Addis Ababa, April 22 (ENA)--Although some efforts have been made to develop drinking water supply and irrigation with a view to ensuring food security, the achievement obtained has been minimal for various reasons, the Ministry of Water Resources said.

Opening the Ethiopian Rainwater Harvesting Association (ERHA)'s General Assembly here on Tuesday, Vice-Minister Mesfin Tegene said financial constraints, capacity limitation and lack of stable organizational structure were some of the constraints that hinder the development of the sector.

Mesfin said the formulation of strategic plans and techniques are needed to enhance water-harvesting initiatives aimed at minimizing water and food scarcity in which many people in the country are now facing.

He said that ERHA's Strategic Plan (2003-8) would provide an innovative alternative to meet domestic water needs.

Executive Board Chairperson with ERHA, Habtamu Gessesse said on his part that the main objective of the setting up of the association was to introduce Rainwater Harvesting technologies with a view to ensuring sustainable water and food security in the country.

The Association was established in December 1999, he said.

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