This presentation is the part of 12-day (28 January–8 February 2019) training workshop on “Multi-scale Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) from the Hindu Kush Himalayan Perspective” organized by the Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA) Initiative of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and targeted at participants from Afghanistan.

1. Sanjeev Bhuchar and Homayoun Afshar
Improved watershed management (IWM)

2. • Location: Kahmard district (Bamyan province)
• Duration: About 2 yrs (Nov. 2010 to March 2013)
• Funding: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
• Implementer: HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation
• Main partners: Community Development Councils (26 CDCs)
Project information

3.  Flash flood and drought are common natural hazards
In 2010, there were massive destructions. In 2011 (drought year), about 57 houses,
1 km road, about 850 ha agricultural land and orchards and 35 irrigation intakes
were damaged in Doshakh, Panja Mader Bazar and Mader Dahan Tangi CDCs.
• Remote mountainous district
• 61 CDCs
• 8500 families (NSP data)
• Predominantly agriculture

4. 0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2010 2011
Total annual rainfall:
Year 2010: 349 mm
Year 2011: 197 mm
Source: DAIL, Bamyan
Rainfall(mm)
Months
Rainfall

5. Lack of vegetation causes direct runoff
triggering flash floods

7. 15
Relief
Rehabilitation
Reconstruction
Preparedness
Mitigation
Disaster
Disaster Management Cycle

8. Upstream-
downstream
measures
Organizational
structures
Structural
measures
Management
measures
(Control of grazing
and shrub cutting)
Vegetative
measures
1
Contour trench (13,200 )
Kanda (2)
Terraces (60)
Check dams (1190 cu.m )
• Watershed Management Committees
• Rules for watershed management
Alfalfa
Agropyron
Fruit /Non-fruit trees
Irrigation

9. Reducing shrub consumption
Community bakery
Bio-briquettes
Solar Passive House

10. • Operation and maintenance committees established
Doro protection wallAhangaran Banaq wall
Protection structures
River bank stabilization
(Green structure)

11. Bazare Mader intakeDarband/Kilich intake
Aqueduct and intakes

12. Re-greening watershed
Tree, grass, shrun plantations Kanda: Underground tank
(6 x 6 x 3 m) carved out of rock

13. Benefits of rural energy options
• Less use of cooking gas and shrubs /fuel wood
– 1 piece for up to 4 l water (2-4 pieces for 1 meal)
• Good for health
• Time saved for women
• 50-80% reduction in shrub consumption.
• Positive impacts
• Improved health of women (no bread baking)
• Time for other preferred activities
• Boys going to mountains attend schools
• Cash saving (buy less shrubs) (one load = 300 Afg)
• About 80% reduction in coal consumption during winter
• Comfort for women and children
• Also health benefits
• Less temperature fluctuations
Doro bakery

14. Greener watersheds / More biodiversity
Sourakhak watershed
2008/2009 20011/2012

15. Outcomes of protective and productive infrastructures
• Many village assets protected:
 Fertile agriculture land (at least 600 ha), orchards (320 ha), irrigation canals (10),
houses (342), schools (2), masjids (2), road (0.9 km), clinic, and bakeries protected.
• Constant supply of irrigation water to about 350 hectares land.
• Less maintenance of intakes
• More crop production and less crop damages during floods (increase in at least 1
month food security).

16. Home gardens
130 families in 22 CDCs
 Cucumber, radish, squash, pepper, onion,
cabbage spinach, coriander, tomato, turnip seeds
• Average production/garden = 340 kg
Crops for income
130 families in 26 CDCs
Onion, cabbage, tomato, squash, okra
Diversified income and nutrition
Vegetables

17. Drip irrigation
• Tested with 3 farmers (3000 Afg/set)
• High turnip production (Doro). approx. 2 kg/plant
 Efficient use of water and fertilizer
 Less soil compaction
 More plant-plant distance
Composting and drip irrigation

18. Fruit and non-fruit nurseries

19. Cash crops in the watersheds
Asafoetida (Hing)
Seed: 3 kg (1000 Afg / kg)
Sap: 42 kg (2500 Afg /kg)
Cumin: 70 kg
Safflower in Sourakhak
Hing plants in Surakhshar

20. Results of vegetable cultivation
• Rokhsana, Payeen Bagh: Sold 429 kg of tomato, getting in
return some dry apricots, mulberry, wheat grain and cash
(about 5000 Afg). She covered school expenses of her
children from the vegetable income”.
• Sabarow, Sadat Kilich: “Rice consumption in summer
reduced by 140 kg. Used more vegetables (squash and
okra). Also sold vegetables worth 1600 Afg and bought 10 l
cooking oil, tea, sugar and soap”.
Dried tomato
Radish stored for winter time

21. 3.1. Organizational capacities:
• Watershed management committees members and worker trained
• Exposure visit (Internal) for CDC members (men) and women DDA and CDC members
• DDA members trained on do no harm and conflict resolution
• CBDRM workshops
• CBDRM committees trained and equipped.
Capacity building

22. Capacity building
Human resource development
• Women trained on bio-briquette, compost
application, plastic tunnel, nurseries, drip
technologies
• Masons and bakers trained
• On the job training for watershed workers
• Follow-up by staff
Bio-briquette training

23. Knowledge sharing
• Participation in planning and coordination meetings (district + province)
• Participation in Transparency Workshop (Bamyan) .
• District event for accountability and reporting organised
• Students from Bamyan University learn
BU students visiting Kahmard

24. Lessons Learnt
• IWM contributes to the local priorities and national programs:
– NPP1 (National Water and Natural Resources Development Program )
– NPP2 (National Comprehensive Agriculture Production and Market Development Program)
SNAP DRR
• Integrated, community-based approach with long-term support is important for disaster risk
management and improved livelihoods.
• Land ownership in the rangelands is complex. It has to be worked out carefully, involving
all stakeholders.
Baqa Kushta watershed
Kahmard
2008 2010

25. Specific lessons learnt
(for sustainability)
– Official recognition of watershed management committees and support from
Government necessary.
– Registration of CBDRM committees requires clear procedures and guidelines
from the government.
– People settling in flood prone areas are at risk. Need for more awareness and
sound land use planning and regulations.

26. Thank you for your kind attention!