Sustainable Development & Agriculture

Interviewee

Million Alemayechu

Agricultural Engineer, Liaison Officer of ORDA/Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara; and on National Steering Committee of NBI/Nile Basin Institute

Interviewer

Alison M. Jones

NWNL Director and Photographer

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Sept 9, 2007

Introductory Note

As a Liaison Officer for ORDA, Million Alemayehu is focused on helping remote, marginalized communities in the Amhara District where the Blue Nile River springs from Lake Tana. He is committed to establishing guidance and leadership within NBI (Nile Basin Initiative) for the good of local people. Thus, Million plays an important role in this agricultural watershed, guiding rural development and farming programs so that they can support sustainable environments and livelihoods.

NWNL Director Alison Jones was happy to learn during this interview that ORDA will be working with a US NGO named KickStart that she has worked with, as they provide inexpensive, simple pumps for rural farmers in Africa. Such coordination is a great step in solving existential threats to rural farming communities in Africa.

Outline

AN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER’S FOCUS
GROUNDWATER, AGRICULTURE & EDUCATION
CLIMATE CHANGE
WaSH: WATER for SANITATION & HEALTH
ENSURING & SHARING WATER AVAILABILITY

Key Quote Here we have a large problem of land degradation, also aggravated by other factors, including overgrazing. The Central Highlands’ growing population is a factor, as is their traditional local plowing style. The Ministry of Agriculture in the Amhara Region is now recommending terracing and a plantation reforestation program to at least help the water infiltrate into the ground. —- Million Alemayehu

AN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER’S FOCUS

NWNL Hello, Million I look forward to learning about the many organizations you work with that deal with water issues. You are with the Nile Basin Initiative, ORDA and on the National Steering Committee for grants. How did you end up in this field?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU In becoming an agricultural engineer, I did my second Masters Degree on soil and water conservation and on engineering. I worked for the Ministry of Agriculture and for the Ministry of the Natural Resources Conservation and Development, now merged with the Ministry of Agriculture. Then 3 years ago, I joined ORDA/ Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara, one of our big regional states and the largest contributor of water for the Nile.

NWNL Yes, I’ve visited Lake Tana as the source of the Nile and other towns in the Amhara District. There I saw the terracing you focus on. It certainly acknowledges that we can blend indigenous knowledge from the past with future engineering technology that scientists are working on now.

What themes or issues do you witness that are facing the highland regions of the Blue Nile Basin? For instance, are there dams on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Small dams are now being constructed, but there are no big dams so far along the Blue Nile.

NWNL Are the small dams to be used for irrigation, hydropower, or storage?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Irrigation, mainly.

NWNL What’s your opinion about efficiency or impacts of those dams?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU As an agricultural engineer in our Central Highlands, particularly the Amhara region, I am aware that its topography is very difficult, undulating and steep. Its rainfall pattern is also unusual. Sometimes these highlands get many showers at once. All this means land degradation is a major focus in our programs.

NWNL Is land degradation caused by water erosion?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Yes, mostly. We see this during the rainy season when the tributaries of the Blue Nile are filled with sediment. Heavy amounts of sediment can create a problem in the downstream countries, particularly in Egypt which uses that water to irrigate its fields.

NWNL And yet, Egyptians benefit when the river water is rich with sediment because that helps fertilize their fields.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Yes, that’s so. However, here we have a large problem of land degradation, also aggravated by other factors, including overgrazing. The Central Highlands’ growing population is a factor, as is their traditional plowing style. The Ministry of Agriculture in the Amhara Region is now recommending terracing and a plantation reforestation program to at least help the water infiltrate into the ground. Nowadays, abetted by loss of trees and vegetation, combined with climate change, groundwater decreases from time to time. The absence of vegetation also means more flooding occurs – a different, yet serious problem.

At one time, Ethiopia’s forest cover was said to be 40%. Now I hear forest cover is below 3% of the country. This problem is mainly in the central highlands.

However, forest reductions from 40% to below 3% are true for the Nile Basin Valley, as well as the entire country.

NWNL Is the forest and vegetation removal being done by the local people to create agricultural land or to supply fuelwood and construction materials?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Fuelwood and construction.

