Recommended practices

Ethiopia

PHOTO 11.1

Developing a roadside pond in Kenya

Source: © MetaMeta (www.roadsforwater.com). Used with the permission of MetaMeta (www.roadsforwater.com). Further permission required for reuse.

Farm ponds are one of the most important kinds of rainwater-harvesting structures. In general, water leaving an area without serving the needs of that area can be considered a lost opportunity. Farm ponds can be systematically developed to capture concentrated runoff along road sections rather than letting the runoff play havoc with the areas surrounding the road or even undermine the road body itself. Systematic development of farm ponds is an important method for capturing this road-guided runoff.

Farm ponds may be used for irrigation (full or supplementary; photos 11.2 and 11.3) and livestock watering. With treatment they can also be used for domestic applications. In addition, ponds can be used for recharging groundwater, catchment protection (that is, soil erosion control), ecosystem and biodiversity conservation and rehabilitation, and recreation.

The primary application of farm ponds is in dry lands where they can be a critical source of additional water. Farm ponds can also be used in wet areas for irrigation and livestock watering during dry spells.