Assessmentoftheperformanceofrainwaterharvestingsystems fordomestic,livestoc kandagriculturalusesi npastoralareasof :Boranazone,Oromiaregion

Abstract

Thepurposeofthi sstudywast oassessth eimpact softh epracticeofrainwate r harvestingtechnologie sasameansofwatersourcefo rdomestic,livestoc kand agriculturalusesinpastoralareasofBoranazone,Oromiyaregion .Thestudy employedParticipatoryRuralAppraisal,surveymethodsandanalysisof meteorologicaldata.Discussionsalsowerecarriedoutatcommunity,woreda andzonallevels .Thestudyalsoreveale dtha timplementatio nofrainwate r harvestingtechnologie shadpositiveimpact sonminimizingth eburdenof carryingwaterbywomenandchildreninadditiont osupplyingwaterfo r householdconsumption.Relatively,les stim eisspentlookin gfo rwaterandthe y areabletoconcentrateonotherdailyhousekeepingactivitiessuchascarefo r children,cookingfo rthehousehold,andfeedin gandwateringofsmallruminants . Besides,itwaspossiblet osustainth elive soflivestoc kduringdroughtperiods (DecembertoJanuary,midMayt oJuly).Moreover,ther eisapromising possibilityofpracticingagriculturalactivitiesusingthetechnolog yasa supplementaryirrigation .Waterharvestingcanhaveanimportantroleinbridging th edrytimesbetweentherainyseasontothebenefitofhumanandlivestock consumptionandforagriculturalandgardenproductionthroughirrigation .However th enaturalenvironmept,humancapacity,design,technology,typeofinputs ,size an dcostarealsoTactorscontributingtosuccessandfailureofongoing implementatio nprograms.Implementin gth eprograminapilotpackagefor mand goo dwayofmonitoringandevaluatingtechnique swouldhelpt oimprov eth e qualityandtoadjustth epreviousmistakesandtheprogramshouldbedonewith som emodificationsandflexibility .