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Rainwater Harvesting for Agriculture in the Bahamas A Feasibility Study Genevieve Diamond Department of Earth and Environment Problems Facing Bahamian Farmers . Conclusions and Recommendations Bahamas Average Annual Rainfall (inches) 1971-2000 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 Year Rainfall (Inches) Abaco Andros Long Island New Providence Ragged Island Water Resources Data source: Bahamas Dept. of Meteorology Land tenure most farm land held in some form of non-ownership Difficulty obtaining financing due to lack of tenure Lack of irrigation during dry season Lack of refrigerated storage of crops in most islands Inadequate transportation for crops in Nassau in Nassau Lack of alternate markets Purpose of the Study Proposed Harvesting/Irrigation Methods for Bahamas Rainfed Groundwater Harvested Rainfall Ridge and Furrow Solar-Powered Pump/Drip Method Collection and StorageSystem Drip Method The Commonwealth of the Bahamas has been a net importer of food for decades, but since the early 1990s the government has had a goal of increasing food security by increasing agricultural yields. The availability of irrigation water has improved crop yields in many areas of the world and increased food security in those areas. However, most agriculture in the Bahamas is rainfed, and infrastructure for irrigation is generally lacking. Also, although rainfall is abundant in the larger agricultural areas, the pattern is seasonal, with marked wet and dry seasons. Most of the rainfall is received during the summer months. Due to climatic factors such as hurricane activity during the wet summer months, most crops are grown during the dryer winter months. Although some rain occurs during the winter, rainfall during those months is not a reliable source of irrigation. Therefore, Bahamian farmers would benefit from a system of irrigation for those months. However, available freshwater is scarce on most of the islands, as rainfall is the sole source of recharge of the aquifers, and they are highly vulnerable to saltwater intrusion resulting from overpumping. The purpose of this study was to identify methods of rainwater harvesting for agriculture that have been used successfully in other countries that would be effective in the Bahamas. Some Facts about the Bahamas Method Quantity of Agricultural Output for the Bahamas 1997-2004 0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Year Agricultural output (short tons) Export crop Domestic crop Poultry Agricultural Output UN Environment Programme ranked Bahamas 194 out of 199 nations in freshwater resources Population in 2000 was 306,000 (Bahamas Dept. of Statistics) Total Land Area 13,939 km 2 -19 populated islands; hundreds of cays and rocks Located in the western Atlantic off the SE coast of Florida to NE coast of Cuba Tropic of Cancer transverses the central islands Climate - subtropical temperate in the far north to semi-arid in far south Northern islands support forests of pine; coppice in central Bahamas; scrub in south Soils poorly developed, sandy Farming methods – “banana hole” on coppice islands; large-scale on some northern pine islands A survey of irrigation and rainwater harvesting for agriculture methods from several areas was done to determine their suitability for use in the Bahamas. This was done based on the soil conditions, rainfall amounts, and transmissivity. In situ systems in use in the Gansu province of China were studied, as well as microcatchments in the Negev Desert in Israel, RWH in Tanzania, and artificial recharge of groundwater in the Wakal River basin in the Rajasthan State in India, in Barbados and Jamaica in the West Indies, and Argentina and Paraguay in Latin America. Potential for rainwater harvesting is high in the Bahamas because of the abundant rainfall enjoyed by the country. Population in rural areas of the Bahamas is still low, which offers an excellent opportunity for development of infrastructure and policy. A comprehensive plan for managing all of the country’s freshwater resources should be formulated. This includes seeking ways to ensure participation of all stakeholders. Farmers need assistance and training in rainwater harvesting and irrigation in the field. Government should make it part of policy to institute training for farmers in sustainable farming methods to maintain the health of the soil and the water resources. Development of more refrigerated storage, especially in the central and southern islands, as well as additional transportations should be undertaken.

