Preservation of underground water vital in fighting El Nino drought
Martin Muleya
Groundwater has become a vital component of agricultural livelihoods, particularly for small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe’s Manicaland province, as they increasingly rely on it to irrigate their crops in the face of climate change-induced droughts.
While solar water pumps have made accessing groundwater more affordable and convenient, the unregulated abstraction of this resource poses a significant threat to its long-term sustainability.
It is essential to adopt measures that preserve groundwater resources to ensure their continued availability for future generations.
One way to preserve groundwater is to implement sustainable abstraction practices. This can be achieved by promoting water-saving technologies and techniques, such as drip irrigation, which delivers water directly to the roots of plants, reducing evaporation and runoff.
Additionally, farmers can adopt crop selection and rotation strategies that are more water-efficient and resilient to drought. By taking these steps, farmers can reduce their reliance on groundwater while maintaining their agricultural productivity.
Another crucial approach to preserving groundwater is to establish effective governance and regulatory frameworks. In Zimbabwe, this could involve strengthening institutions responsible for managing groundwater resources, monitoring abstraction levels, and enforcing licensing and permitting systems.
Furthermore, initiatives that promote water harvesting, storage, and recharge can help replenish groundwater aquifers and maintain the health of surface water bodies. By taking a proactive and integrated approach to groundwater management, Zimbabwe can ensure the long-term sustainability of this critical resource and support the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in Manicaland province.
A local farmer in Ward 3 Chakohwa communal lands, Chimanimani district Betty Matanda who has been using underground water for farming activities bemoaned the low levels of water underground attributing it to climate change induced El Nino drought.
“I drilled my borehole with a depth of 40metres three years ago and I have been using it for my farming activities. This area is under Region 5, it receives low amount of rainfall thus I decided to drill a borehole so I can also practice fish farming and horticulture. But lately the borehole now has low levels of water especially for this year releasing about 1000 litres per hour.
Matanda explained that she is now in a dilemma because her farming activities have been halted as she needs to deepen the borehole to reach water underground.
Asked if she was paying any fees to Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) for the use of underground water either for domestic or commercial purposes, Matanda had this to say;
“I drilled my borehole for domestic purposes and I have not been paying any fees to ZINWA,” she said.
A borehole drilling expert who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity concurred that climate change has affected underground water levels in many rural communities but hinted that it is always good for one to register his/her borehole with ZINWA.
“If you want to drill a borehole you need to register and get authority to drill from the local Sub Catchment offices. The boreholes are categorized either as commercial or domestic, with the fees differing annually.
“The fees are for administrative purposes in the event of dispute arising from use of underground water as more and more villagers are resorting to boreholes.
“Climate change indeed has affected our boreholes in instances where we do not have a good yield especially when they have inadequate depth. Climate change will always affect levels of underground water,” he said.
