The Maasai are struggling with frequent water shortages which are threatening their way of life.

My name is Maxwell Abok and I am in the OL 341 class. I am working on a project to improve access to water for the masai in Tanzania. There are a number of best practices that have have worked well in other areas where rain is received, the water is trapped and stored in underground tanks and later used for irrigation to water their crops and vegetables.

But for the Masai, each passing day, the rain they promise frequently fails to show up. What other strategies are there to increase access to water for this community?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by KAJUBI ELIJAH on October 3, 2011 at 2:52am

Dear Maxwell,

I imagine the area you are describing is complex agroecological zone similar to Kalamoja region in North Eastern Uganda. Such areas are predominatly in cattle corridor zone, whereby peoples' livelihoods is complex according to us. What I know is those community members have a wealthy of indegioneous practices which should first be tapped into before you consult any expert knowlegde.I would like to refer you to some interesting study of the publication I have read from my former university library

http://www.recoveryplatform.org/assets/submission/200909020926_good...

Personnaly, I am of the view that policy makers in most cases dont think ahead/proactively. Climate change call for re-examining all existing natural resource management policies especially in drylands. Some of the measures I have read in literature concerns relaxing some policies for this groups to allow them have a fall back position, besides construction of valley dams,

I hope you will find some clues to provike your thoughts in your interesting project

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