December 2003
7th SEARNET Annual Conference decides Regional Representative to IRCSA.

The 7th SEARNET Annual Conference took place in Arusha, Tanzania on 1-5 December 2003. The Rainwater Harvesting Association of Tanzania (RHAT) hosted the conference which had the theme "Rainwater Harvesting Towards Millennium Goals". The conference was supported by the Rgional Land Management Unit (RELMA) through the GWP Associated programme 'A network for green water harvesting in Southern and Eastern Africa and South Asia'.

The sessions included an overview of rainwater harvesting, particularly topics on poverty alleviation by Mesfin Shenkut (ERHA), Conservation Agriculture and RWH by Roy Chiti (ZARHA), and RWH Policies in the SEARNET Region by Dr. Terry Thomas.

RWH Technologies were discussed. Covering Livestock Production in Uganda by Nicholas
Kiggundu (URWA), Urban RWH and Groundwater Recharge by CSE, RWH - The Chinese
Experience by Kipruto Cherogony (KRA), Rainwater Quality and Policy Implications by Julius Wanyonoyi (KRA), Planting Rainwater; A Case for Crop Production in Zimbabwe by Elijah Rusike (RHAZ) as well as a Hydrologic Assessment of Small Holder Runoff Catchment Schemes Technological Options Available for the Region by Alex Oduor (RELMA/GWP Project Information Officer).

Networking on RWH was discussed. The International Rainwater Catchment Systems
Association was invited, together with other UN institutions and private organizations.

Report from national networks were received particularly for Botswana, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya,
Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somaliland, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and
Zimbabwe.

Executive Director Malesu Maimbo of SEARNet invites everyone to visit the website,
www.searnet.org and www.relma.org

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