New investment, grazing methods needed in easing scarcity of water

Generally, water is taken for granted as a resource that is tied up with land occupancy. And while grazing or farming close to water sources has been discouraged for the past three decades, pumping water for irrigation is seen as normal.

All this has to be reconsidered, on the basis of intensifying shortage of the precious liquid and the hence the need for a more precise idea of rights and obligations linked to its availability, distribution and use.

For once, certain occupations that have been taken for granted though with a semblance of restrictions or ineffective guidance efforts will now clearly require more affirmative direction.

Twin aspects of a negative reality lurk when one looks, for instance, at the problem of having vast herds of cattle where their ability to feed near water sources is often the same as ability to feed at all, especially if there is drought, making the situation intolerable. The issue, though, is whether controls can be effected to the point of letting herders succumb.

That is why there is need to use forthcoming and even existing climate adaptation funds to vastly resettle migratory livestock keepers on mapped land, and provide them with loans with which to set up habitats and dig out sources of water substantial to create well-built reservoirs.

This way the animals will be assured of water all year round, as underground water isn’t as much ‘endangered’ as surface water flows, at least on the basis of routine discussions on the matter.

When the people is aware of this alternative, they will understand and even appreciate the imposition of restrictive measures on feeding next to rivers, and more so, in curtailing random grazing.

Much the same can be said to apply to industrial ventures, where the need for own sources of water isn’t explicit, especially in farming.

For instance, there is this supposedly recent case of a large-scale so-called gardener pumping out so much water to his vegetable garden.

There is need for legislation to the effect that farming and much of industrial needs for water be covered by wells, where water boards or lands authorities would provide permits, with regulatory elements depending on the water belt situation.

Without an explicit policy a lot of confusion can come up, even bribery, as to who is allowed to pump water from rivers and by to what extent.

Industrial firms and the construction of multiple-storey buildings usually call for the digging of wells, but more investors need to be pulled into that sphere by taking up similar obligations.

Adding these to livestock grazing wells would imply having durable land occupancy in like manner as industrial firms or urban land developers, which means revisiting most provisions of our customary laws.

It would encourage wild movement of cattle and sloppy investments in agro-sector ventures, as banks are avowedly reluctant to lend to such ventures. That is a plausible point of departure to alter the occupancy structure – and it is worth trying.