Tatweer Ministry of Water Resources & Ministry of Agriculture Field Inventory Management Project Work In Progress Report October 2008
7 Oct 2008
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On 6 August 2008 the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) and Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) 40 person field survey team completed the collection of data and a field assessment of the irrigation infrastructure and farmland found in the South Rashidiya area. This included approximately 113 Km of primary and secondary canals, 132 Km of drainage channels, 709 individual farms, and the South Rashidiya irrigation pump station. All of the data collected was geo-referenced through the use of hand held GPS devices, and is presently being entered into the MoWR geographic information system (GIS), where it will undergo further analysis as described below.
The forms for collecting this data, and training in field data collection methods were provided to the 40 field survey technicians by the MoWR GIS Department Manager Mudher Abdullah Watani, and TATWEER Local Advisor Dr. Ismail Hummadi.
GIS Setup & Training
As part of the data entry process, The MoWR GIS Department has developed a combined MoWR and MoA database reflecting the entire farmland and irrigation infrastructure located in the South Rashidiya area. The agricultural portion of this data base, including farmland, crops, and related information will ultimately become part of a GIS which is being provided to the MoA under the TATWEER Program. Training in data structure, data input, and aggregation is being provided to the MoA team by MoWR GIS Department staff. The design of the MoA farmland and crop database will insure that both MoWR and MoA systems will share compatible and complimentary data in the future, inclusive of all farmland and irrigation systems throughout the GoI. Data entry for the South Rashidiya area is currently underway and is expected to be completed by 15 September.
Mudher Watani will be presenting the South Rashidiya project at the forthcoming GIS Service Delivery Symposium scheduled to take place on October 19 – 21 at the Al Rasheed Hotel. Mr. Watani will be a keynote speaker at this event, and will be emphasizing the importance of inter-ministerial data sharing for effective resource planning and management and how the lessons learned from the Rashidiya project apply to all GoI ministries.
Economic Analysis/Feasibility Study for South Rashidiya irrigation infrastructure rehabilitation
On Monday 1 September, the TATWEER MoWR Team, Inma, and MoWR Sadr Canal staff met with the Minister of Water. The purpose of the meeting was to request his approval for funding to rehabilitate the irrigation systems in South Rashidiya. His response was favorable, but he insisted that the MoWR Team first complete the analysis of data obtained during the South Rashidiya field survey, and subsequently prepare an economic feasibility study demonstrating that the cost of repairs are justified by the anticipated Agricultural output. At this time the completion of that survey is considered as high priority, and as soon as it’s done a new meeting should be scheduled with the Minister to obtain his commitment for work completion. Completing the analysis and feasibility study requires that the following activities must take place:
Data Aggregation/Assessment and Report Generation
1. It is suggested that the irrigation and drainage canal data collected during the field survey and subsequently entered into the MoWR GIS should be aggregated as shown below, with a detailed cost estimate prepared for each activity:
• Phase I - Irrigation channel and drainage canal cleanout, patching, and minor repairs – This involves that minimal maintenance work required to rehabilitate the primary, secondary and tertiary canals sufficiently to restore water delivery to the farming community prior to the 2009 planting season.
• Phase II - Capital construction including major rebuilds of the irrigation channels, drainage canals and appurtenances – Relining, replacement, and extension of the existing canal, and drainage network in South Rashidiya.
• Phase III – South Rashidiya irrigation pump station repairs and upgrades – Improvements to the South Rashidiya irrigation pump station including:
o Replacement of existing horizontal pumps with new vertical pumps
o Building to house pumps
o Upgrades to generators, transformers and other on-site facilities
2. Data entry of the farm data, including crop distribution collected during the field survey should be completed. A thematic map showing the distribution and area of primary crops grown in the South Rashidiya should be produced. This information can then be used by the MoA to calculate potential yields (with input from INMA relative to new high yield plants and improved irrigation, growing methodology, and market strategies planned for implementation in South Rashidiya under the INMA project); and anticipated market value.
3. Calculate the return on investment including multi-phased upgrades to the irrigation infrastructure in South Rashidiya (as described above), compared to the annual rate of return anticipated from the sale of agricultural products.
The MoWR Team consisting of the DG for Design and Construction, the DG for Water Resources Management, and their staff including the MoWR Geographic Information Systems Department are presently working on this economic feasibility study. It is anticipated that a final draft of this report will be completed by early October, and a second meeting with the Minister of Water is planned to take place during the latter half of the month.
The primary goal is to seek all the necessary approvals so that the initial Phase- I work may be completed prior to the 2009 planting season.
South Rashidiya Agricultural Community Commitment
During the 1 September meeting the Minister of Water also stipulated that any approval to rehabilitate the South Rashidiya irrigation systems would require a renewed agreement with the farmer community to: maintain those portions of the irrigation systems for which they are responsible; and concurrently commit to a program for effective utilization and sharing of scarce water resources that is environmentally sound and economically viable.
