Rainwater harvesting enables family to be food secure amid long droughts

By Sarah Ooko, World Vision Senior Communications and Media Specialist, Kenya

Jeniffer and Josphat know only too well the agony and suffering that come with prolonged droughts. The couple (husband and wife) lives in Makueni County, a predominantly dry area situated in eastern Kenya.

Over the past three years, the Kalawa Community has been grappling with seemingly unending droughts that have caused numerous livestock deaths and crop failures.

This has driven families into poverty as agriculture is the predominant source of livelihood and income for a majority of them.

"There were days, during periods of drought, when all we had was watery porridge that we relied on for breakfast, lunch and supper. Other days, we had nothing and we would all sleep hungry. Putting the children to bed on empty stomachs was the hardest and most painful thing to do. You would wonder what your worth as a parent was, if you could not provide for your children," says Jeniffer.

"When the drought strikes, very many children here stay at home because they are too weak to study due to lack of food and water. Parents also lack money to buy required school supplies for their children. So, you can see that these droughts are affecting the education performance of our children and therefore jeopardising their future," states Josphat.

For years, during the numerous sleepless nights that the couple experienced with their stomachs growling due to hunger, Josphat and Jeniffer steadfastly prayed for God's intervention and insight.

"We asked God to end the drought and suffering. We prayed for wisdom, to know how to  solve the problem and solutions that would enable us to turn around our lives," notes Jeniffer.

Their prayers were eventually answered in 2019, when they were invited by World Vision to undergo training on climate-smart agricultural techniques which help families to cope effectively with climate change and remain food secure in times of drought.

Some of the techniques they learnt through the training include the use of drought resistant crop varieties, integrated pest management and water harvesting during rainy seasons.

Immediately after the training ended, Josphat took it upon himself to establish a farm pond based on the practical lessons he had received. He first identified an ideal location on his land, in a relatively sloppy area that would easily harvest storm or rain water.

He then began the hazardous job of digging and excavating the soil, to create a water collection basin of about three metres by four metres, with a depth of three metres.

"I did not have money for labour but I was determined to have the pond. So, I began digging all alone. It took me almost a year to get a sizeable pond basin for holding water. This was an uphill task and during the hard times when food was scarce, I was forced to take breaks as I lacked the energy to go on,” says Josphat.

He adds that people used to pass by his home and wonder about the big hole he was digging that never seemed to end. Some even ridiculed his efforts. However, Josphat was not discouraged as he was focused on the end goal.

All his hard work eventually paid off and life began changing for good in his family, as well as among neighbouring farmers that he mentors.

When the short rainy season came in 2021, the farm pond was ready. It captured and stored a lot of water that allowed Josphat to grow crops which sustain the family’s survival even during the dry seasons.

Using the pump that World Vision supported him with, he is able to easily channel water from the pond to a long pipe which he uses for irrigation.

"I have maize, beans, vegetables and fruits on my farm which are doing really well. I have enough for my family and some left for sale," says a beaming Josphat with his wife Jeniffer.

"For the first time in our lives, we have remained food secure and have enough to feed my three children all year round, whether there are rains or not. I remain forever grateful to World Vision for the support that they have given us," states Jeniffer.

Their nine-year-old son, Joshua, feels inspired by the hard work done by his parents that has changed their lives.

He has since taken an interest in farming and usually helps his parents to water crops, weed and harvest vegetables during school holidays or in the evenings when he comes back from school.

"Mummy cooks for me delicious food from the vegetables and tomatoes in our farm. I also eat a lot of fruits that she says will keep me healthy and protect me from diseases. Nowadays, there is something to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I am able to sleep well and my stomach does not hurt at night as a result of hunger," he says.

Joshua further adds that since his parents started making money from the farm produce, they have been able to buy him school books, new school uniforms to replace the old tattered ones and shoes that protect his feet from being pierced by thorns as he goes to school.

"School is fun, I have energy to play with my friends and I concentrate better in class because I eat and carry enough food to school. And when I am feeling unwell, my parents usually have money readily available to take me to hospital and buy me medicine,” says Joshua.