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Advanced and Sustainable Methods on Water Utilization Associated with Greening Potential Evaluation

Environment / Energy (Global-scale environmental issues)

Republic of Djibouti

Advanced and Sustainable Methods on Water Utilization Associated with Greening Potential Evaluation

Create sustainable agropastoral practices in the Djibouti desert through developmental management of water resources

Principal Investigator

- Prof.
  SHIMADA Sawahiko
  Department of Bioproduction and Environment Engineering, Faculty of Regional Environment Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture
- Dr.
  Djama Mohamed Hassan
  President of University of Djibouti

ODA Recipient Country

Republic of Djibouti

Research Institutions in Japan

Tokyo University of Agriculture / Kansai University / The University of Shimane / Kyoto University /Geosphere Environmental Technology Corp. / Oriental Consultants Global Co.,Ltd.

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

University of Djibouti / Center for Studies and Research of Djibouti / Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, Livestock and Marine Resources of Djibouti

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2018

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

Assessing water resources/greening potential and demonstrating agropastoral practices
Most of Djibouti is a harsh desert environment, and the country’s food self-sufficiency ratio is only about 13 percent by value. This project aims to ascertain the distribution, circulation pathways, and sustainable usage levels of Djibouti’s water resources over a wide area and from a three-dimensional perspective, and expand the area where agropastoral practices are used. Satellite images and UAV images taken throughout Djibouti are used to assess the current situation based on the relationship between water resources and greening potential/sheep farming potential. The project also aims to propose water-saving agropastoral models as an extension of the oasis farming model by developing useful plants and feed crops, along with greening through effective use of urban waste.

Making efficient use of water resources to enhance arid areas by greening wasteland and by creating agropastoral land
This project aims to identify optimal areas for greening and to extend the use of sustainable agropastoral practices suitable for arid lands by conducting demonstrations at suitable locations. The process involves determining the circulation of water in Djibouti as a whole, and, by extension, groundwater flow systems throughout Africa, and identifying other arid lands with potential for implementation of the techniques.