NWNL I’ve been to some of the national parks in the south, where I watched forests being cut. They’re not well protected, and yet I understand that those people have basic needs.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Exactly. But fortunately, people further north in the Blue Nile’s Amhara Basin now understand the impacts of losing trees. On most farms I visit, they’ve started planting trees, if only in small clusters.

NWNL How were they inspired to do this? Was it their own observation, or have there been awareness-raising, educational programs?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Unfortunately, there has been misinformation, including plans to plant eucalyptus; but that ignores the loss of our many, many indigenous trees. With that, we’ve lost very useful plant medicines.

NWNL Ah! That affects ethnobotany practices.

GROUNDWATER, AGRICULTURE & EDUCATION

NWNL What about extraction of water from the Blue Nile watershed in the Amhara Region? Does that conflict with extraction terms in international treaty agreements? Is the local people who take water? If so, how do they access and remove the fast-moving water from those deep gorges?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Yes, it’s very deep, and access does mean going in the gorges.

NWNL Do the farmers have any technology to help them bring water to their villages?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU I don’t think anything has been done to assist local extraction from the Blue Nile’s deep gorges. They are just not accessible for the poor farmers living along the river.

NWNL You spoke of small dams being built. Are they in the Amhara District, or elsewhere?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Our government now tries to encourage farmers to harvest rainwater. It increases groundwater flows which can benefit downstream countries. The river is being disturbed by the heavy rains and floods that come now, since nothing goes into the ground. Thus, most of the rivers and the springs are drying. This water is neither pure nor safe.

NWNL Those are serious groundwater issues.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Exactly, you must recharge groundwater, and for that you must have good environmental conservation activities in place. That is lacking. I think all the issues, in the treaties now between the nine countries authorize conservation. There is improvement all the time. However, when I see the Blue Nile, the benefit for the poor is very insignificant.

NWNL Do you see a way to change that, so the Blue Nile waters can help the poor.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU There is a way. We must agree on a program. The downstream countries see the consequence of soil erosion, but those living downstream in flat areas don’t know the impact of erosion on their soils. They just have water with sediments.

Here in the central highlands, especially in the Amhara Region, you can see the problem of erosion; but it’s difficult to explain within this larger Nile Basin population framework. There are some exchange students researching it. For example, an Ethiopian student goes to Kenya, a Kenyan comes to Ethiopia; a Sudanese student comes to Ethiopia; a Sudanese student goes to Egypt; and so on. I think things are improving. We are getting more information from the ministry, and there are various new projects..

There are also physical conservation practices like terracing and improving how farmers plow. Contour plowing can really improve erosion, and so we are teaching the farmers, but it is difficult to convince them. The main thing we can do is to introduce such new techniques and technologies to the farmers. The farmers have a challenging topography and their own knowledge on how to conserve the soil in some places. Very interesting conservation practices have been going on for many years. I’ve seen and documented that with pictures and videos to explain why most farmers keep their farmland bare. Others try to increase the productivity of their small plots by using different conservation methods. But they still compost and use farm manure, instead of buying fertilizer to improve the soil structure and absorb the moisture. The soil itself is chemically degraded, since the nutrients were washed away.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Agro-forestry should be encouraged. We’re trying our level best to help the farmer, but we must scale up. This must be everybody’s concern, not just the landowners. For example, the landowner can suffer from degradation as well as those downstream. All people are affected. We need the cooperation of many different stakeholders, downstream and upstream, not just landowners.

CLIMATE CHANGE

NWNL What about the issue of climate change? Do you see its impacts or evidence?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Obviously. One time I went to a workshop held in Debre Marckos in the Nile Basin’s Amhara District, 255 km [158 miles] south of Bahir Dar. After our workshop, we went to Mount Choqa (aka, Mt. Choke; 4,100 m./ 13,451 ft. elevation). It is a big hill which is the source of many, many small rivers. A local teacher told me there was ice on the top that would stay for 5, or more often 3 to4 days. He said, “But, now we never see ice.”

NWNL Do you also see a difference in precipitation?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU He said precipitation is decreasing. The clouds, the time, the period of the rain are all decreasing. That he said is decreasing from time to time.

