Sister Soffie,
Yes water can and is harvested for future use. High profile ways of
harvesting water is through dams and reservoirs. These are usually very
expensive especially where natural containers do not exist (gorges and
mountains) - thus the Gambia River Valley Organization, OMVG. The OMVG
was to find ways to help the Gambia, Senegal and Guinea Conakry to find
ways of harvesting the River Gambia waters for irrigation, and
hydropower. Unfortunately a number of problems, economic, political and
evironmental forced the organization to abandon initial proposals for 2
Dams in Senegal and a Barrage in Gambia.
In the Gambia as it is water harvesting is done although at a very small
scale. The Soil and Water Management Unit (I may have a different name
now) help farmers put up small dyke and barriers against saltwater
intrusion in the Banto Faros (swamp rice fields) in North Bank, Western
Division and LRD. These dykes and barriers are in effect water
harvesters. The bigger problem is initial investment and the institution
of management systems that would utilize these waters. Given that the
Gambia is very flat the trick is to install harvesting mechanism that
will harvest the excess flood water and keep out the salt.  That may
require substantial amount of Dalasi. Another complicating issue is the
presence of mangroves and their role. Mangroves strive on brackish water
(a delicate balance of salt and fresh water).  Their presence along the
Gambia river is critical for the survival of many organisims that depend
on them. These include most of the fish species we find in the market
including the famous Kobo. Removal of Mangroves may seriously interfere
with the rivers ability to support these species and the economies that
depend on them.


Malanding


Ceesay, Soffie wrote:

>Malanding,
>
>My never answered question (I never asked it) is - can water be harvested
>for future use, especially in times of drought?
>
>Thanks,
>Soffie
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Malanding Jaiteh [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 12:03 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Africa: Rice for the Future (fwd)
>
>
>Ylva,
>Despite the promises of the many varieties, I am yet to be convinced
>that home grown rice can save a country like the Gambia. The single
>greatest obstacle to self-sufficiency in rice is environmental (water
>and fertility). Our country does not have enough of that now and future
>does not look brighter either.
>
>
>Malanding
>
>Ylva Hernlund wrote:
>
>
>
>>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2004 08:25:11 -0800
>>From: [log in to unmask]
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Africa: Rice for the Future
>>
>>
>>Africa: Rice for the Future
>>
>>AfricaFocus Bulletin
>>Feb 4, 2004 (040204)
>>(Reposted from sources cited below)
>>
>>Editor's Note
>>
>>Only two decades ago, rice was considered a luxury food in West
>>Africa, comments Dr. Kanayo Nwanze of the West African Rice
>>Development Association (WARDA). Now it is a staple, accounting for
>>more than 25% of cereal consumption. Import growth has consistently
>>outpaced growth in production. But new rice varieties developed by
>>WARDA researchers give hope that Africa could rapidly increase
>>domestic production.
>>
>>This could save African countries millions in import costs.
>>Although Nigeria produces about 80% of its rapidly rising rice
>>consumption, imports are still growing faster than production, and
>>cost some $300 million a year. Other countries in West Africa and
>>around the continent also rely heavily on imports.
>>
>>This issue of AfricaFocus Bulletin contains a slighlty abridged
>>version of an article from Africa Recovery on new varieties,
>>developed by cross-breeding Asian and African rices [full version
>>is available at http://www.africafocus.org/docs04/rice0401.php].
>>The NERICA (New Rice for Africa) varieties preserve adaptability to
>>African conditions while increasing yields or requiring large new
>>inputs of fertilizer or pesticide. The research program, initiated
>>by Sierra Leonean scientist Monty Jones, and building on
>>cooperation with both African and Asian research institutes, is
>>considered a model of successful South-South research cooperation.
>>
>>For much additional background information, see WARDA's web site at
>>http://www.warda.org. Other useful sources are listed at the end of
>>the article. The reposted article appeared in the issue of Africa
>>Recovery [http://www.africarecovery.org] for January 2004.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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