The State of Eritrea

Ministry of Agriculture Newsletter

A Monthly Newsletter prepared by Public Relations Division, Issue No 35, May 2021

Micro-dams promoting development andtransforming communities
The Government of Eritrea has invested
a considerable amount of time, effort,
and resources in the construction
and development of water harvesting
structures throughout the country.
This has led to many achievements
and significant progress. At theonset of independence, in 1991,
there were only 132 dams and otherwater holding structures of different
sizes. However, that figure has now
increased to a total of 781, according
to Mr. Yonas Negusse, an engineer
and the head of the Dams andDiversion Development Unit at theMinistry of Agriculture. Notably, notonly has there been an increase in
number of structures, there has also
been important developments in theirdistribution. (See maps for reference)in catchment treatment works, andavailability of potential irrigable area,among others. Over the past 30years, these points have been leading
considerations in the development
and construction of dams.

According to engineer Yonas, theconstruction of water holding
structures is generally carried out incollaboration with local communities.
Several factors are explored before thedevelopment of structures, including
considerations regarding hydrologicaland physical suitability, acute water
scarcity, the community’s readiness

Since 2017, the Ministry ofAgriculture, in collaboration with theAfrican Development Bank, has been
constructing numerous micro-dams
across the country. Engineer Yonas
explained that the Ministry’s plan is to2021

Engineer Yonas Negusse

1construct a total of 92 micro-dams inFarmers’ views on dams andall regions of the country (Anseba-25,
their impacts
Debub-20; Gash-Barka-17, Maekel-7,Northern Red Sea-14, and Southern Central Region
Red Sea-9 dams.). Out of these, 38
dams are completed and 17 are still Mr. Bekit Idris is the administrator
under construction.
of Hayelo-Guritat administrative
area in the Sub-region of Serejeka.
According to Engineer Yonas, the total This small administrative area has
holding capacity of these dams ranges about 300 farming households.
from 30,000 m3 to 300,000 m3. This Generally, the area is known for its
range indicates that the stored water best practices in tree planting, asMr. Kidane Kinfu
is enough to meet the primary needs well as its commendable soil anddependence on rain-fed agriculture.
for drinking water both for humans
Many families have also begunand livestock, as well as for small-scale
farming fruits and vegetables, both forirrigation schemes downstream.
household consumption and to sell inneighbouring markets.
Another significant contribution ofthese dams is that they recharge water
Discussing the micro-dam, Mr. Bekit
points and wells. Engineer Yonas statedexplained that the catchment areathat a good yield of water is observed
has important features, including
in wells which are 3 kilometres away
terracing, check-dams, and a closure
from the dams. Thus, the downstream
establishment. Consequently, theembankments along the sides ofmicro-dam will support and serve local
the dams are better irrigated andagriculture activities and livestock forcultivated. Overall, the dams have theMr. Bekit Idris
an extended period of time with little
capacity to serve anywhere from 350threat of siltation.
750 households, while neighbouring water conservation activities. Somevillages also benefit considerably. inhabitants of the area have also grown Mr. Kidane Kinfu is a farmer from theThe Ministry’s strategy is that even accustomed to small-scale irrigation. village of Guritat. Previously, farmers
the smallest micro-dam should serve However, thanks to a micro-dam that in the village used to wait for manyat least 40 Minimum Integrated was completed in 2020, almost every days for their turn to access water for
Household Agricultural Package household is now adopting small- their farms. “However, this season,(MIHAP) beneficiaries downstream.
scale irrigated agriculture. According thanks to the dam and more accessto Mr. Bekit, the micro-dam, with a to water, we have planted many kinds
capacity of around 30,000 m3, has of vegetables and crops, and arehelped to move farmers away from a expecting good harvest,” he explained.
Mr. Kidane recommended raising theheight of the dam and expanding theirrigated area. “Even though our area
is very small, we can increase ourproduction and productivity throughan intensive three-cycle production
per year,” he pointed out.
Debub RegionPriest Rusom Wahd is a horticulture
farmer in Degra-merieto, SegeneytiSub-region. He has been growing
vegetables for the last 20 years. He
had nothing but positive things to say
about the importance of a dam which

Guritat dam and its treated catchment2Priest Rusom Wahd in his farm - Degra-merieto, Segeneyti Sub-region

Mr. Michael Berhewas constructed in 2019 and boasts acapacity of 126,000 m3. He explained
that, “[Prior to the construction of thedam], even though we were cultivatingwith the help of the wells around us, we
had a serious shortage of water. Thiswas mainly in the months after April.
We were forced to dig very deep to
get water for our crops. Consequently,
most of our income was consumed forfuel to drill wells. Sometimes we evenlost produce due to water shortages.
However, following the constructionof the dam, our wells are regularly
full - even during this dry season.
Also, there are no losses due to water
shortages. Most importantly, we are
now able to harvest three times ayear by rotating different crops andvegetables”

Mai-edaga micro-dam, Dekemhare Sub-region

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Another farmer in Mai-edaga
administrative area, Dekemhare Subregion, Mr. Michael Berhe, echoes
his comments. Mr. Michael explainedthat prior to the micro-dam in
their area farmers were cultivating
vegetables alongside the streams thatpass through their village during therainy season. In 2018, a micro-dam
was constructed in Mai-edaga with a
total capacity of 30,000 m3, to irrigate
about 8 hectares of land.
“Even though we were trying tocultivate crops and vegetables, wewere suffering from shortage of waterand loss of produce. Currently, ourproduction has improved and we arecultivating a wider range of crops,
including tomatoes, wheat, barley,maize, chickpea and fenugreek. Prior
to the construction of Mai-edaga
micro-dam, we were forced to water
our land in shift in order to manage
the available water resources” Mr.
Michael stated. He further notedthat the new micro-dam has allowed
farmers to access water throughout
the year and has consequently
improved irrigation.
Anseba Region
Mr. Hamad Meskel Jawd is a vegetable
farmer in Aderde, Keren Sub-region.
For him, the dam has been a big plus.
“For years, we were cultivating somevegetables and fruits at a very small
scale due to water shortages. Throughtime, the wells in our area even driedup and we stopped irrigating at all.
Water was a significant challenge.”
However, in 2018, the Ministry ofAgriculture constructed a micro-dam

Aderde micro-dam, Keren Sub-region

in the area with a capacity of 110,000
m3. Quickly, small-scale irrigation
began to revive. Currently, all thewells in the surrounding area are fullof water and farmers have begun
to benefit greatly. Productivity has
increased and many farmers have
expanded the types of fruits andvegetables that they cultivate.
Mr. Hamad Meskel noted, “We areharvesting twice a year now, and haveeven started to plant fruit trees, suchas orange and mango.”

Mr. Hamad Meskel

Editor-In-Chief
Ermias Solomon
Director, Public Relations Division
Email:- ersohab@gmail.com, Tel: 182225/ 07143877/ 07182662, Asmara, Eritrea
Editorial board
Filmawit Measho, Shushan Okbay, Sophia Fekadu
Photo credit: Aradom Bereket, Habteab Andemariam, MoA Photo Archives

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