The Reality Behind Rainfall and Groundwater Recharge

AUTHOR: Chilombo (Olga) Priscila EconomicResearcher/Statistician@ RDJ Consulting

Courtesy:UNHCR

Flooding does not always translate to increased water supply! While rainfall is a primary source of water replenishment for rivers, lakes, and groundwater reserves, there are factors that can impede precipitation from effectively translating into augmented water resources.

AUTHOR:Chilombo(Olga)Priscila

While some may argue that winter is the best season, with its crisp air and cozy nights by the fire, others prefer the rainy season as it means more agricultural productivity, optimal hydropower outputs and improved air quality - especially for arid and semi-arid regions.

In Southern Africa, the rainy season typically lasts from October to April and reaches maximum strength between November and March The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that “most locations receive more than 75% of their annual precipitation during this 7 month period, with some parts in the northwest receiving more than 90% of their total annual rainfall”

This year, many African countries have faced a delayed rainy season marked by irregular rainfall alternating between wetter and drier than average conditions, extended dry spells, abnormal dryness and/or drought which commenced late in January 2024. However, now that the standard rainy season is approaching its end (April), much of the rain received has caused disruptionsleading to flooding in many areas including DRC, Tanzania, Burundi, Angola, Rwanda, Zambia, Madagascar, and Mozambique according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network weather report.

Given the level of flooding observed, one would naturally assume that along with it comes the advantage of having increased water available for consumption Well, this is true for certain areas with sufficient infrastructure for capturing and storing rainwater through rainwater harvesting systems. These systems collect rainwater from roofs or other surfaces, which can then be stored and used for various purposes, including drinking water, irrigation, and other domestic uses Countries like

Australia and India have implemented rainwater harvesting programs to augment their water supply during periods of scarcity

However, this is not necessarily the case for regions with inadequate infrastructure or where rainfall patterns are erratic. While rainfall is a primary source of water replenishment for rivers, lakes, and groundwater reserves, here are some factors that can impede precipitation from effectively translating into augmented water resources

1.Storage and Infrastructure

Without proper storage facilities - including reservoirs and dams, or effective water management strategies, excess rainfall may lead to runoff and flooding rather than increased water availability for human consumption

And in cases of runoffs, heavy rainfall events tend to contaminate existing water sources, exacerbating water quality issues The lack of adequate infrastructure forces rainwater to flow unused into the sea, leading to missed opportunities for water storage and management.

2. Land use and Human Activities

Additionally, Human interventions like deforestation, urbanization, and land degradation can alter the natural hydrological cycle In fact, highly developed areas like cities with few natural greenspaces, lots of development and without natural drainage, make it difficult for rain to be absorbed into the ground due to high evaporation rates and runoffs As a result, “only about 15 percent of the water that falls onto highly developed areas re-enters the ground, which is what needs to happen for the water to be absorbed into the aquifers and springs that feed into our rivers, supplying our communities with water” (Texas Living Water Organization).

3. Rainfall Distribution and Intensity

Heavy rainfall over a short duration might lead to heavy surface runoff, causing erosion and minimal infiltration into the soil, while moderate and sustained rainfall allows for better absorption into the ground, replenishing aquifers and contributing to base flow in rivers and streams over time Direct infiltration and groundwater recharge in arid environments are also relatively low due to the rarity of rainstorms, low mean average precipitation, and high potential evaporation; therefore, in many desert areas, direct rain infiltration is regarded as nonexistent.

4. Climate Variability and Change

Changes in precipitation patterns, including shifts in timing, frequency, and intensity of rainfall events, can impact water availability and exacerbate water stress in certain regions. For example, in arid and semi-arid regions, even substantial rainfall may not guarantee sufficient water supply due to high evaporation rates and low groundwater recharge potential

5. Geography and Soil Types

L tl hi f t h t i d

Additionally, areas with porous soils and permeable rock formations facilitate groundwater recharge, while regions with impermeable surfaces like clay and rock hinder infiltration,leadingtosurfacerunoff.

