May 2000

31st May 2000

Moduo Hamlet 8 and 9 Drinking and Irrigation Water Supply

DORS has recently signed a contract with two hamlets in Moduo Village to supply irrigation and drinking water. These two hamlets with a combined population of 200 people are the last of 9 hamlets in the village to receive assistance from DORS with their water supply.

The hamlets are short of water, particularly in the winter months. They have a water rationing system to ensure the scarce water is fairly divided among the households. There was an existing pipe of over 2000m bringing water to the hamlets from a distant hillside. As this supply could not be increased, the new supply will use an abundant water source a further 7,000m away piped to join their existing source.

Deng Zhaomin, a resident of Moduo Village is managing the project. The villagers have already begun to dig the trench for the pipe.

These hamlets have apple trees which need regular watering. They are hoping to increase their apple and other fruit crops with the improved water supply

Nursery Training

Nine villagers recently took part in a training program organised by DORS at a local nursery. This is part of DORS community forestry project in Nimei Township. The training covered many topics including establishment of nurseries, silviculture, grafting etc. and lasted for three days. As there is no public transport to their township the men walked most of the way taking 8 hours. This is the first of a series of training sessions being arranged for the villages taking part in the forestry projects. DORS paid all costs incurred by the villagers.(Photo: the nine villages from Huodi who attended the training)

Juetuo Irrigation Water Supply

A contract has been signed to begin the second stage of the irrigation water supply project for this Yi minority village. The irrigation water will come from another county, Ganluo, across the Dadu River. The water will flow along a channel, then cross a 380m span above the river in a steel pipe and into a channel along the edge of the land to be irrigated, in Hamlet 1. DORS is providing part of the funds for this project, with a donation from MRDF. The Yi villagers from Ganluo, who have kinship ties with the people of Juetuo, are helping to build the channel on their side of the river. They are hoping to use part of the water to irrigate an area of their own land if the necessary funds can be secured for the additional channel.