Photo: Tanasa Check Dam in Qalat City, Zabul Province. © STFA Mohammad Omar Kamal

In Qalat City, Zabul Province, water has always been both a lifeline and a threat. For farmers, long dry spells cause groundwater to drop, while sudden, heavy rains bring floods that wash away their topsoil.

Since a reliable water supply is the difference between a good harvest and losing everything, the joint programme repaired the Tanasa Check Dam, building a spillway to safely manage excess water.

This prevents the dam from overflowing during heavy rains and directs captured water into the region’s traditional kariz (underground tunnel) systems.

Over 2,000 households in nine villages benefit. Before the project, farmers had to drill down 20 metres just to reach groundwater. Today, because the dam captures and slowly releases water into the earth, the depth has improved to just 7 metres.

With water closer to the surface, farmers can now easily and affordably extract it for irrigation using solar-powered pumps. To maintain the dam, the local municipality has employed a caretaker to monitor the spillway, remove blockages, and keep it functioning safely.