So then we can agree that while increased rainfall can potentially contribute to higher water availability for consumption, its impact cannot be fully guaranteed since it depends on a variety of factors Therefore, even when it is raining heavily, effective water management practices should remain in place to ensure sustainable water resources especially in the face of changing climate conditions We should remember that the less water we use today, the more water we will have to help get us through the dry times As always, the conversation continuesat esa@rdjpublishing.africa

Readings: https://texaslivingwaters org/water-conservation-mattersrain/#: :text=It%20may%20be%20raining%20on,for%20those%20p eople%20to%20use https://www cpc ncep noaa gov/products/assessments/assess 96/ safr html#: :text=In%20southern%20Africa%2C%20the%20rainy,of %20their%20total%20annual%20rainfall h // li f b i / / d / f h f

Biochar - Carbon Neutrality in Agriculture

AUTHOR: Chilombo (Olga) Priscila EconomicResearcher/Statistician@ RDJ Consulting

Considering the fact that there is not really a singular BiocharCarbonRemovalhasavarietyofco-benefitsthatmakeitatopchoiceforbusinessesseekingcarboncredits

ImageCourtesy:Carbonfuture solution to comprehensively address the complexities of emissions reduction, past experiences and lessons direct us to being more open minded by diversifying our approaches to addressing such issues In fact, attaining the much-needed Net Zero goals is going to require a myriad of approaches specific to the sector and application in question.

Innovative solutions for reducing or sequestering carbon emissions are continuously emerging.

Taking the agricultural industry as an example, it is estimated to contribute approximately 18% of global carbon dioxide equivalent emissions annually, and biochar is one of many solutions for addressing agricultural and general land-use emissions But before we delve into that, let's step back to define biochar, discuss how it is produced and then its applications as well as benefits to agriculture and the climate www.rdjpublishing.africa

Definition and Production

As already reported in the May 2023 edition of this publication, the Institute for Sustainability defines biochar as a “carbon-rich material that is made from biomass through a thermochemical conversion process known as pyrolysis” This process entails intense heating of feedstock in the absence of oxygen at about 450-650°C to break down complex molecular chains and rearrange molecular bonds to form a solid, very stable product. In simple terms, biochar is the residue obtained from the process of burning organic material from plant material

Biochar in Agriculture: Net Zero and Productivity

When it comes to developing a net zero agriculture pathway, the production of biochar no longer remains an option, it becomes an urgent necessity! To justify this, let us take a step back into our basic plant biology/science

We know that plants absorb CO2 for photosynthesis as they grow, and release back into the air the much-needed oxygen. The problem is that the same CO2 absorbed by plants is normally released again quickly because if crop waste stays in a field after harvest, it will rot and release emissions The same thing happens with fallen branches in a forest, or organic waste in a landfill. But if organic material is turned into biochar, that stops most of it from breaking down. A study by Thomas Trabold (a professor at Rochester Institute of Technology) indicates that such “process essentially takes part of the carbon in the original biomass and locks it into a very stable form that will reduce degradation of the carbon for hundreds or thousands of years”. This therefore makes biochar a highpermanence carbon removal solution.

Once biochar is produced, it can be crushed and applied to the soil to improve its quality Under a microscope, biochar looks like a sponge - showing high porosity Its high porosity therefore helps it hold water for longer once added to soil; its negatively charged surface allows for better nutrient retention - making farmers require less irrigation and fertilizers for their crops; and its high carbon content helps rebalance acidic soils The result is a durably improved crop productivity and the possibility to switch to 100% organic farming according to netzero green In fact, agricultural scientists (Jeffery et al. (2017)) have discovered a global average production increase of +25% in the tropics at a median biochar application rate of 1.5 kg/m2.