Irrigation Systems Maintenance
1. Although the MoWR may invest the funds to completely rehabilitate all the water pumping, delivery, and collection systems in South Rashidiya, it is required under existing GoI regulations that the individual farmers must assume responsibility for maintaining those tertiary canals and drainage ditches servicing their planted fields. Before rehabilitation can begin, the MoWR wants to insure that the necessary resources, procedures, and funding mechanisms are in place to make this happen.
One potential program for provision of minimally skilled labor is currently being investigated by Tatweer and Inma. This program which is apparently administered by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), would provide for training and education of local laborers in canal cleaning and basic maintenance. Initially this program might be funded with CERP and/or ICERP funding, but ultimately would result in a team of semi skilled technicians that would work for the local farmers through a program sponsored and paid for by the market council. The procedures, funding mechanism, and administration of such a program still need to be researched, and will be discussed more thoroughly in a future workshop with the South Rashidiya Market Council.
2. Improved Agricultural Practices – Working through the Rashidiya Market Council, the INMA, ePRT-5, and TATWEER MoWR & MoA project teams are committed to helping the South Rashidiya community develop programs which will include the following:
• Market based crop selection
• Improved crop yields
• Packaging and shipment
• Best Irrigation Practices
• Water economics
South Rashidiya irrigation pump station Power Supply
Tatweer Senior Advisors representing the Ministry of Electricity are currently working with PRT-5 to identify a potential solution for the lack of electrical power at the South Rashidiya irrigation pump station. Currently that pump station only has enough power available to pump 4 – 6 hours per day. In order to pump water to the full extent of the canal system 24 hours per day electrical power supply is required. The station is able to supplement its power with generator capacity, but this is still not sufficient, nor cost effective to maintain 24 hour capacity. In conjunction with PRT-5 representatives from the 2-25 SBCT have established a scope of work, and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Garma Co. to construct an 11KV dedicated feeder cable from Zujajiat 33/11KV substation to the South Rashidiya irrigation pump station. The cost for this installation is $975,435.00. MoE approval for this installation has been obtained, and CERP funds have been requested. Approval for the CERP funding has not yet been obtained, and actual implementation may require MoWR agreement to refurbish the South Rashidiya canal systems as outlined above.
Selection of Next Field Survey Area
Concurrent with the rehabilitation of the South Rashidiya irrigation systems, and subsequent implementation of an agricultural improvement program, it is planned that the existing trained MoWR/MoA field survey teams will commence activities on the next field survey area. In a recent meeting conducted by representatives from ePRT-5, Tatweer, and Inma one possible area has been identified, and presented to the MoWR and MoA for consideration. It includes those irrigation systems serving the area located northwest of Kazimiya, and South of Saab Al Bour. Actual selection of the next survey area will take place in a forthcoming workshop which will include representation from MoWR, MoA, Tatweer, Inma, and ePRT-5. Presently this workshop is scheduled to take place during the third week of October.
The forms for collecting this data, and training in field data collection methods were provided to the 40 field survey technicians by the MoWR GIS Department Manager Mudher Abdullah Watani, and TATWEER Local Advisor Dr. Ismail Hummadi.
GIS Setup & Training
As part of the data entry process, The MoWR GIS Department has developed a combined MoWR and MoA database reflecting the entire farmland and irrigation infrastructure located in the South Rashidiya area. The agricultural portion of this data base, including farmland, crops, and related information will ultimately become part of a GIS which is being provided to the MoA under the TATWEER Program. Training in data structure, data input, and aggregation is being provided to the MoA team by MoWR GIS Department staff. The design of the MoA farmland and crop database will insure that both MoWR and MoA systems will share compatible and complimentary data in the future, inclusive of all farmland and irrigation systems throughout the GoI. Data entry for the South Rashidiya area is currently underway and is expected to be completed by 15 September.
Mudher Watani will be presenting the South Rashidiya project at the forthcoming GIS Service Delivery Symposium scheduled to take place on October 19 – 21 at the Al Rasheed Hotel. Mr. Watani will be a keynote speaker at this event, and will be emphasizing the importance of inter-ministerial data sharing for effective resource planning and management and how the lessons learned from the Rashidiya project apply to all GoI ministries.
Economic Analysis/Feasibility Study for South Rashidiya irrigation infrastructure rehabilitation
On Monday 1 September, the TATWEER MoWR Team, Inma, and MoWR Sadr Canal staff met with the Minister of Water. The purpose of the meeting was to request his approval for funding to rehabilitate the irrigation systems in South Rashidiya. His response was favorable, but he insisted that the MoWR Team first complete the analysis of data obtained during the South Rashidiya field survey, and subsequently prepare an economic feasibility study demonstrating that the cost of repairs are justified by the anticipated Agricultural output. At this time the completion of that survey is considered as high priority, and as soon as it’s done a new meeting should be scheduled with the Minister to obtain his commitment for work completion. Completing the analysis and feasibility study requires that the following activities must take place:
Data Aggregation/Assessment and Report Generation
1. It is suggested that the irrigation and drainage canal data collected during the field survey and subsequently entered into the MoWR GIS should be aggregated as shown below, with a detailed cost estimate prepared for each activity:
• Phase I - Irrigation channel and drainage canal cleanout, patching, and minor repairs – This involves that minimal maintenance work required to rehabilitate the primary, secondary and tertiary canals sufficiently to restore water delivery to the farming community prior to the 2009 planting season.
