Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - Gibe III

Gibe III – Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 300 ENV R CS 002 C - A9003099
Place/Venue of the FG: Wereda Administration Office Date: 10/12/07
Wereda: Dasanech FGD composition: Wereda Officials and represent.
of MDI
Number of participants: 21
The PCM members are composed of officials of the wereda who are serving under various capacities and
MDI representatives. The major theme of the PCM is:
• To learn and understand the effects of the project on the down stream communities; and
• To explore appropriate mitigation measures to avert the adverse effects caused by the project.
The identified major issues are summarised in brief below:
• Substantial numbers of pastoralists in downstream communities use flood plains (the river banks) to
grow crops (mostly maize and sorghum). Flood plains become available when Omo River
overflows;
• A total of about 6,000 ha of land use for receding cultivation in the wereda;
• Downstream crop productions under such system cover the food needs of the households for about
three to six months;
• Whenever there is no adequate flooding shortfalls of production is augmented by the Government
through food aid;
• About 30 spots of pasture lands or islands become apparent in the wereda due to the overflow of the
river. The pastureland serve the communities for grazing all year round;
• Quasi lakes are also created by the overflows of the river where down stream communities use for
fishing. They are source of income and food for Desanech communities; and
• The implementation of the project will affected the pasturelands and fishing activities of the
downstream communities so that they will not have the indicated sources of income for their
livelihood.
In order to avert these adverse effects the consultative team believe that possible measures should be taken,
among which include:
• Irrigation in the wereda is rudimentary and the scope should be expanded at least to offset the
production losses from the estimated 6,000 ha of croplands;
• Development of pastureland irrigation for livestock;
• Appropriate marketing services for livestock and expansion of basic services; and
• Adopting various actions that strengthen the livelihood system of the communities.
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