Water Harvesting in Sudan
In semi arid zones such as North Darfur where the rainfall is concentrated over short periods of time, balancing water demand with supply is difficult. The regularity of rainfall and quantity of rainfall in North Darfur has been decreasing; for example the mean rainfall in Kutum has dropped from 345mm to 243mm between 1967 and 1982.
Farmers in Darfur have worked to overcome the problem of irrigation, whilst avoiding the high costs of many modern irrigation techniques, through the rehabilitation and expansion of traditional water harvesting techniques in the area.
The technical brief below produced by Practical Answers, the technical advice service of Practical Action, describes the successful use of water harvesting in North Darfur and explains two methods 1) dam building and 2) collecting water through contour systems.