ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

Key problem Key manifestations Effects
Inadequate policy frameworks: There are inadequate policy
frameworks especially to do with the issues of access to water
and the management of water resources. The National Water
Authority has a mandate to charge for the use of water from all
water sources including ground water and water from rivers. It
however does not provide for the management of catchments
and other water infrastructure such as dams. This has created a
gap in the management of catchments and dams. This has
become evident in the Gariya project in Tsholotsho. Policies are
generally not designed with the promotion of “efficient use of
water in focus”.
Local institutional capacity issues: Local level institutions do
not have the capacity to implement and enforce policies on
natural resources. The new Environmental Management Act has
not been taken to the local level institutions, and in some cases
(Tsholotsho & Chivi) the relevant institutions have not been put
into place. Therefore policy implementation remains a challenge
as the institutions are not in place and where they are in place,
they are not adequately equipped to implement their roles
according to available policy frameworks.
2. Description of the technology/strategy
Table 6. Selection of technologies/strategies to effect change
Key problem
Bio-physical:
Land degradation
Key
manifestations
Loss of
bio-diversity
Soil erosion &
gully
formation
Poor rangeland
productivity
Technology of choice Pilot site Strategy
Reintroduction of extinct grass &
tree species, enrichment planting,
woodlots, woodland management.
Enhancing value of natural
resources/ecosystems by
improving benefit from the same
and thereby raising incentives and
appreciation by communities.
Catchment & woodland
management, land rehabilitation,
gully reclamation using gabion
structures, silt traps and vertiver
grass. Conservation measures
including level contours,
infiltration pits vegetative cover.
Partnerships have been formed
with private sector, public sector
and technical departments.
Enrichment planting, introduction
of legumes, planted forages (Bana
grass & Luceana), control of bush
encroachment, grazing
management (65000 ha).
Matobo,
Tsholotsho
Matobo,
Tsholotsho,
Chivi
Matobo,
Tsholotsho,
Chivi
Current: There is lack of systematic
maintenance of dams and related
infrastructure, leading to the collapse
and breaching of dams especially in
Tsholotsho. Lack of systematic
provision of resources for catchment
management has led to uncontrolled
erosion and siltation of dams and
rivers in the three sites.
Future: Continuing trends can result
in major conflicts over water.
Current: Local institutions have
limited capacity to engage
public/private sector institutions for
the redressing of problems related to
environmental management and use.
Community capacity
building, Farmer Field
Schools (FFS),
demonstrations, use of
national tree planting
events, botanic gardens,
universities, etc.
FFS, demonstrations, policy
review,
encouragement/enforcement
and highlighting cause and
effect in training and
demonstrations.
Training through FFS,
demonstrations and
enhancing resource value,
community participation
and ownership.
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