Courtesy:GettyImagesPro

To achieve Net Zero through agriculture, it is needed that only agricultural residues are used as feedstock For example: coffee or cocoa husks and shells; sugarcane bagasse; coconut shells and fibers; peanut or cashew shells; palm empty bunches When deployed at a global scale and taking into account sustainability constraints, the World Economic Forum (WEF) says that biochar can remove between 0.44 to 2.62 Gt CO2 from the atmosphere every year, covering up to 35% of carbon dioxide removal needs in climate stabilization scenarios According to the WEF, this is equivalent to the climate pollution from more than 800 coal power plants, or nearly three times as much as the CO2 emissions from the airline industry

Other carbon-neutral benefits of biochar

Other notable benefits derived from the production process of biochar are the significant amounts of renewable energy in the form of gasses (syngas) and heat generated At net zero, this energy is recovered to be reused and further supplied either as electricity or heat

Biochar is considered a relatively permanent form of carbon storage, unlike planting trees that face the risk of later being cut down or burning in a forest fire. It’s also cheaper than technology like direct air capture, massive machines that absorb CO2 out of the air Equipment to produce biochar isn’t complicated to build According to Justin Cochrane (CEO of Carbon Streaming), “What makes biochar interesting is it is one of the few sorts of nearterm-scalable removal credits.”

The sustainable potential for negative emissions through biochar is between 1 and 2 GtCO2 per year. -IPCC,2019

Beyond agriculture and carbon sequestration, biochar’s benefits span construction, ecosystem health and community welfare, which we can discuss in the next times.

Biochar’s ancient use in agriculture implies its potential benefits in sustainable crop production and environmental remediation. From its carbon removal capabilities to the vast array of co-benefits it offers, biochar production and applications is set to become an essential part of any carbon removal portfolio. Therefore, it is important that policy analysis, investors and stakeholders come together and address the existent barriers and challenges to expanding its adoption especially in Africa - a continent that is highly vulnerable toclimatechange

Readings: https://netzero green/en/biochar/ https://rosysoil com/blogs/news/biochar-vs-charcoal https://www weforum org/agenda/2023/11/biochar-carbonremovals-jack-of-all-trades-for-immediate-climate-action/ https://www weforum org/agenda/2023/11/biochar-carbonremovals-jack-of-all-trades-for-immediate-climate-action/ https://www weforum org/agenda/2023/10/biochar-climatechange-mitigation-tool/ www.rdjpublishing.africa

Cameroon: Small-Scale Farmers Receive Support from FAO and World Bank contributed by:

he Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), QU Dongyu, today signed an agreement to provide FAO’s support to the ROME, Italy, April 23, 2024/APO Group/

The PULCCA Project will provide support through four key components:

TGovernment of Cameroon in building the capacity of small-scale farmers in the country’s Eastern Region

The Cameroon Emergency Food Crisis Response Project which is receiving $2.92 million from the World Bank and for which FAO is an implementing partner, seeks to strengthen sustainable food production and enhance farmer’s resilience to the impacts of the climate crisis The mid-term report on the 2023 food crises reveals that in Cameroon 22 percent of the population is in Phase 2 (Stressed), and 10 percent of the population is in Phase 3 (Crisis) of Acute Food Insecurity.

The FAO Director-General signed the agreement in a ceremony with Gabriel Mbairobe, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Cameroon, Dr Taiga, Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries of Cameroon and a Representative of the World Bank.

“The climate crisis has impacted across the agriculture sector, including livestock and fisheries, as well as affecting other key areas such as health,” Qu stated

“In view of climate variability and the disruptive events observed in the country, FAO supports the Project through agricultural and livestock support in the eastern region” the Director-General added.

One: by supporting food and nutrition stabilization of rapid response for early recovery and resilience building;

Two: by strengthening smallholder production capacities through crop and livestock support for climateandnutritionresilience;

Three: through support for community preparedness andearlywarningsystems;and

Four: through project management, monitoring, and evaluation

FAO’s intervention will include the procurement and distribution of agricultural inputs (improved droughtresistant seed varieties, fertilisers) and equipment for primary production to farmers, 60 percent of whom are women In addition to boosting crop production, support for livestock production is also envisage, including the distribution of inputs and materials for livestock farmers andmassvaccinationcampaignsfortraditionalpoultry https://www africa-newsroom com/press/in-cameroon-food-andagriculture-organization-fao-supports-world-bankfunded-projecttargeting-nutrition-early-warning-systems-resilience-andcapacitybuilding-for-smallscale-farmers

FAO will also provide technical assistance to strengthen farmers’ resilience to climate change through the farmerfield-schoolandclimate-smartproductionapproach.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and AgricultureOrganization(FAO).