TOPIC TWO
WATER
RESOURCES UTILIZATION
Agricultural
water use
o The main objective of the national agricultural
policy is to ensure food security at national and household level.
o In the year 2002 the sector contributed of 48.2% of
the Growth Domestic Product (GDP). Currently agricultural growth continues to
be closely aligned to the GDP growth, implying continued strong influence in
the national economy despite the decline in GDP contribution. Between 2000 and
two 2008 the agricultural sector growth rate averaged 4.6%.
o Tanzania has about 43 million hectors of land
suitable for agricultural production of which 6.3 million hectors are under
cultivation. This represents about 15% of the arable land.
o Agriculture which is mostly rain – fed remains
susceptible to drought as well as the inadequate and erratic nature of rainfall
o Irrigated agriculture protects against drought and
ensures food security. It is a means for poverty alleviation as more and more
people go into cultivation of irrigated high value crops such as vegetables and
fruits.
o Irrigation potential in the country is estimated to
be at 150, 000 million hectares, of which only about 150,000 hectares were
under irrigation in 2002.
o 80% of the irrigated area is under traditional
irrigation schemes with low level water use efficiencies.
o The remaining 20% are large centrally managed
irrigation schemes owned by public and private institutions and individuals.
o In the Pangani and Rufiji basins, Irrigation schemes
are located upstream of major hydro power plants thus the two sectors are
competing for the same source of water.
o Agricultural activities also contribute to water
pollution from the use of agrochemicals, which are washed by rain water and
find their way to water sources.
The
industrial water use sector
o This sector contributed about 8.3% to Tanzania’s GDP
in 1999 and 8.4% in 2000.
o In terms of growth the sector grew by 4.8% in the
year 2000 compared with 3.6% in 1999.
o Industrial performance depends, among other factors
on reliable water supply.
o Based on economic growth rates estimated for the
period 1995 – 2025 water will be needed for the anticipated growth of the
industrial sector
o The contribution of this sector is said to be more
than tripled by the year 2025
o The Tanzania development vision predicts
transforming the economy from a low productivity agricultural economy to a semi
industrialized country and to increase to increase the sectors contribution to
the GDP.
o This implies that adequate and reliable water supply
is required for the growth of this sector.
o The growth in the industrial sector will have
significant impact in water supply, and also in terms of potential pollution
and degradation of water resources due to industrial solid wastes and effluents
if not properly disposed off, but are allowed into water bodies without
adequate treatment.
The
Mining Sector
o Mining is an important economic sector for Tanzania
and is growing rapidly.
o The vision for the mineral sector for the next 25
years is to have a strong, vibrant, well organized private sector.
o The mining prastatals have also been privatized and
the sector opened up to private investors due to trade liberalization process,
as the result the sector has attracted significant foreign investors
o Private mining sectors are into two main groups
a) Artisan and small scale mining, dominated by
Tanzanians
b) Large scale mining conducted by mostly by foreign
investors
o The contribution of the mining sector to the GDP
increased from 2.1% in the year 1999 to 2.3% in 2000. In the year 2008 its
contribution rose to 13.7%.
o The sector had a growth rate of 13.9% in the year
2000 compared with 9.1% in 1999.
o The government is striving at providing the
conducive environment to ensure a rapid expansion of the sector.
o This includes motivating and promoting large and
small scale mining operations which are environmentally sound.
o Large quantity of water is used during processing
and discharged thereafter if contaminated can pollute water sources.
Energy
sector
o More than 60% of energy produced in the country is
from hydropower plants and more potential is available for development, for
instance in River Mara and River Kagera.
o However development of hydropower in these rivers
requires agreements with riparian countries
o Hydropower is not a consumptive water user but a
renewable source of energy.
o However hydropower development in the country is
associated with large storage reservoirs situated in areas with high
evaporation losses.
o For example losses from Mtera and Nyumba ya Mungu
reservoirs are above 30% of the total inflow into these reservoirs.
o Water sources for hydropower generation will be
developed especially in the Kilombero sub basin of the Rufiji basin, the Rufiji
River, and in Lake Nyasa basin.
o Main Hydropower issues include management of
reservoirs, conflicts with downstream and upstream users and negative impacts
on the environment.
Fisheries
sector
o Tanzania is rich in marine and inland fishery
resources.
o The fisheries sector has a lot of economic and social
significance to the country as it contributes greatly towards poverty
alleviation and food security.
o It also provides employment and livelihood to a
substantial number of people and promotes recreation and tourism
o The sector’s contribution to the GDP in year 2000
was 2.7% while in 1999 it contributed 2.6%. Its contribution rose to 5.3% in
2008.
o The main sector issue and concern is water
availability of acceptable quality.
