[July 9, 2026 Tseba-Ayna] Major irrigation rehabilitation works supported by the Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC) and MoWE under the BRIGHT Project, which strengthens MoWE’s and Basins capacities of implementing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) interventions, are nearing completion in the Tseba-Ayna.
Implemented through the collaborative efforts of the BRIGHT Project, local communities, regional and woreda government offices, and Mekelle University, the rehabilitation works are restoring critical irrigation infrastructure that will expand irrigation coverage, revive abandoned farmland, and improve livelihoods for farming communities.
In Kilte Awlaelo Woreda, the rehabilitation of the Gereb Hidar Diversion Headwork has been underway for the past three months. Once completed, the upgraded scheme is expected to double its irrigation potential from 21 hectares to 42 hectares, enabling more farmers to benefit from reliable water access for agricultural production.
Progress is also being made on the Enga-Gebriel Diversion Headwork, which had remained non-functional following extensive damage to its headwork and canal system. Construction of the new diversion headwork has been completed, while rehabilitation and expansion of the irrigation canal continue. To date, 150 meters of the existing canal have been rehabilitated and an additional 130 meters have been newly constructed. The restored scheme is expected to bring more than 15 hectares of farmland back into production, including areas where valuable cash crops had been abandoned for nearly seven years due to the lack of irrigation.
Likewise, in Atsibi Woreda, rehabilitation of the Emba Eye Irrigation Headwork is also approaching completion after being out of service for 18 years. Most masonry and concrete works have been finalized, with concrete capping, plastering, and canal expansion currently in progress. Once completed, the rehabilitated scheme will provide irrigation to approximately 28 hectares of agricultural land, creating new opportunities for increased crop production and improved household incomes.