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Rainwater Harvesting for Agriculture in the Bahamas –

A Feasibility StudyGenevieve Diamond

Department of Earth and EnvironmentProblems Facing Bahamian Farmers

.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Bahamas Average Annual Rainfall (inches) 1971-2000

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1971

1973

1975

1977

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

Year

Ra

infa

ll (

Inc

he

s) Abaco

Andros

Long Island

New Providence

Ragged Island

Water Resources

Data source: Bahamas Dept. of Meteorology

Land tenure – most farm land held in some form

of non-ownership

Difficulty obtaining financing due to lack of tenure

Lack of irrigation during dry season

Lack of refrigerated storage of crops in most islands

Inadequate transportation for crops in Nassau in Nassau

Lack of alternate markets

Purpose of the Study

Proposed Harvesting/Irrigation

Methods for Bahamas

Rainfed Groundwater Harvested

Rainfall

Ridge and

Furrow

Solar-Powered

Pump/Drip

Method

Collection and

StorageSystem

Drip Method

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas has been a net importer of food for

decades, but since the early 1990s the government has had a goal of

increasing food security by increasing agricultural yields. The availability

of irrigation water has improved crop yields in many areas of the world

and increased food security in those areas. However, most agriculture in

the Bahamas is rainfed, and infrastructure for irrigation is generally

lacking. Also, although rainfall is abundant in the larger agricultural

areas, the pattern is seasonal, with marked wet and dry

seasons. Most of the rainfall is received during the summer months.

Due to climatic factors such as hurricane activity during the wet summer

months, most crops are grown during the dryer winter months. Although

some rain occurs during the winter, rainfall during those months is not a

reliable source of irrigation. Therefore, Bahamian farmers would benefit

from a system of irrigation for those months. However, available

freshwater is scarce on most of the islands, as rainfall is the sole source

of recharge of the aquifers, and they are highly vulnerable to saltwater

intrusion resulting from overpumping. The purpose of this study was to

identify methods of rainwater harvesting for agriculture that have been

used successfully in other countries that would be effective in the

Bahamas.

Some Facts about the Bahamas

Method

Quantity of Agricultural Output for the Bahamas

1997-2004

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Year

Ag

ric

ult

ura

l o

utp

ut

(sh

ort

ton

s)

Export crop

Domestic crop

Poultry

Agricultural Output

UN Environment Programme ranked Bahamas 194 out of 199

nations in freshwater resources

Population in 2000 was 306,000 (Bahamas Dept. of Statistics)

Total Land Area – 13,939 km2 -19 populated islands; hundreds of cays

and rocks

Located in the western Atlantic off the SE coast of Florida to NE coast

of Cuba – Tropic of Cancer transverses the central islands

Climate - subtropical temperate in the far north

to semi-arid in far south

Northern islands support forests of pine; coppice in central Bahamas;

scrub in south

Soils – poorly developed, sandy

Farming methods – “banana hole” on coppice islands; large-scale on

some northern pine islands

A survey of irrigation and

rainwater harvesting for agriculture methods

from several areas was done to determine their suitability

for use in the Bahamas. This was done based on the soil

conditions, rainfall amounts, and transmissivity. In situ systems

in use in the Gansu province of China were studied, as well as

microcatchments in the Negev Desert in Israel, RWH in

Tanzania, and artificial recharge of groundwater in the Wakal

River basin in the Rajasthan State in India, in Barbados

and Jamaica in the West Indies, and Argentina and

Paraguay in Latin America.

Potential for rainwater harvesting is high in the

Bahamas because of the abundant rainfall

enjoyed by the country.

Population in rural areas of the Bahamas is still

low, which offers an excellent opportunity for

development of infrastructure and policy.

A comprehensive plan for managing all of the

country’s freshwater resources should be

formulated. This includes seeking ways to

ensure participation of all stakeholders.

Farmers need assistance and training in

rainwater harvesting and irrigation in the field.

Government should make it part of policy to

institute training for farmers in sustainable

farming methods to maintain the health of the soil

and the water resources.

Development of more refrigerated storage,

especially in the central and southern islands, as

well as additional transportations should be

undertaken.