A simple water-harvesting solution for farmers in Kitui County

Kitui County in Kenya is a dry landscape where smallholder farmers face many challenges. Low rainfall, land degradation and prolonged periods of drought, make it difficult for them to grow bountiful harvests and support their families.

And in the face of a growing climate crisis, where unpredictable rains and droughts are more common, the situation is only getting worse.

But there’s hope. Zai pits are giving smallholder farmers in Kitui the hope of a greener, more resilient future.

What are zai pits?

A zai pit is a water harvesting technique that involves digging holes into the ground and filling them with organic matter like compost, mulch and manure.

Once the hole is filled, farmers plant vegetable seeds like onion, kale and spinach, in the centre and cover it with a layer of soil or mulch.

In dry areas like Kitui County where rainfall is scarce, zai pits is a simple and affordable solution that can help smallholder farmers to thrive in the face of climate change.

They can help boost crop harvests by providing plants with access to water and protecting young seedlings from the harsh sun by retaining moisture. And the pits also help reduce soil erosion by trapping rain water and preventing it from running off.

Zai pits training in Kitui County

Recently, training sessions on zai pits were held in three community tree nurseries across Kitui County that are managed by our partner Kitui Development Centre. These sessions were attended by 70 community members who were eager to learn about this water harvesting technique.

During the training, farmers learned how to dig and maintain zai pits. They were also provided herb and vegetable seeds like coriander, black nightshade, amaranthus, red creole onion, kale and spinach. And after the training, many of them were excited to go home and try out zai pits on their own farms.

As more farmers learn about and adopt zai pits, we can expect to see positive impacts on farm productivity, food security and the livelihoods of farmers in Kitui County.

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