NWNL Is there an increase in the intensity of the rains when they come?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Yes, we now face very heavy rainfall and heavy floods that wash away everything.

NWNL So while climate change’s heavy storms increase erosion, decreased precipitation obviously means less water, and warmer weather means no more ice. What are those effects on freshwater and its availability?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU We get our freshwater mainly from springs. We have many springs everywhere. Previously, they produced water all year round, although yield would decrease during dry season. Farmers now say water from the spring is ok for 2-3 months, but after 4 months, the yield decreases. Then suddenly there’s no water from the spring for another 3-4 months until the rain comes again.

Climate change is completely changing water resources. In areas where we have protected water resources, we see the different yields. In some degraded areas, the yield elongates by one or two months.

WaSH: WATER for SANITATION & HEALTH

NWNL Is pollution a problem with water resources in this watershed? I think of the Amhara Region being so lush and green and clean, but that may be misleading.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Now, agricultural inputs, such as chemical fertilizer, cause pollution.. If you don’t use it properly, there is pollution downstream. Nowadays pollution in towns is a major problem. For example, industry byproducts flow into the rivers.

NWNL Is there industry that contributes pollution into the Blue Nile Region?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU No industry. Thus far, industrial pollution in the Blue Nile Basin is not yet significant.

NWNL That’s fortunate for preserving your water quality. However, I stopped yesterday at one of the bridges here in Addis Ababa to photograph the stream, and the first thing I saw was a man leaning over to dump his trash into this city river. It was sad to see.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU But now Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authorities are addressing issues such as that, and Members of Parliament are increasingly aware of growing pollution. Yet, until we create more awareness and improve pollution, people will continue suffering downstream.

NWNL What about human waste whether it’s plastic bags or sanitary waste?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU People now want to ban plastic bags from the country and have come up with a resolution for that.

NWNL That just happened in Kenya, hasn’t it?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Yes, it will happen here also. It’s especially dangerous for livestock. Our government is trying to change this problem, trying to solve this problem.

NWNL Is livestock waste being used as manure? And what happens with human waste – are there sufficient sanitation facilities?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU In rural communities, we introduced WasSH (Water and Sanitation and Health). We now have very good hygiene and sanitation in those rural areas. The program focuses on domestic water supply for livestock and human beings. In addition, we also teach about supplying water, constructing wells and developing sanitation. But we also must teach the community to take care of the children, hygiene and sanitation issues. It’s a very successful project and it’s very interesting. We have become a model for others with the same goals.

One community came together with a Project Coordinator to tackle issues regarding human waste. Men and women together discussed how to solve this problem. and constructed toilets,.

Now, we’re working getting clean water for communities for drinking water. To do so, we have an assortment of partners, such as Glimmer of Hope from America.

NWNL My connection with you came through A Glimmer of Hope.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU A Glimmer of Hope Foundation [founded in 2000) is helping to provide water supplies in Ethiopia. Now, we are working with the European Union /EU and its funds in 5 districts. We are a sub-grantee in their water supply projects.

NWNL How are you improving Ethiopia’s sanitation system vis a vis its related water needs given the scarcity of water availability here? Is waste from toilets carried away by water? Where does that waste from the toilets go, and is it carried by water?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Human waste now just goes in the ground, or it connects to the river. That’s very bad. In the rural areas, if they have a pit, waste can go into the soil, no problem. Then, they can change its location, and do so again later on; and then use that one again – and nothing is connected to the flowing water.

NWNL It is a global problem that sanitation systems are water based. Water is used to carry the waste away, so therefore, we lose a lot of good clean water for sanitation.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU In the rural area, there is no water, so they just use pit latrines. But that doesn’t happen in town.

NWNL Unfortunately, that’s a global problem.

ENSURING & SHARING WATER AVAILABILITY

NWNL I understand there’s a great need to supply clean water for drinking to ensure better health throughout Ethiopia. You say there’s been improvement with that due to help from Water Aid, A Glimmer of Hope and the EU. What are they technically doing to help deliver water?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU They usually give us funds.

NWNL How is the funding spent?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Working at grassroots level, we submit proposals for local communities to specify their needs, such as clean drinking water. We also ask what they need in terms of money, and then will submit that proposal to A Glimmer of Hope or Water Aid.

