Irrigation tech turns Kitui farm into green haven

Gladys Kivoto shows one of the six farm ponds at their Kithini village farm in Mutomo, Kitui County. The farming couple uses water harvested in the farm ponds to irrigate their farm and beat droughts. [Philip Muasya, Standard] At a time when farmers in many parts of Ukambani are staring at a bleak future following massive crop failure, one farm in the drier parts of Mutomo in Kitui County stands out as an oasis of life, thriving against the blistering sun. The usually dry region has borne the brunt of inadequate rains during the October-December season, exacerbated by the current dry conditions. Hopes of a bumper harvest have dashed, with entire crops drying up in the fields. "It is a total loss. There will be a food crisis in the region because the rains have failed," laments Nicodemus Kyambati, a farmer from Kyandula village in Ikutha, who has started uprooting the withered maize stalks from his 22-acre farm to use as animal feed. However, at Kithini village, just on the outskirts of Mutomo town in Kitui South, Michael Kivoto is a contented man. While crops in the neighbouring farms are drying up under sweltering heat, his farm stands out from the lush green crops, including maize and beans, thanks to a new simple water harvesting technology system. As a giant rain pipe that winds within the maize rows sprays the lush fields with water, Kivoto takes measured steps around the farm, his eyes scanning the maze of green vegetation, a stark contrast to the neighbouring farms whose crops have all died as the sun beats down mercilessly. He stops by a Zai pit that carries eight thriving maize plants and plucks out a mound of weed, his face beaming with satisfaction. "Water harvesting has been part of my farming journey for a long time, and the fruits are evident," says Kivoto, flanked by his wife Gladys, whom he describes as the principal assistant on the farm. The couple's farm has become a model farm where other farmers routinely pop in to learn and borrow ideas on modern farming techniques. On this 10-acre farm, the couple grows maize, beans, tomatoes and even vegetables such as kale, cabbages and onions in addition to fruits like mangoes and pawpaws. "The rains have failed and it is going to be tough for the majority of farmers. But for us, we are expecting a good harvest, as always," enthuses Kivoto, adding that he recently earned Sh2 million from the sales of onions grown from a one-and-a-half acre section of his farm. So what is his secret? Through a combination of innovative rainwater harvesting technologies and climate-smart agriculture activities, Kivoto has run a successful commercial farming enterprise for years now and over time, he has learnt the ropes on how to cushion himself from the shocks of suppressed rains. His biggest investment is in six giant farm ponds that collect rainwater, which is used to irrigate the farm during the dry seasons. This way, he can rake in good fortunes from commercial farming while ensuring food security at his home. Kivoto has tapped a small seasonal stream that flows next to his farm to feed his farm ponds with surface runoff during the rains. The ponds are arranged one below the other such that when one fills up, the overflow drains into the next one until the last one, at the far end of the farm, is also filled up. Each of the ponds has a special polythene paper spread from the bottom to the top to prevent water percolation. He says that the ponds collect a total of 650,000 litres of water, which is enough to irrigate his farm until the next rainy season. "The idea is to harvest enough water to be able to irrigate the crops when the rains are gone or when they fail as is the case now. With enough water, you can do successful farming all the year round," he explains. From the farm ponds, the water is pumped onto a central reservoir from where a combination of fuel-powered generators and solar power is used to irrigate the farm. The couple has embraced modern farming technologies to minimise water use while maximising yields. Some of these climate-smart agriculture methods include the use of zai pits and ripper tractors to loosen the soil. "This allows for maximum water retention and soil nutrients and prevents soil erosion since there is minimal surface runoff. With zai pits and ripping, the soil remains healthy and fertile because there is minimal soil disturbance," explains Kivoto's wife, Gladys, who has acquired valuable farming skills over the years. She says there are 3,200 zai pits on the farm, explaining that they allow for improved soil water holding, leading to enhanced crop health. One can also spread a polythene paper at the bottom of the pit to prevent water from seeping into the underground, she advises. The couple also runs Kisiu farm, another flourishing farmland on the banks of River Athi, where they commercially grow cabbages, onions, maize and even sunflower "These will be ready in about a month. It is all for sale," says Gladys, her hand sweeping across a green canopy of maize, onions and cabbages. She calls on farmers in the semi-arid Ukambani region to adopt modern farming technologies and water harvesting instead of relying on rain-fed agriculture, which has become unreliable due to erratic rains.

Irrigation tech turns Kitui farm into green haven

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