Perfect watering system for your kitchen garden

Prof John Wesonga demonstrates how Capillary Wick technology is used to grow vegetables in a backyard garden. [David Njaaga, Standard]

 “Do you know how the traditional paraffin lamp works?” This is the question Prof John Wesonga, an Associate Professor in the department of Horticulture at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) poses as he leads the way to one of the greenhouses at the research site.

My mind draws memories of the small sooty lamp made from a metallic bottle with a piece of cloth dipped in paraffin and acted as the wick. The other end of the piece of cloth was lit into a flame to provide light. But what does this have to do with plants and their water requirements?