OSSREA Publications

Rainwater Harvesting as a Livelihood Strategy

in the Drought-Prone Areas of the Amhara Region of Ethiopia

Woldeamlak Bewket

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Environmental and Socioeconomic Profile of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a large country (>1.1 M km² area) characterized by large geophysical and ecological diversity. Elevation in the country ranges from 4,620m above mean sea level to 120m below mean seal level. Climate in the country shows extreme spatial variations, mainly because of altitude and variations in topographic conditions. As Krauer (1988) has succinctly put it: ‘within short horizontal distances, climate conditions from tropical to subhumid, and subtropical to arctic can occur.’ The nature of the topography presents both opportunities and constraints to development. For instance, the rugged nature of the terrain makes road construction expensive and maintenance costly. On the positive side though, the topographic and climatic diversity has enabled the presence of numerous plant and animal species, and some of these are endemic to the country. Ethiopia is known for its biodiversity resource as one of the Vavilov centres of crop genetic diversity.

In terms of agro-ecology, Ethiopia is traditionally classified into three major zones, namely, Dega (highland), Woina-Dega (mid-highland) and Kolla (lowland). The Dega Zone consists of highlands with altitudes of over 2,300m, and the Woina-Dega Zone refers to areas with altitudes between 1,500 and 2,300m. The Kolla Zone represents areas lying below 1,500m. Large parts of the cultivated areas of the country are found in the Dega and Woina-Dega zones, while the Kolla areas are dominated by pastoral and agro-pastoral systems. Altogether, some 60 per cent of the total area of the country is reported to be suitable for agricultural production. Obviously, altitude - with its influence on temperature - is the only reference for the traditional agro-ecological zonation of Ethiopia. Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) (2000) produced a more detailed agro-ecological classification by taking into consideration temperature and moisture regimes in addition to altitude. Accordingly, 18 major agro-ecological zones and 48 sub agro-ecological regions have been identified.

The landmass of the country is also often classified into highlands and lowlands by referring to the 1,500m contour line. According to this classification, the highlands account for 43-45 per cent of the total area of the country, while the lowlands account for the balance. The highlands occupy the central parts and they are endowed with moderate temperatures, and adequate rainfall (800 – 2200mm per annum) for rain-fed agriculture and fertile soils. As a result, the highlands have been settled for millennia, and settled agriculture is believed to have a matching history (McCann 1995). Presently, the Ethiopian highlands accommodate some 88 per cent of the human population of the country, and 75 per cent of the livestock population (Ermias 2003). Roughly, 95 per cent of the regularly cultivated lands are also situated in these highlands. Population density in the highlands is one of the highest in Africa. The inhabitants of this area are engaged in mixed agriculture, and cereals - mainly tef, wheat, barley, sorghum, maize and millet - are the major crops produced. Livestock play a key role; they are sources of draught power, food (animal products) and investment (wealth) to the farmers.

The lowlands, on the other hand, are located in the peripheral areas of the country in the north-western, western, southern, eastern and south-eastern parts. They are characterized by high temperatures, low rainfall (< 800mm per year), high potential evapotranspiration, strong and dry winds, and the prevalence of tropical diseases, particularly malaria. In the lowlands, water is the limiting factor to agricultural activities and human settlement. The inhabitants are largely pastoralists who migrate from place to place in search of feed and water for their livestock. The only crops cultivated in these areas are sorghum and millet, as they are drought-tolerant. In addition to the sporadic and unreliable nature of the rainfall, soil salinity is also a significant environmental problem in the lowlands (Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) 1998).