Impact of upstream watershed intervention on downstream irrigation, productivity and livelihoods of farming communities

CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems. 2021. Impact of upstream watershed intervention on downstream irrigation, productivity and livelihoods of farming communities. Reported in Water, Land and Ecosystems Annual Report 2021. Outcome Impact Case Report.

The community-based watershed management approach provides an example of contextualized knowledge and locally specific approaches that were successfully applied to transforming a degraded and unproductive landscape. Watershed interventions have reduced peak flows and resulted in a regulated flow and increased baseflow over the post rainy seasons. The sediment concentration reduced from high peaks (100-130 g/l) in 2018 to 20-25 g/l afterward. This change resulted in increased water yield to expanding irrigation areas and recharge springs to use for production intensification.