CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: Farm ponds as means for water harvesting and storage

    

Water remains essential commodity for human survival and communities keep putting different measures on its harvesting, storage
and efficient utilization. The 6^th 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