NWNL So, it could be digging a well, or bringing in pipes to improve water quality and delivery?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Yes, we have a department of working crews. So, after a grant is received from an organization, we procure teams per normal procedures. Then crews will go to assigned districts, do the job and come back.

NWNL Is the job digging a well, or is it piping?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU To supply ground water, we construct shallow wells. Where there are existing springs, we develop and improve the springs, protect the area around the springs and develop the means for safe distribution to both human communities and for animal.

NWNL Do you also working on helping them get water for irrigation.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Yes, we work with farmers using small traditional diversions. For example, they divert small rivers into small canals to carry water to other areas. We help the efficiency by lining those canals, so water isn’t lost en route through the canals’ porous sand bottoms.

NWNL What do you line it with?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU We use loose cement to line those small canals. Furthermore, there can be stoppages and inefficient delivery or problems at the source. Those issues can cause disputes among the farmers. For instance, a farmer nearer to the source may not be efficiently delivering water to a farmer far from the source and thus is suffering. Therefore, our intervention is an improvement of traditional water sources.

NWNL More efficient distribution!

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Exactly – just by improving the technology. We also try to divert water from perennial rivers to common areas. Again, we used to develop the proposal and provide support. But that is not enough.

Communities need improved livelihoods. The problems are interrelated. The farmer must eat. He must get clothes. He must have money to send his kids to school. So, we now are integrating overall development as fast as possible. We try to integrate teams – for example, one friend for water supply.

We can also improve the income of these guys. I keep thinking how we can improve the farming system of those farmers. So, we have departments dealing with agriculture, with forestation and with water. These are our three main departments in ORDA.

NWNL ORDA focuses on deforestation, on improving farming systems and on freshwater….

MILLION ALEMAYEHU And, also on generating income activities.

NWNL I have a thought for your farmers – an organization called KickStart International.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU I know them and worked with Nick Moon, who represents Kickstart in Nairobi.

NWNL I also know Nick, as well as his US partner Ken, who told me they tried to bring Kick Start to Ethiopia.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU Yes, we met with John from KickStart, who brought us a very interesting pump.

NWNL Yes, I’ve tried using their food pump – it’s just like riding a bicycle.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU By the way, now, I have one Hip Pump and one foot pump for demonstration in Bahir Dar that KickStart gave me for trial. The farmers were very happy with it, saying it was very easy to use.

NWNL Yes, I used it easily.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU So I’ve emailed him, and they’re discussing how we can start doing business. I am very happy to help the farmers with such simple and appropriate technology.

NWNL Ken emailed me last week their problem in bringing their pumps to Ethiopia is that KickStart’s philosophy is a farmer must buy the pump, understanding it will save ten times its cost. Kickstart believes that a purchase insures use. But Ethiopia’s philosophy is you mustn’t try to sell poor people anything. Yet, he also said they were going to help.

MILLION ALEMAYEHU The farmers can pay. They agreed with the Government of Ethiopia, with the ministries. So, I’ll be happy to get the pumps – they are very efficient compared to our local ones.

NWNL KickStart may also go into Ghana. I’ve spent a month there documenting a cashew project for TechnoServe, so I know Ghana could use those pumps. And I hope you’ll get them here. I’ll see Ken two days after I get back to New York and tell him of our meeting.

Should I say you will agree that the farmers buy the pumps?

MILLION ALEMAYEHU With that, they have no problems. The farmers have paid for row pumps we installed in the water that ORDA subsidized. The cost was $1,500 with installation. We subsidized $500 per pump, and the farmers paid only $1,000.

So convey my greetings to Ken and the folks at KickStart. My aim is to help all, the poor farmers especially.

NWNL Million, it’s great think of you at ORDA working with Ken at KickStart. Solutions abound and folks like you two make the world better. Thank you for sharing so much information with NWNL, so that we can share it with our followers and associates. All best to you, current farmers and future farmers of the Blue Nile Basin!

Posted by NWNL on May 8, 2024.
Transcription edited and condensed for clarity by Alison M. Jones.

Sustainable Development & Agriculture Nile River Basin