• Phase II - Capital construction including major rebuilds of the irrigation channels, drainage canals and appurtenances – Relining, replacement, and extension of the existing canal, and drainage network in South Rashidiya.
• Phase III – South Rashidiya irrigation pump station repairs and upgrades – Improvements to the South Rashidiya irrigation pump station including:
o Replacement of existing horizontal pumps with new vertical pumps
o Building to house pumps
o Upgrades to generators, transformers and other on-site facilities
2. Data entry of the farm data, including crop distribution collected during the field survey should be completed. A thematic map showing the distribution and area of primary crops grown in the South Rashidiya should be produced. This information can then be used by the MoA to calculate potential yields (with input from INMA relative to new high yield plants and improved irrigation, growing methodology, and market strategies planned for implementation in South Rashidiya under the INMA project); and anticipated market value.
3. Calculate the return on investment including multi-phased upgrades to the irrigation infrastructure in South Rashidiya (as described above), compared to the annual rate of return anticipated from the sale of agricultural products.
The MoWR Team consisting of the DG for Design and Construction, the DG for Water Resources Management, and their staff including the MoWR Geographic Information Systems Department are presently working on this economic feasibility study. It is anticipated that a final draft of this report will be completed by early October, and a second meeting with the Minister of Water is planned to take place during the latter half of the month.
The primary goal is to seek all the necessary approvals so that the initial Phase- I work may be completed prior to the 2009 planting season.
South Rashidiya Agricultural Community Commitment
During the 1 September meeting the Minister of Water also stipulated that any approval to rehabilitate the South Rashidiya irrigation systems would require a renewed agreement with the farmer community to: maintain those portions of the irrigation systems for which they are responsible; and concurrently commit to a program for effective utilization and sharing of scarce water resources that is environmentally sound and economically viable.
Irrigation Systems Maintenance
1. Although the MoWR may invest the funds to completely rehabilitate all the water pumping, delivery, and collection systems in South Rashidiya, it is required under existing GoI regulations that the individual farmers must assume responsibility for maintaining those tertiary canals and drainage ditches servicing their planted fields. Before rehabilitation can begin, the MoWR wants to insure that the necessary resources, procedures, and funding mechanisms are in place to make this happen.
One potential program for provision of minimally skilled labor is currently being investigated by Tatweer and Inma. This program which is apparently administered by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), would provide for training and education of local laborers in canal cleaning and basic maintenance. Initially this program might be funded with CERP and/or ICERP funding, but ultimately would result in a team of semi skilled technicians that would work for the local farmers through a program sponsored and paid for by the market council. The procedures, funding mechanism, and administration of such a program still need to be researched, and will be discussed more thoroughly in a future workshop with the South Rashidiya Market Council.
2. Improved Agricultural Practices – Working through the Rashidiya Market Council, the INMA, ePRT-5, and TATWEER MoWR & MoA project teams are committed to helping the South Rashidiya community develop programs which will include the following:
• Market based crop selection
• Improved crop yields
• Packaging and shipment
• Best Irrigation Practices
• Water economics
South Rashidiya irrigation pump station Power Supply
Tatweer Senior Advisors representing the Ministry of Electricity are currently working with PRT-5 to identify a potential solution for the lack of electrical power at the South Rashidiya irrigation pump station. Currently that pump station only has enough power available to pump 4 – 6 hours per day. In order to pump water to the full extent of the canal system 24 hours per day electrical power supply is required. The station is able to supplement its power with generator capacity, but this is still not sufficient, nor cost effective to maintain 24 hour capacity. In conjunction with PRT-5 representatives from the 2-25 SBCT have established a scope of work, and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Garma Co. to construct an 11KV dedicated feeder cable from Zujajiat 33/11KV substation to the South Rashidiya irrigation pump station. The cost for this installation is $975,435.00. MoE approval for this installation has been obtained, and CERP funds have been requested. Approval for the CERP funding has not yet been obtained, and actual implementation may require MoWR agreement to refurbish the South Rashidiya canal systems as outlined above.
Selection of Next Field Survey Area
Concurrent with the rehabilitation of the South Rashidiya irrigation systems, and subsequent implementation of an agricultural improvement program, it is planned that the existing trained MoWR/MoA field survey teams will commence activities on the next field survey area. In a recent meeting conducted by representatives from ePRT-5, Tatweer, and Inma one possible area has been identified, and presented to the MoWR and MoA for consideration. It includes those irrigation systems serving the area located northwest of Kazimiya, and South of Saab Al Bour. Actual selection of the next survey area will take place in a forthcoming workshop which will include representation from MoWR, MoA, Tatweer, Inma, and ePRT-5. Presently this workshop is scheduled to take place during the third week of October.
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