By Nathan Guma
IT is afternoon, and Yanai Muchenjere (39), a farmer from Mutoko’s Kawere village is walking through the grey sandy soil of one of her few swathes of farming land on her homestead.
While part of the field has visible signs of maize stalk, some nearby farms tell a different story, failing to yield any crop.
“Rainfall has been erratic, especially in this part of the country. Most farmers, especially those that planted traditional crops failed to make it,” she told Gemnation.
The probability of rain in Mutoko has been decreasing (Weather Spark)
However, due to innovative rain-gathering techniques, Mucherenje is one of the few farmers who have successfully harvested small grains which have helped her sustain her family during the drought.
Zimbabwe has been reeling under an El Nino-induced drought, which has seen Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka calling on development partners to further support immediate interventions that protect people’s assets and prevent more people from sliding down the path to poverty and severe hunger.
The drought has also ravaged some parts of the country, with more than 3500 cattle having been lost to starvation and half of the 600,000 head of cattle in the region still at high risk.
The El Nino-induced drought has also resulted in a reduction in the production of cereals (77%); soya beans (26%), cotton (74%) and sunflower (89%), resulting in a reduction in stover, a traditional feed resource for livestock during the dry seasons.
Climate change has also been worsening, with findings by a open source counter Weather Spark showing that the chance of a wet day over the course of the summer is decreasing, starting the season at 49% and ending it at 44%.
Phiri Pits
However, Mucherenje has been using Phiri pits, an innovative method of storing underground water, to nourish crops in the event of low rainfall.
Phiri pits, named after indigenous permaculturist Zephaniah Phiri, are holes in contour trenches that capture water and help it infiltrate the soil to feed fields later in the season.
Zephaniah Phiri discovered the concept in 1987 while experimenting with sand filtration. He installedPhiri pits across his land in the 1980s and 1990s, and his work inspired others in the region to replicate the system.
Mucherenje’s field is lined with the pits – about a meter deep, on the edges of the field, which she says have helped her sail through the drought.
“We have been digging the Phiri pits so that when it rains, we will be able to retain rainwater, which is crucial for retaining moisture in the field. Even during times when water is scarce. Again, crops which will be raised this way are better than those which are reared in very dry conditions,” Mucherenje said.
“The pits have been helpful. For instance, last year I managed to grow sorghum using water retained by the pits. This helped me because I managed to reap, which has helped me sustain my familyconsidering the drought which has ravaged our crops.”
In Kawere village, most farmers in the area failed to garner a harvest following the harrowing drought which has left several people food insecure.
Community-based organisation (CSO), the Zimbabwe Smallholder and Organic Farmer’s Forum (Zimsoff) has been promoting the use of the pits, together with sustainable farming methods to promote food security.
“We have been doing winter ploughing. This also retains water in conjunction with the pits that we have been using in light of the drought. So, we have been using this technique because, when the soil is loose, it can retain water – no matter how little,” said Henry Gora, Zimsoff chairman for Mutoko.
“This is different in a case where the soil is not ploughed. Water can easily run off making it hard to retain it. But then, with the winter plough pits, we have been able to improve our farming than other farmers in our region.”
Gora says the pits have been helping them to capture run-off water from the hilly areas, which has helped promote harvest.
“These pits do not only help us capture water from the field. However, when water flows from the rocks, it will follow the contours. They will reduce the rainwater’s velocity. It cannot flow through all the pits as it will first of all have to fill them before it goes,” he said.
“So, a downpour may end, before all the pits are filled. The water will then help nourish surrounding plants, even in the event of a drought.”
Zimsoff has been encouraging water harvesting and cultivation of small grains to promote climate resilience.
“We have been encouraging farmers to use drought resistant crops that are resilient to drought. We have the likes of finger millet, sorghum, pearl millet and roundnuts,” said Ngoni Chikowe, a Zimsoff technical officer based in Mutoko.
“These are some of the crops that we are encouraging farmers to grow because climate change is not reversing. It will continue to be even worse. So, with these kinds of crops, you can see that some farmers have a better yield than those who practised traditional farming.
“Solutions Water experts say there is a need to promote more water conservation techniques to help promote food security.
“I have learnt about several water conservation technics which are, some of which are; mulching, which includes applying organic or inorganic materials on soil surfaces to reduce evaporation and improve moisture retention. It is also important to promote soil moisture management, by practising
techniques that enhance soil structure and health to increase its ability to retain water among others,” said Dylan Dzenga, head of communications at The African Federation Environment (TAF Environment).
Dzenga said that while the government has been investing in mitigating the climate crisis, there is a need to look for more potential financing mechanisms that can be used to support community-based water harvesting initiatives in low-income areas
“There is a need to promote community-based water management. This includes participatory approaches which involve local communities in the planning and management of water harvesting systems to ensure sustainability and address specific local needs.
“There is also a need to initiate training programs and workshops to educate communities about water conservation techniques and the importance of maintaining harvesting systems. Agroforestry isalso important, which integrates trees and shrubs into agricultural landscapes to improve water retention, reduce erosion, and enhance biodiversity.”
Farming experts say there is need for increased irrigation programs in the country to tackle effects of the drought.
The Women in Agriculture Union (WAU) said there is need for farmers to implement sustainable agricultural methods, which save water.
“Efficient irrigation systems can help increase crop yields, especially in areas with low rainfall.
Promoting the cultivation of drought-resistant crops, such as sorghum and millet, can help farmers adapt to climate change.
Nhari also said there is need for conservation agriculture, an approach that reduces soil disturbance, increases soil cover, and incorporates crop rotation, which can improve soil fertility and water retention.
For Mucherenje, the pits have helped regain hope of a harvest in the face of a serious drought.
“I am happy by the training we have been getting to promote sustainable farming, which has helped us improve our yield,” she says.
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