Scientific community including researchers, academicians and professionals from across world converged at AMU to deliberate, discuss and share research findings on the most important natural resource that’s water during 19th International symposium on ‘Sustainable Water Resources Development’ from 24-25th May, 2019, at Main Campus. It’s Arba Minch Water Technology Institute’s flagship annual event.Click Here to see the Picture
This 19th edition of global event saw presentations of 21 oral and 6 poster presentations on six thematic areas i.e. Hydrology and Integrated Water Resources Development, 4, Renewable Energy, 1, Irrigation and Drainage, 4, Water Supply and Sanitation, 4, Climate Vulnerability Change and Impacts, 5, Emerging Challenges, 3, and 6 poster presentations. Of overall 27 papers AMU had 6 and remaining from different universities and research institutions from across Ethiopia and abroad.

Chairing symposium, Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy’s Commissioner for Irrigation Development¸ Dr Michael Mehari, said, Ethiopia has 123 Billion m3 of surface and 36-40 Billion m3 ground water and it’s inadequate, hence, there is a need of huge investment in this sector. At the moment, Ethiopia has 5.7 Million hectares of irrigation potential and 11 Million hectares are yet to be irrigated. However, small-scale irrigation has strengthened water management, local institutes and hastened community development.

He further informed that from 1999 to 2006 Ethiopian irrigation potential went up from 176,105 to 197,250 hectares and till date it’s 853,000 hectares. Further to transform this sector, government is contemplating to develop 124,000 hectares of land by enabling 30,000 young graduates in six irrigation projects across Ethiopia. And by 2030, government may roll out 10 big-ticket projects worth ETB 563 Billon, he averred.

Welcoming participants, Scientific Director of Arba Minch Water Technology Institute, Dr Abdella Kemal, said, when we are combining different knowledge and resources in a collaborative way for a project and research works, then what we get is a greater sense of creative input. Here we are able to tap creativity, the amalgamation of several professionals in a group. Such collective ideas benefit project, embolden research and following subsequent brainstorming do spur innovative results that in turn boost the visibility and standard of our institutions and your organizations.

AMU President, Dr Damtew Darza, in his address to scientific community underscoring, said, these days, increasing shortage and degradation of water quality has threatened socio-economic development and ecosystem functions. And despite availability of immense physical water resources, country hasn’t yet utilized full potential for its socio-economic development at satisfactory level. In that context, we believe that forums like this could be an effective tool for exchange of research results and good practices in the water sector.

Two international renowned academicians, Prof Jorge Ramirez Hernandez of Autonomous University of Baja California, Maxicali, spoke on ‘Mexican Water Lessons’, while Prof Mathias W Rotach of University of Innsbruck, Austria shared his unique experience on project called, TEAMx- ‘Multi-scale transport and exchange processes in the atmosphere over mountains.’

Apart from AMU community, researchers from MWIE, Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Haramaya, Debre Berhan, Debre Markos, Kotebe Metropolitan and South Eastern Kenya universities, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Amhara Agricultural Research Institute, Ethiopia Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation and Tigray Agricultural Research Institute were in attendance

On 2nd day in a panel discussion, participants had discussion on ‘Current Water Resources Development Challenges, Opportunities and Threats in Ethiopia and the Region followed by distribution of certificate of participation to all researchers. Research and Community Service Vice President, Dr Simon Shibru, made closing remark.

Water Resource Research Centre Director, Dr Samuel Dagalo, anchored the program; symposium was co-sponsored by MWIE, Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation, Community-Led Accelerated WASH and World Vision.

(Corporate Communication Directorate)