TITLE:
Ground Water Harvesting through Traditional Water Harvesting Technology: Adopting Himalayan Practices in Ethiopian Highlands
AUTHORS:
Dharmendra Kumar Dube, R. Uttama Reddy, R. Hiranmai Yadav
KEYWORDS:
Ethiopian Highlands; Ground Water Harvesting; Himalaya; Minch; Naule; Water Management
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Geosciences,
Vol.4 No.6B,
August
22,
2013
ABSTRACT: The fresh water system is most
critical for sustainability of life. In present days the world is facing a shortage
of potable water. Though Ethiopia is known as “The water tower of East Africa” yet
it is facing severe water shortage that leads
to poor agricultural productivity and imparts serious negative impact on human lives.
It is essential to develop water resources in a sustainable way to ensure food security
and economic development. The water scarcity is due to the lack of resource management
and due to the changes in environmental factors. In Ethiopia ground water is a major
source of drinking water to vast rural population. The country’s perennial water
budget depends on the ground and spring water system. The ever increasing population,
mismanagement and global climatic changes are having an adverse impact on these
resources. To harvest the available resources in a sustainable way will help to
meet the needs of present era without compromising the future generation. The present
study is an approach to compare and utilize the traditional water harvesting practices
of Himalaya in Ethiopian highlands. A detailed study of the water sources and mechanism
of ground water, geology and social management system of their water resources were
studied booth side. Further application of the indigenous technical knowledge for sustainable of the ground
water is proposed based on Himalayan
practices. The Ethiopian “Minches” could be preserved and better utilized by adopting
the merits of time tested indigenous management system of “Naule” of Himalaya.