On-Farm Water Management (OFWM)
Introduction:
The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) is implementing “On Farm Water Management (OFWM)” Project, co-financed by the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), in five (5) regions including 23 provinces, namely: Central region (Kabul, Kapisa, Parwan, Logar, Wardak, Ghazni, Paktia and Panjshir provinces), West region (Herat, and Ghor provinces), Bamyan (Bamyan, Takhar, Kundoz and Baghlan provinces), East region (Nangarhar, Laghman, Nuristan and Kunar provinces) and North region (Samangan, Balkh, Faryab, Saripul, and Jawzjan provinces). The project mainly aims improving the efficiency of the water use, to increase agricultural production, building capacity of local staff to implement similar projects in the country and educating farmers to improve irrigation systems and agricultural practices as well.
The project was started in in 2010 with a fund of 25 Million USD until 30-June-2015. The preparatory phase of the project was from 1st June 2010 until April, 2011 and the implementation phase started in April 2011 and continued until June 2015. As the project has positive impacts in the water management, irrigation schemes’ rehabilitation, agriculture productivity and capacity building and etc. then project was extended until end of 2019 with initial grant of 45 Million USD.
Project Objective: To improve agricultural productivity by enhancing the efficiency of water used.
The project has the following four components:
Component 1. Irrigation Rehabilitation and Management in the Five Regions: This component will support the continued physical rehabilitation and the associated institutional support to strengthen and establish IAs as follows:
- Subcomponent 1.A. Establishing and Strengthening of IAs. This subcomponent will be implemented by the IA team established within the PMU and will have the following three activities.
- Sub-component 1.B. Improvement of Physical Irrigation Infrastructure. This component will support the continued rehabilitation works for the existing irrigation schemes covering 50,000 ha in total at the average price of 600 USD per hectare. This component will be implemented in two phases (2016-2017 and 2018-2019).
Component 2: Support for Enhancing Productivity: The main objective of this component is to enhance agriculture and water productivity in the areas supported by Component 1 through demonstration activities and technical assistance. The specific activities to be implemented under this component will include (a) promotion of laser land leveling and high-efficiency irrigation systems; (b) training and capacity building for IAs and farmers in various agronomic practices, farm management techniques, and integrated pest management; (c) operation of demonstration sites to disseminate a wide range of improved water management and agronomic practices; and (d) establishment of farmers’ information service centers linked with internet and mobile phone services. The DGAED will be responsible for the technical aspects of the component.
Component 3. Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building of the MAIL:
This component will support the strengthening of the ID. The organizational structure and the staffing plan is being finalized under the JICA-financed CDISP and this component will help the ID strengthen its technical and administrative capacity, develop a legal framework for the irrigation and drainage subsector, and develop Phase 2 NIDP. The component is further divided by three subcomponents as below:
- Subcomponent 3.A. Institutional Strengthening of the ID.
- Subcomponent 3.B. Development of a Draft Irrigation and Drainage Law
- Subcomponent 3.C. Preparation of Phase 2 NIDP.
Component 4. Project Management, Coordination, and Monitoring and Evaluation: This component will continue supporting the incremental operating cost, project staff cost, logistics (vehicles), and critical office equipment pertaining to project implementation so as to ensure sound management of the project. This component will also support the costs necessary to outreach the project content and impact to general public such as media, workshops, and publications.
Summary of Major Activities 2010 till 30-April-2018:
|
No |
Description of Activity |
Plan |
Achievement |
Remarks |
|
1 |
Number of IAs Established, Registered and Trained |
475 |
530 |
|
|
2 |
Number of Irrigation Scheme Completed |
210 |
174 |
The remaining plus some additional irrigation schemes are ongoing and will be completed as per the plan. |
|
3 |
Number of Irrigation Schemes in Progress (Ongoing) |
- |
78 |
|
|
4 |
Total Command Covered by Ongoing and Completed Irrigation (Ha) |
59,000 |
65,000 |
|
|
5 |
Number of Job Opportunities Created during physical rehabilitation of Irrigation Scheme |
- |
16,315 |
During the physical rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, a total of 16,315 labors having the opportunity to do a job. |
|
6 |
Number of Families Benefiting from OFWMP interventions (Only Ongoing and Completed Irrigation Schemes) |
- |
50,000 |
|
|
7 |
Number of Irrigation Demonstration Sites Established |
50 |
45 |
The remaining IDSs will be established as per the plan. |
|
8 |
Number of Farmers’ Field Schools Established |
120 |
67 |
The rest will be established as per the plan. |
|
9 |
Jerribs of Land Levelled by Laser Levelling Technology (Jerrib) |
- |
2,250 |
|
|
10 |
Number of Farmers, IA members and DAIL staff trained |
- |
34,932 |
These were the participants of workshops and trainings. |
|
11 |
Number of Laser Land Levelling Machines Distributed to Farmers |
120 |
36 |
The remaining Machines are in the process as per the plan. |
|
12 |
Incremental Area after Rehabilitation Work |
10-15% |
||
|
13 |
Increment in Agriculture Production |
15-20% |
||
Plan for 2018:
|
No |
Description of Activity |
Target for 2018/1397 |
Remarks |
|
1 |
Completion of 83 Ongoing Irrigation Schemes in 2018 |
83 |
Among the 83 irrigation schemes, some of them are completed and the remaining will be completed by end of the year. |
|
2 |
Starting physical rehabilitation work of 20 Irrigation schemes |
20 |
These Irrigation schemes’ rehabilitation work will be started in 2018/1397. |
|
3 |
Establishment of 10 Irrigation Demonstration Sites |
10 |
|
|
4 |
Establishment of 30 Farmers’ Field Schools in 2018 |
30 |
|
|
5 |
Procurement and Distribution of 84 Land Laser Levelling Machines |
84 |
The process is ongoing and the activity will be undertaken in 2018 |
|
6 |
Providing trainings/workshops for around 6,000 farmers and DAIL staff |
6,000 People |
These people (farmers) will be trained by various types of trainings by the project. |