Gala Dam’s current water reserve a stepping stone to enhanced irrigation farming, Say inhabitants of Lamza Administrative area
The inhabitants of Lamza Administrative area, Gala-Nefhi sub-zone, expressed conviction that the current water reserve secured at Gala Dam would significantly foster irrigation farming in the area.
Gala-Nefhi, 31 July 2012 – The inhabitants of Lamza Administrative area, Gala-Nefhi sub-zone, expressed conviction that the current water reserve secured at Gala Dam would significantly foster irrigation farming in the area.
Pointing out that the locality’s potential as regards irrigation farming could not so far be exploited due to limited water resource, Mr. Beyene Tesfai, Haben Teklemariam and Amanuel Gebremeskel said that the recently built dam would play vital role in this regard upon holding ample water, and that they have rolled up their sleeves for extensive agricultural activities.
Mr. Woldeab Woldeyohanes, Administrator of the locality, indicated that the inhabitants possess rich experience regarding irrigation farming, and that the area is suitable for the cultivation of more than 25 varieties of fruits and vegetables. He also called on them to focus on improving the capacity of water pump motors.
Mr. Abraham Daniel, head of the Agriculture Ministry’s branch in the Central region, stated that Gala Dam, one of the high-capacity dams in the region, was constructed this year at an expenditure of more than 14 million Nakfa with a view to ensuring potable water supply, besides securing water reserve for better practice of irrigation farming in the area. He further indicated that the dam with a capacity of 1 million cubic meters has already accumulated 900,000 cubic meters of water within the current rainy season, the volume of which would be sufficient in carrying out extensive farming activities in the surrounding 100 hectare-wide farmland.
Mr. Abraham called on the beneficiary farmers from the villages of Lamza, Adi-Hakefa and Adi-Keshi to practice judicious utilization of water resource.
Reports indicate that there exist more than 80 dams and micro-dams in the Central region, on the basis of which irrigation farming could be carried out on around 2,000 hectares.