Assessment of Indigenous Water Management System: A Case Study of Borana Community, Southern Ethiopia

Jatani Bonaya Godana^* and Sisay Demeku Derib
^*Correspondence: Jatani Bonaya Godana, College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Department of Water Supply and Sanitary Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Ethiopia, Tel: +8618709489146;, Email:

Keywords

Abba Herrega • Abba Guyya • Meri • Tula Sallan • Deep wells • Surface water • Groundwater

Introduction

Water is vital to life. Without water may, the life was difficult. Water has a strong tie to the physical and spiritual well-being of humankind. Notwithstanding of the differences in religion, culture, and social norms, every person depends on water [1]. The Indigenous water resources management system of the Borana Community based on indigenous administration system of Gada rule of ‘Madda Bisaanii’ means ‘sources of water. Principal to the achievement of Borana pastoral system is the advanced Institutes of water management and land use, which subjective to landscape types and water patterns. Borana have defined local property rights to water sources [2]. The Borana traditional water resources have used to regulate watering systems [3]. The Borana land water sources divided into Surface water and Groundwater (Tula-wells). Surface water is temporary rain harvesting structures in the valley, rock, naturally depressed areas ‘Dambalaa’, Puddles of rainwater ‘’Doloolloo’’ which are seasonal and naturally running water ‘’Lolaa/floods’’ when it rains.

Some spring water sources developed into wells and further divided into ‘Adaadii and Tulaa’. Tula is/are found in hot lowland of Borana (gammoojjii) areas where there is scarce of water sources. Adaadii wells often founded in a forested upland (baddaa) or in its systems where there is relatively wetness. Ponds are rain surface water harvesting structures often found in hot lowland areas, which are located at far-away from Tula sources.

The Borana Gada territory, of southern Ethiopia circled by three national rivers locally called ‘Galaanii sadeen dheeda Boorana Xoophiyaa marsa’ means three river tamped Borana of Southern Ethiopia. These three rivers are Ganale, Dawa and Segen. These three national rivers cross through the remote and bordering areas of the Borana land. Ganale River delineates Liban Region of the Borana Gada territory from Bale Zone; Dawa River splits Liban and Dire Regions of the Borana Gada territory, and Segan River bonds boundary between Borana Gada territory and Konso Land of southern, Ethiopia. These three rivers are across the southern Ethiopian desert, uncomforted for herds as it marks in the gorges and there is continuous boarder conflict with the neighbor’s pastoralist community.

Therefore, Borana focused into the Tula Cluster area ‘of Borana Desert; which is copious for their herds. The Borana Gada territory crosses Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. Currently dominantly, they live in southern Ethiopia (called Borana Liban and Dirre /Liban-Dirre Gada territory) and Northern Kenya (Borana Saku and Borana Waso/ Saku-Waso Gada territory). However, they live in different and far area; their indigenous water management system is the same. Reverse of this, the area of Tula Sallan Cluster is limited to the Borana Dirre Gada Territory currently called Borana zone, of Oromia regional state. However, there are some deep wells in Liban, Saku and Waso of Borana Gada territory, but not Tula. The study has focused on the general assessment of indigenous water resources management system and specifically hit the traditional water management of Tula Sallan Borana as ‘Deep wells (groundwater) management system.

The further studies on water management that titled “Indigenous Practices of Water Management for Sustainable Services Case of Borana and Konso, Ethiopia” is basically explain the three major features the associated with Borana traditional water management [4]. They tried to clarify the three features as the sources of solidarity in Borana originated from water. However, this very interested study; may lack the watering principles, period and animals’ prestige of Borana which depending on water sources uses calendar of Borana and very general. Therefore, this study has emphasized on this gap, as the indigenous Borana water management system has a huge hierarchy and based on Borana water sources uses calendar. Borana water sources uses calendar based on types of water sources, principal users, seasons of a year and period of utilization. In Borana indigenous water management system the words Konfi, Abba Herrega, Abba Guyya, Kora Hara ela, Obatu and Totu have much known.

‘Konfi’ is father of the water point/sources, whether it is ponds, adadi or tula. The power of Konfi inherited to children, grandchildren, and so on. The group that able to manage the system organized by elders of the clans with the lead of the Konfi to form a water point council traditionally called ‘Kora Hara-Eela’.

‘Abba Herrega’ is an officer who follows up on the daily watering order and maintenance system at water point. Abba Herrega nominated on the virtue of managing ability, regard, and righteousness.

‘Abba Guyya’ is the one who has the power to control the daily activities around the water sources on his/her day of watering livestock.

‘Obatu’ are the collective name of all participants come to the water sources to manage and watering their herds.

‘Totu’ are the persons who line up to lift water from the Tula wells (groundwater) to Faccana (reservoir) and a cattle trough in case of Adadi and Tula.

