[WLRC 26 Nov,2025] Hare Catchment, Gamo Zone — A critical community consultation held at the Hare irrigation weir has successfully resolved a long-standing land use conflict, paving the way for the BRIGHT project’s major quick-win intervention: mechanical silt removal and restoration of the weir and canal system.
For many years, the Hare irrigation weir has been heavily filled with sediment, functioning more like a sediment trap than an irrigation reservoir. The Zonal Water Department had already classified it as a malfunctioning infrastructure. The fertile alluvial deposits that accumulated in the weir attracted nearby farmers, who began cultivating banana, mango, and other crops. Over time, a significant portion of the weir was converted into farmland, including plots held illegally by four farmers.
To restore the weir to its intended purpose, BRIGHT plans to remove the accumulated silt and compact the sediment along both sides of the structure to form essential footpaths. However, before deploying machinery, it was necessary to engage the four farmers whose farmland overlapped with the restoration area.
Recognizing the sensitivity of the issue, the BRIGHT team arranged a broad community consultation at the weir site. The meeting brought together the landholding farmers, administrators from three kebeles, ketene leaders, respected elders, influential community figures, as well as experts from the zonal and woreda levels and the local security task force.
Discussions were thorough and at times intense, as participants weighed the advantages and disadvantages of clearing the land. Strong disagreements emerged between the farmers and kebele leaders, reflecting the high stakes on both sides. However, respected elders and influential individuals stepped in, calming the heated exchanges and emphasizing the long-term communal benefits of rehabilitating the irrigation system.
Their conciliatory guidance proved pivotal. After lengthy negotiation, all stakeholders reached a consensus. The four farmers accepted the need for restoration, acknowledged the illegitimacy of holding land within the weir, and agreed to vacate the area. The disputed land has now been cleared and formally demarcated for excavation and mechanical silt removal.