and efficient utilization. The 6th sustainable goal (SDG 6) is geared towards ensuring everyone has access to safe and affordable drinking water. Statistics allude that water scarcity affects more than 40% of world population and with effects of climate change, the situation may worsen.
Kenya is considered water
scarce country with per capita water availability of 600M³ which is below
global threshold of 1000M³ and the situation remains unpredictable due to
climate change and increasing water demands at household and farm levels. In
2017, Government of Kenya in partnership with development actors and business
community launched Kenya Chapter of Billion Dollar alliance for water
harvesting designed to scale up farm pond technology in efforts to increase
water harvesting amongst communities in arid and semi-arid areas
Kenyan climatic
conditions for past six years have been patterned by heavy downpours during
rains seasons and dry spells characterized by wilting and withering of crops
and vegetation, reduction of pasture for livestock consequently leading to
death of livestock and conflicts associated with water and pasture right of
usage. During the heavy downpours however, the resultant phenomenon has been
destruction of property and infrastructure, loss of life and outbreak of
diseases.
In urban areas, rainfall
is seen as a curse due to its resultant effects of massive traffic congestion,
accidents and flooding. In urban areas rainwater harvesting remains a non
-priority according to 2009 census only 0.8 % of urban residents practice water
harvesting, whereas in rural areas its seen as a big blessing, the iron however
is that once it rains, people congregate in houses or use umbrellas to
safeguard against rain drop, once the rain stops rains, the same people are
spotted carrying, jericans on their backs following the same water to rivers
and other water points, with massive sensitization on water harvesting, however
this tread is rapidly changing
In most rural different
water harvesting and storage approaches are being applied at household level to
harvest and store water for use at later dates, high penetration of plastics
tanks and concrete water reservoirs has seen short term water harvesting done targeting domestic water uses while farm
ponds remains adorable water harvesting and storage techniques for both
domestic and agriculture.
Farm
Ponds
Many small and marginal farmers have found farm ponds to be ideal
solutions to their water struggles. Farm ponds are small in size and thus fit
well within these farmers’ land holding size. They are easy to construct and
mainly do not require skilled labour, they can be filled by small amounts of
rain. Furthermore, since they are individually managed farmers can freely use
the harvested water without any competition or conflict. In addition, farm
ponds save women and children from walking for miles to find, collect, and
carry water for domestic use. Farm ponds can also provide an additional source
of income for families by supporting activities like fish rearing and growing
vegetables.
Inades Formation Kenya, a
pan African Organization working within lower Eastern areas of Machakos,
Makueni and Kitui has been working with farmers in promoting water harvesting
using farm ponds. To realize its mandate, it clusters farmers in groups whereby
they are trained on establishment of farm pond including establishing
demonstration unit for the group. The demonstration acts as a source of water
for group enterprise while creating practical knowhow to group members. The
group members having acquired knowledge and skills then embark on household
level establishment. This has seen real transformation of lives as farmers are
able to harvest, store and use water during dry seasons. In Yatta Sub County,
Bishop Dr Titus Masika has been leading campaigns to mobilize farmers excavate
farm ponds resulting to transformation of local youths and farmers who now
actively participate in agribusiness, his intervention which is geared towards
reducing reliance on relief food and donation has rekindled the zeal and
passion for farmers to make use of surface runoff and roof catchment to combat
climate change at minimal costs.
Farm pond water
harvesting is an instrument of increasing community resilience to recurring
droughts and decreasing rainfall amounts, however farm ponds are face
challenges of water quality, high evaporation and downward percolation losses.
These makes it hard for farmers to leap the benefits of the investment. Despite
low excavation costs, other expenses for retain the water and ensuring good
quality make the farm pond unavoidable to certain community segments thereby
the need for government and NGO intervention in the entire water harvesting
chain. Farm ponds have potential of transforming previously dry and wastelands
to agricultural hubs, all partners and stakeholders have to play their part
accordingly for realization of this noble goal