‘Obatu hara’ is the persons those draw up ‘Meerii’ and fence the ponds in instance of ponds (surface water).

‘Gogessa’ is the line of ‘Totu’ and may short or long depends on the depth of the water in the Tula.

‘Finna Hara-Ela’ (Borana Water Sources Council /Finna Madda Bisaanii) are an assembly of the water source users that headed by the Konfi.

The core role of Borana Indigenous water sources council in the water management system is negotiation, mediation, enforcement and water allocation among the number of Ponds and Tula Sallan built on the ‘Seeraa Finna Haraa Eelaa’ (water sources rule).. In Borana, nobody excluded from using water. The management practice of Indigenous Borana Water Management System has no formal committee that constitutes a chairperson, financial officer, and so on, which commonly had known in Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and water users associations in irrigation systems. The management in Borana is unique in its nature. The governing rule is the Gada system (Gada Institutional Arrangement). Generally, grounded on ‘Gada Institutional Arrangement’ Traditionally; Borana manages water resources properly. Therefore, the Borana Indigenous Water management system is very important in and need further advanced to develop into modern water management system.

Materials and Methods

Description of the study area

The study was took place at Borana Dirre zone (currently called Borana zone) and traditionally called ‘Dheeda Boorana Dirree’. Borana zone is one of the zones of the Oromia Regional state of Ethiopia. Borana Land ( Gada Territory) bordered on the south by Kenya, on the west by the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the north by West Guji, North east by Arsi and on the east by Somali Land. The study had taken place in Borana Dirre as all Tula Sallan cluster found in Borana Dirre (currently called Borana Zone). Borana Dirre of southern Ethiopia land covers 95,740.23 km² of the total land mass of the country and located to the south of the country. Geographically, the Borana Dirre zone were study took place lie between (3°36’- 6°38’) E latitude and (3°43’-39°30’) N longitude (Figure 1).

Borana zone has mainly characterized by a semi-arid climate. The area characterized by a general scarcity of surface water. The main source of water is a Tula. The other main alternative water sources in Borana Dirre are artificial lakes like Bake, Orbatte, Hara Bule, Daballe and etc. and two rivers at the edge of the zonal border Dawa (between Libani and Dirre), Sagan (between Borana and Konso). Annual mean temperatures vary from 19 to 240C with little seasonal variations. Average annual rainfall varies from 440 to 1100mm. The zone comprises of two-town administration (Yaballo and Moyale town) and thirteen districts namely Yaballo, Dirre, Dillo, Moyale, Dhas, Teltele, Gomole, Guchi, Arero, Miyo, Dubluk, Wachile and Elwaye and devours human population over 2.1 million consisting of equal proportion of male and female [5].

Borana zone has mainly characterized by a semi-arid climate. The area characterized by a general scarcity of surface water. The main source of water is a Tula. The other main alternative water sources in Borana Dirre are artificial lakes like Bake, Orbatte, Hara Bule, Daballe and etc. and two rivers at the edge of the zonal border Dawa (between Libani and Dirre), Sagan (between Borana and Konso). Annual mean temperatures vary from 19 to 240C with little seasonal variations. Average annual rainfall varies from 440 to 1100mm. The zone comprises of two-town administration (Yaballo and Moyale town) and thirteen districts namely Yaballo, Dirre, Dillo, Moyale, Dhas, Teltele, Gomole, Guchi, Arero, Miyo, Dubluk, Wachile and Elwaye and devours human population over 2.1 million consisting of equal proportion of male and female [5].

The Borana zone pastoralists are survival livestock producers. The plenteously of livestock is the paramount resource of the areas that makes Ethiopia the first in Africa and the ninth in the world by cattle population. They mainly live on milk but increasingly supplemented by cereal grain. The annual livestock off-take is very low and directed to finance pastoral household basic requirements. Dry land cultivation has substantially increased in the area over the last two decades. Gross income of a pastoral household is the sum of subsistence plus marketed production and currently their income is decreasing extremely due to continuous dry climate condition (long dry season).

Data collection

Data collection procedure was followed both primary and secondary data collection. The researcher was followed interview, focus group discussion, Questionnaire’s, and study area observation specially water sources point (Tula and Ponds). The data had collected at some water points located in Yabello, Dubluk, Miyo, Dhas and Wachille Districts. This was involved interviewed with key informants, group discussions, and field surveys at two ponds (Daballe and Bake) and in seven of the nine Tula-wells complexes locally known as Tula Sallan (i.e., Melbana, Dubluk/Elwak, Igo/Gofa Aba Rubo, Gorile/Gofa Tuto, Webi/Bosaro, Wachile, Irdar, Gofa and Laye) and the related documents had reviewed.

