The Management of Water Resources for Small Scale Water Control Schemes in Northern Darfur

Abstract

Abstract The aims of this thesis are to identify the available water resources in arid regions in third world countries . Most of the dry areas of the world, defined as including arid , semi – arid and dry sub humid regions, fall in the developing world. These developing countries often do not possess the technical know-- how , financial capacity, efficient management or social structure to undertake modern water control schemes management. Sudan, like other developing countries, experiences water management problems. The management aspect is always neglected and attention is mostly concentrated in the engineering aspect rather than management aspect. This led to failure of most of the water resources schemes in general, and in the study area particularly. The absence of efficient water resources management in the Sudan, and in the study area in particular, is considered as core element behind this study. The study investigates the pattern of water harvesting and small scale water control Schemes in Northern Darfur ( Shingle Tobya) Study area of Abu Hamra Wadi. Also this study focuses on the impact of management in Water Resources in the Area and assesses the significant impacts of water harvesting techniques on the environment and socio – economic life. It suggests how to mitigate water resources management problems in the area. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop and manage scientific methods of small scale water harvesting system for crops in order to increase agricultural production and income of the farmers. The thesis includes the theoretical framework of previous studies in third world countries, and in Sudan in addition to local studies in water resources management in the study area .. To collect data in the area the researcher adopted a number of Social, methods such as Statistical Packages for Social Sciences ( SPSS ). In this method the researcher used the questionnaires, interviews and observations in the study area .The Remote Sensing (land – sat) images are used to detect target areas for water exploitation projects. The study revealed that, the new change is to provide and develop policy, management skills and involvement of stakeholders in decisions making. The study revealed that, lack of appropriate management of water resources in the study area resulted in continuous loss of run off water , which led to negative impact on socio – economic life and on the environment. In response to this deficiency farmers in the study area have to adopt the modern techniques of water harvesting in order to cope with this deficiency. Small scale water control schemes in rainfed sector in the study area has suffered from low productivity and hence , profitability as a result of mismanagement of this sector The study revealed that the level of education of most of target group in the study area is above basic education which helps in understanding the management operation. The results give good indication of the merit of using the water harvesting technique in order to gain high crop production. On the other hand, most people in the study area are now found to believe in the important role of local people’s participation, in planning and management of water. Farmers in the study area began to believe that high agricultural productivity depends on water availability.