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supported by education, technical exchanges and capacity building efforts which
are institutionalized to assists countries who are ready to venture onward with a
change in the historical paradigm and culture for water availability and climate
change protection. However, such changes should be undertaken from a position of
understanding and knowledge of the potential benefits and risks of using rainwater
harvesting, including the human benefits and environmental costs of diverting flows
from surface and ground waters (UNEP-SEI 2009 ).
A key strategy is to minimize the risk for dry-spell-induced crop failures, which
requires an emphasis on water harvesting systems for supplemental irrigation.
Large-scale adoption of water harvesting systems will require a paradigm shift in
integrated water resources management in which rainfall is regarded as the entry
point for the governance of fresh water, thus incorporating green water resources
(sustaining rainfed agriculture and terrestrial ecosystem) and blue water resources
(local runoff) (Rockström et al. 2010 ).
It should be emphasized that the ultimate goal of in situ water harvesting is a
sustainable and environmentally-friendly system of agricultural production. The
aim is to complement rather than replace the existing water use system. Improved
systems must be socially acceptable as well as more productive. It is highly recom-
mended that water harvesting interventions form part of a plan for integrated land
and water resources development and that such a plan takes into consideration all
the necessary technical, agronomic, socioeconomic and institutional aspects and
inputs (Oweis et al. 2001 ).
Finally, it is time to scale-up the ʻgood practicesʼ of water harvesting that have
survived or emerged from new experiences, after decades of an almost exclusive
focus on mastering fresh water flows in rivers and lakes through investments in
irrigation infrastructure. Water harvesting offers under-exploited opportunities for
the predominantly rainfed farming systems in the drylands of the developing world.
It works best in precisely those areas where rural poverty is worst. When practiced
well, its impact is to simultaneously reduce hunger and alleviate poverty, as well as
improve the resilience of the environment. Investment in rainwater harvesting is
important for meeting not only the Millennium Development Goals on reducing
hunger, but also on reducing poverty and ensuring environmental sustainability.
References
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ADB (2011) Water Operational Plan 2011–2020. Asian Development Bank, Mundaluyong City
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A. Yazar and A. Ali