Environmental
flow
o In – stream flows or environmental flows and levels
are necessary for riparian biodiversity, wetland systems, freshwater – seawater
balance in deltas and estuaries.
o Reduction of water of water volume affects aquatic
life by reducing dissolved oxygen and supply of nutrients.
o The effluents created by urban water use, if not
treated, pollute surface and groundwater resources.
o Additionally, overexploitation of water resources
which does not take into account other uses is also a source of environmental
degradation.
o There are numerous permanent and seasonal freshwater
swamps.
o These together with flood plain areas cover a total
area of 2.7 million hectares, they enable the development of special types of
plants and animals which are important for environmental conservation and often
among the most productive of natural environments.
o They usually contain rare and endangered species of
plants, fish, and other animals.
o The importance of the environment is manifested by
such activities as tourism, fishing and hunting.
o They also play an important role in the hydrological
cycle, flood control, sediment retention, and nutrient recycling and
microclimate stabilization.
o The deltas of coastal rivers are especially
important as nursery areas aquatic life, tourism and recreation.
Importance of environmental
flows
o In –
stream flows or environmental flows and levels are necessary for riparian
biodiversity, wetland systems, freshwater – seawater balance in deltas and
estuaries.
o There are
numerous permanent, seasonal freshwater swamps and flood plain areas which
together cover 2.7 million hectares in Tanzania.
o They
enable the development of special types of plants and animals which are
important for environmental conservation and often among the most productive of
natural environments.
o They also
play an important role in the hydrological cycle, flood control, sediment
retention, and nutrient recycling and microclimate stabilization.
o The
deltas of coastal rivers are especially important as nursery areas for aquatic
life, tourism and recreation.
Threats to environmental
flows
o Stream
flows or environmental flows are increasingly being
modified when water is withdrawn for agriculture, urban use, and hydropower and
when it is not returned to the river through drainage or groundwater flow.
o Thus the flow of many rivers has been reduced or
seasonally altered changing the size and frequency of floods, the length and
severity of droughts, and adversely affecting ecosystems.
o Indeed, a number of rivers run dry before they reach
their destination.
o Reduction
of water of water volume affects aquatic life by reducing dissolved oxygen and
supply of nutrients.
o The
effluents created by urban water use, if not treated, pollute surface and
groundwater resources.
o Additionally,
overexploitation of water resources which does not take into account other uses
is also a source of environmental degradation.
Wildlife and tourism
A
partially submerged hippopotamus tries to keep cool in
the hot African sun.
Flamingo birds are
among the well known water birds
o The
wildlife sector contributes almost 2% to the GDP in 2000. Tourism is among the
sectors with great economic growth potential for the nation
o Our country has 804 km of unpolluted beach areas. In
addition there exists beautiful waterfalls, valleys, large rivers, hot springs,
National Parks, which offer outstanding experience for tourists and recreation
purposes.
o Examples of hot spring in Tanzania include Chemka
near Moshi town in Kilkimanjaro, lake Manyara hot springs,Galanos hot springs
in Amboni Tanga, and Maji moto hot spring in Katavi
Chemka natural hot springs Hidden by beautiful green forest
•
Depletion of water in some rivers during dry season,
disrupted the lives of animals, and thus result in serious consequences to the
tourism industry and national economy.
Domestic
water supply
o Tanzania’s population is currently is estimated to
be more than 40 million.
o Among these 80% live in rural areas. The projected
population by 2025 is expected to be more than 78 Million with 60% living
rural areas.
o The growth of population will have a negative impact
on domestic water supply and in sanitation and sewerage services if appropriate
measures are not taken.
o By 2002 the water services coverage for municipal
and industrial water supply was 73% and for rural water supply it was 50%.
o In many areas of the dry central part of the country
water is so scarce that even water for personal hygiene cannot easily be found.
o People especially women and children, walk long
distances to fetch water.
o The national economy suffers because of inadequate
water supplies to the urban and rural areas.
Wildlife
and tourism
o Tanzania’s wildlife protected area covers 28% of the
total land area, of which 19% is devoted to wildlife in Protected national
Parks where no human settlement is allowed.
o The rest of the area wildlife co-exists with humans.
o The wildlife sector contributes almost 2% to the GDP
in 2000. Tourism is among the sectors with great economic growth potential for
the nation.
o For instances our country has 804 km of unpolluted
beach areas. In addition there exists beautiful waterfalls, valleys, large
rivers, hot springs, National Parks, which offer outstanding experience for
tourists and recreation purposes.
o Depletion of water in some rivers during dry season,
disrupted the lives of animals, and thus result in serious consequences to the
tourism industry and national economy.
Forestry and beekeeping
o
Tanzania
has about 33.5 million hectares of forests and woodlands. Out of this about two
thirds consist of woodlands on public lands that are under enormous pressure
from expansion of agricultural activities, livestock grazing, fires and other
human activities.
o
The
forest offer habitat for wildlife, bee keeping, unique natural ecosystems and
genetic resources, and have an important effect on the conservation of water
resources.
o
Forestry
and bee keeping contributed 3% to the GDP in 2000
Navigation
o
Tanzania
has few potentially navigable rivers due to the sharp relief contrast between
the coastal line and inland.
o
Nevertheless,
the rivers such Rufiji, Kilombero, and Madagarasi, are used for transportation
to some extent.
o
There
are also some ferry crossings, which require maintenance of adequate river
flows and levels.
o
The
three Great East Africa Lakes form important national and inter – country
navigational water bodies
o
Oil
spills and wastes associated with navigation vessels are detrimental to the
quality of the water.
Is there any further reading you would recommend on this?
ReplyDeleteAmela Jones
Industrial water supply