventions (ARWHI). Manual Final Report, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources in collaboration with World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Kigali. Published also by Hortfresh Jounal, 17, 14-15.
[5] PSTA-4 (2018). Strategic plan for agriculture transformation. Rwanda-Kigali 2018-2024
[6] RNRA, (2016). National rainwater harvesting strategy. Rwanda Natural Resources Authority, November 2016.
[7] Malesu, M., Oduor, A. R. and Odhiambo, O. J. (2008) Green Water Management Handbook: Rainwater Harvesting for Agricultural Production and Ecological Sustainability. World Agroforestry Centre ICCRAF, Nairobi, 229 p.
[8] Birasa, E. C., Bizimana, I., Bouckaert, W., Chapelle, J., Deflandre, A., Gallez, A., Maesschalck, G. E. T. and Vercruysse, J. (1990) Descriptions synthètiques des sols du Rwanda. C. P. R. et MINAGRI, Kigali.
[9] Nyamagabe District. (2013) District Development Plan, Rwanda.
[10] Nyamagabe District. (2018) District Development Strategy. Rwanda.
[11] Senkondo, E. M. M, N. S. Y Mdoe, N. Mahoo and J. Gowing. (2012). Factors affecting the adoption of Rain water harvesting technologies in Western pare lowlands of Tanzania. Sabinet gateway
[12] Munyaneza, O., Majoro, F., Hagenimana, E. and Usabyisa, W. (2016) Impact Assessment of Hillside Rainwater Harvesting Ponds on Agriculture Income: Case Study of Ntarama Sector in Rwanda. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 8, 844-854
[13] Hatibu N., Senkondo M., Mutabazi K. and Msangi K. (2004) “Economics of Rainwater Harvesting for Crop Enterprise in Semi-Arid Areas” downloaded from www.regional.org.au/cs/2004/symposia/1/4/276_hatibu.htm, accessed in December 2019.
[14] Kerr, J. M. and Kimberly, R. C., 2005. Evaluating Watershed Project Performance in India: A Practical Econometric Approach. In: Shiferaw, B., Freeman, H. A., and Swinton, S. M. (Eds.) Natural Resource Management in Agriculture: Methods for Assessing Economic and Environmental Impacts. UK: CABI Publishing in association with The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India; 2005
[15] Li, F. M., Zhao, S. L., Duan, S. S., Gao, S. M. and Feng, B. 1995. Preliminary study on limited irrigation for spring wheat field in semi-arid loess region of China. China J. Appl. Ecol. 6, 259–264. (In Chinese, summary in English).
[16] Gao, S. M. and Zhu, R. S. 1996. Effects of supplemental irrigation and plastic film mulching on yields of rain fed crops. J. Arid Land Resources Environ. 2, 42–48. (In Chinese, summary in English).
Author Information
  • Department of Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Management, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda

  • Department of Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Management, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda

  • Department of Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Management, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Jean Baptiste Safari, Maniragaba Abias, Christophe Mupenzi. (2020). Assessing the Use of Hillside Rainwater Harvesting Ponds on Agricultural Production, a Case of Unicoopagi Cooperative Union. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 5(2), 64-71. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200502.15

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Jean Baptiste Safari; Maniragaba Abias; Christophe Mupenzi. Assessing the Use of Hillside Rainwater Harvesting Ponds on Agricultural Production, a Case of Unicoopagi Cooperative Union. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2020, 5(2), 64-71. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200502.15

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Jean Baptiste Safari, Maniragaba Abias, Christophe Mupenzi. Assessing the Use of Hillside Rainwater Harvesting Ponds on Agricultural Production, a Case of Unicoopagi Cooperative Union. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2020;5(2):64-71. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200502.15