According to the researcher, field surveys data and interviews of informants from selected districts the Borana traditional water sources that have identified and developed by the local people using their indigenous knowledge and experience had known as ‘Bisaan Haraa Eelaa’ (Ponds and Wells) means locally stated as surface and groundwater. Also the Borana elders (Dr. Borbor Bule, Bonaya Godana, Jarso Jillo, Halake Jillo, Huka Garse, Jatani Dida, Dida Liban, Galam Gololle..) repeatedly told the same that Borana relies on Bisaan Haraa Eelaa.. These Borana Traditional water sources are Traditional Deep Wells or Singing Wells (Tulaa Sallan), Spring Fed Ponds (Yaatuu), Open Surface Ponds (Haroo), Unprotected Perennial and Seasonal Springs (Gootuu), Scoop Wells on Sandy Rivers (Haadha’aa) and Shallow Wells (Adaadii). The Borana traditional water sources have grouped into two major types. They are permanent sources and seasonal sources. The stable traditional Borana water sources include Tula Sallan and hand-dug ponds that sturdily controlled by traditional laws and principles than the seasonal sources [6].

Data analysis

The researcher had analysis the collected data in appropriate way by comparing the field survey took place at water sources, report survey from the zona l administration, zonal water and mineral office, and his own engineering aspects during his field visit at different ponds, Adadi and Tula. The Borana Indigenous water resources management at different sources has its own traditional rule and regulations that has based on the Borana customary law of Gada system. Therefore, the study discussion on Borana traditional water sources particular indigenous water resources management at Hand dug Ponds, Adadi and Tula (Tula Sallan) separately and collectively for conclusion and recommendations.

The traditional and engineering aspects of the water sources location and settlements of the population around the water sources had discussed according to the data collected by field observation, focus group discussion and interview of informants at selected water points.

The Indigenous Borana water resources management actors and indicators key of seasonal and indigenous water uses calendar had emphasized for every selected sources of water. This investigated through Borana indigenous watering principles, period and animals’ prestige of Borana community depending on water sources uses calendar, which may vary according to the types of water sources, principal users, seasons of a year and period of utilization.

Generally, the more emphasis specified on the concepts of water sources ownership experience, equity, enforcement, integrity, and unities, which are highly pronounced in modern water systems compared with that is of the Indigenous water managements system of Borana Community.

Conclusion

Borana Indigenous water management is the central to the success of Borana pastoral system is the advanced Institutions of resources management and land use. In Borana water management system and land use influenced by landscape types, land suitability, water and grazing patterns. Borana have defined local property rights to Tula-wells, Adadi and ponds. In general, the Borana traditional water management system/Institution has responsibility to organize and facilitate Tula “Eelaa (water wells)” and “Haroo (ponds)” maintenance and repair while all users have responsibilities to maintain wells and ponds on daily basis through contribution of labor, cash, animals and golden time. Especially the clan members that own theTula-wells or ponds should take lion share. The indigenous safeguarding upkeep for the water sources in Borana community includes the following techniques. These are Construction of fences, Cleaning the water sources on daily basis, Regular maintaining the of troughs (Naanniga) and temporary storage (Faccana) principally for Tulawells and Adadi, Repairing and making of new meerii at all watering day based of the amount of water distance and depth to the through of ponds, Periodically excavating of Tula-wells, Adadi and ponds and etc. Restricted watering is a long held practice of the Borana society that has positive attributes in terms of conserving human labor, extending grazing radius from water points and increasing water-use efficiency.

Recommendations

Grounded on the assessment of Borana indigenous water resources management study took place in the Borana zone, the researcher outcomes and remarks accelerated a tough way to develop and encourage this indigenous precious engineering approach into the modern water management and keep it also as it are stated as:

1. The earliest indigenous water resources management systems of Tula-wells as structures of the Tula-wells of the Borana is one of the cultural heritages in the world that need to get recognition for protection. Therefore, the local and highest government body of water actors, as well as ministry of water resources should give the attention to the indigenous knowledge of water in the different parts of the country in varies community of Ethiopia.

2. Borana indigenous water management systems are still active and tolerable to sustain water sources that may use as the best performs in the other parts of the country, any development practitioners’ requisite to respect and support them.

3. To improve sense of ownership with community side, water development projects should pass through indigenous water management systems

4. To conserve and pass the innovative indigenous water sources managements systems to the new generation, any water related actors on institutions in Borana requisite to articulate monitoring systems (what; when, who, why and how) of new water sources discovering and rehabilitation activities of the existing water sources.

5. Re-arranging or appropriate the settlements need to be in place around water sources to defend environmental sanitation, upgrade of WASH projects at near water sources, particularly at nine clusters of Tula.

6. Control the settlements and farmlands in the upper stream of water sources.

7. Harmonize indigenous water management systems with policies of regional and federal government among the ministry of water resources and river basins ministry of Ethiopia.

References

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