Wednesday 27 November 2013

Experts: Include rainwater harvesting in irrigation plans

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

Agriculture experts have stressed the need to include rainwater harvesting in various irrigation projects in Shinyanga and Mwanza regions.

With major irrigation projects being carried out across the Lake Zone regions, agriculture experts insist that tapping of rainwater, which is wasted in most areas of the zone, can help to offset the costs of irrigation, promote soil conservation and provide an alternative to watering restrictions during a severe drought and, in a small way, reduce flooding and clean streams.

An expert from Ukiriguru Agriculture Research Institute and a breeder of the newly developed cotton seed, UKMO8, Dr Evelyne Lukonge, insisted the improvement of rainwater harvesting technology in the irrigation set up, especially in areas that are far from Lake Victoria.

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