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200502.15,
      author = {Jean Baptiste Safari and Maniragaba Abias and Christophe Mupenzi},
      title = {Assessing the Use of Hillside Rainwater Harvesting Ponds on Agricultural Production, a Case of Unicoopagi Cooperative Union},
      journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
      volume = {5},
      number = {2},
      pages = {64-71},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200502.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200502.15},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20200502.15},
      abstract = {This research was conducted on the assessment of the use of hillside rainwater harvesting ponds on Agricultural Production in Unicoopagi cooperative union located in Nyamigina cell, Tare sector of Nyamagabe District. The research involved both primary and secondary data. The primary data was collected using questionnaire, interview and observation while secondary data was derived from existing document dealing with rainwater harvesting pond at national and worldwide. The results from collected data showed that the level of adoption of rain water harvesting ponds was used by 51.5% farmers; the main reason of failing level of RWH ponds is due to small plot size of farmers; and the main factors contributing to the use of this technology include land acquisition and irrigation. It is further revealed that the use of rain water harvesting pond impacted positively; the agriculture production on 0.5 hectares per 4 years, has generated the income of 17,772,800 Rwandan Francs for non-irrigated plot, while the same plot irrigated with the use of rain water harvested the income increased up to 20,296,450 Rwandan Francs. Beside this rain water harvesting ponds has some observed negative effect among water users that include social conflicts, accident and breeding of mosquitoes with percentage equivalent to 41%, 27% and 32% respectively. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) results show that the amount of agriculture production and generated income was significantly different between adopted and non-adopted rain water harvesting techniques. The implication of these findings is that the adoption of rainwater harvesting ponds presents a way forward for reducing rural poverty. With the increase of rainfall variability and evaporation due to climate change, rain water harvesting will become a key intervention in adaptation and in reducing vulnerabilities of crop water stress. Therefore, extent knowledge in RWH techniques needs to be considered as an important, manageable resource in water management policies, strategies and plans. Considering that farmer’s perception in increasing crop yield is due to rain water harvesting, this will encourage the adoption of this techniques. Thus for the RWH techniques to be effective and bring higher return to farmers, it should goes hand in hand with other improved agriculture Techniques and Agro- inputs uses such as Land consolidation, improved seeds, pesticide and fertilizers.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Assessing the Use of Hillside Rainwater Harvesting Ponds on Agricultural Production, a Case of Unicoopagi Cooperative Union
    AU  - Jean Baptiste Safari
    AU  - Maniragaba Abias
    AU  - Christophe Mupenzi
    Y1  - 2020/06/29
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200502.15
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200502.15
    T2  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
    JF  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
    JO  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
    SP  - 64
    EP  - 71
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-3061
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200502.15
    AB  - This research was conducted on the assessment of the use of hillside rainwater harvesting ponds on Agricultural Production in Unicoopagi cooperative union located in Nyamigina cell, Tare sector of Nyamagabe District. The research involved both primary and secondary data. The primary data was collected using questionnaire, interview and observation while secondary data was derived from existing document dealing with rainwater harvesting pond at national and worldwide. The results from collected data showed that the level of adoption of rain water harvesting ponds was used by 51.5% farmers; the main reason of failing level of RWH ponds is due to small plot size of farmers; and the main factors contributing to the use of this technology include land acquisition and irrigation. It is further revealed that the use of rain water harvesting pond impacted positively; the agriculture production on 0.5 hectares per 4 years, has generated the income of 17,772,800 Rwandan Francs for non-irrigated plot, while the same plot irrigated with the use of rain water harvested the income increased up to 20,296,450 Rwandan Francs. Beside this rain water harvesting ponds has some observed negative effect among water users that include social conflicts, accident and breeding of mosquitoes with percentage equivalent to 41%, 27% and 32% respectively. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) results show that the amount of agriculture production and generated income was significantly different between adopted and non-adopted rain water harvesting techniques. The implication of these findings is that the adoption of rainwater harvesting ponds presents a way forward for reducing rural poverty. With the increase of rainfall variability and evaporation due to climate change, rain water harvesting will become a key intervention in adaptation and in reducing vulnerabilities of crop water stress. Therefore, extent knowledge in RWH techniques needs to be considered as an important, manageable resource in water management policies, strategies and plans. Considering that farmer’s perception in increasing crop yield is due to rain water harvesting, this will encourage the adoption of this techniques. Thus for the RWH techniques to be effective and bring higher return to farmers, it should goes hand in hand with other improved agriculture Techniques and Agro- inputs uses such as Land consolidation, improved seeds, pesticide and fertilizers.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

  • Sections