Authority and Responsibilities
Somali Regional State Irrigation Development Bureau was established in July 2017 with specific aims at streamlining overall irrigation development services under the sole organizational framework. The main task of SRSIDB is to develop irrigation schemes in line with the national policy of food security and poverty reduction. According to โSomali Regional State Irrigation Development Bureau Establishment Proclamation, No.30/1999,โ the major tasks of SRSIDB include:
1) Study, design and construction of irrigation schemes in potential areas,
2) Contribution towards hastening the socio-economic development in rural areas,
3) Assistance to rural communities to benefit from irrigation projects through participation in study, construction and operation,
4) Provision of technical assistance in irrigation extension, operation and water management of community-based irrigation schemes, and
5) Promote environmental conservation through watershed management relevant to irrigation development. Since its establishment, dozens pre-feasibility and feasibility studies were made, and tens of schemes were constructed to develop more than 6,263 ha of land on which thousands family heads were benefited. Water harvesting techniques started in 2018 and more than a hundred of ponds, tens of water wells were dug, 50 underground tanks were constructed to supplement rain fed farming on 14,443 ha and benefit 48,100 households. The training programs were provided to 60 user community members on irrigation development and their scheme management. In addition to this, 9,425 farmers and 247 Development Agents (DAs) were given training on water harvesting techniques. Strategic Planning and Management Plan (2003-2005)
SRSIDB set up Strategic Planning and Management Plan (2018-2025) in September 2018 to develop a systematic approach dealing with the process that enable SRSIDB to develop shared vision and maintain an appropriate financial and human resources utilization for effective output. The Plan stipulates the following issues of SRSIDB to be urgently solved under the Plan. Issue 1 The use of limited irrigation technology
1.1 Promote development of surface water resource.
1.2 Promote development of ground water resource.
1.3 Promote indigenous knowledge and practices by using low-cost technology.
1.4 Promote appropriate rainwater harvesting technology at household level. Issue 2 Poor implementation capacity
2.1 Develop and strengthen the managerial and technical capacity at all levels.
2.2 Avail machineries, equipment and other improved technologies
2.3 Efficient personnel management
2.4 Efficient utilization of resources
2.5 Establish irrigation data base and management information system. Issue 3 Low level of irrigation extension service
3.1 Provision of ecology based integrated household package.
3.2 Provision of appropriate regular irrigation extension service
3.3 Provide market and credit service information.
3.4 Promote post-harvest technology. Issue 4 Insufficient financial resources
4.1 Efficient utilization of grant and loan
4.2 Partnership creation with NGO's
4.3 Promote users' community participation.
4.4 Promote private sector involvement. Issue 5 Poor sustainability of the scheme and inefficient irrigation management
5.1 Promote watershed management.
5.2 Improve study, design and construction, quality.
5.3 Organize, capacitate and institutionalize user community in irrigation management.
5.4 Rehabilitate the abandoned projects and Improve irrigation scheme utilization. The Plan also set up the implementation plans for the departments and the service units of SRSIDB. During the plan period, the followings are major targets under the Plan to be achieved.
1) Pre-feasibility study: 200,000 ha
2) Feasibility study: 72,838 ha
3) Study and redesign for rehabilitation and maintenance of West Gode Project: 7,600 ha
4) Construction of new schemes: 5,868 ha
5) Rehabilitation of Sitti Irrigation Project: 6,100 ha
6) Organize and institutionalize WUA: 90 ha
7) Conduct WUA training: 1,360 ha
Organization
All the activities of SRSIDB are under the control of the Irrigation Bureau at the head office in Jigjiga. The operation is entrusted to four (4) branch offices, namely West Gode Irrigation Project, South Gode Irrigation Project, Kulan and Harawo Irrigation Project, Faafan Irrigation Projects and further to the district offices. Under the decentralization policy, the tasks and responsibilities of the branch offices and the District offices are expanded. The SRSIDB head office is organized by four (4) departments for study and design, construction, and irrigation extension, community participation, with four (6) service units for administration and finance, planning and information management and audit. The branch offices are organized by four (4) teams, namely study and design, construction, supervision, and agriculture irrigation development and community participation, and four (4) service units, namely planning and programming, administration and finance, garage and transportation, and audit. The technical staff accounted for 160 or 50% of the total staff. Engineering staff accounted for 31 staff at head office and branch office. The staff structure of SRSIDB has been expanded up to 319 as a result of increased assignment for both Kulan and Harawa Irrigation Projects. Moreover, 15 staff members were either shifted from the branch offices to or newly recruited at the district offices under the decentralization policy. The SRSIDB District staffs have been increased from 178 persons in November 2021 to 319 persons in June 2022. Equipment
SRSIDB takes responsibilities for the construction works of new irrigation scheme and has his own construction equipment and vehicles for transportation. All heavy equipment such as dump truck and bulldozer is distributed to each branch office for their activities. At present time, the federal and the regional government has taken action to bring physical change within the region especially by planning and constructing of large irrigation schemes water supply and irrigation projects. These projects are mostly supervised and implemented within the national government.
