Learning to grow an abundance of crops in a parched landscape
West Pokot is a region defined by its dry and harsh climate. On top of this, decades of deforestation have exacerbated the problem. Streams have dried up. Crops struggle. And natural disasters are increasing.
Vivian Chepkemoi lives in Morpus, West Pokot. Like many women in her community, she struggled to grow enough food for her family. The prolonged droughts and dry conditions meant there was never much to show for her toil.
But there are farming techniques which have proved incredibly effective in arid environments. When Vivian heard that there was going to be training on climate smart agriculture, she signed up straight away.
Vivian Chepkemoi is growing vegetables thanks to climate smart planting techniques
“I joined the training because I wanted to find a way to grow food for my family despite the dry conditions,” Vivian said. “We were taught how to use Zai-pits and vertical bags to grow vegetables even with little water.”
Climate smart techniques are all about practical ways to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs in difficult conditions. But they don’t just increase harvests, they also help improve the environment.
Vivian and Mercy admire thriving crops
Zai pits are small, dug-out basins filled with organic matter that captures rainwater and runoff, allowing crops to grow in otherwise unproductive soils. The pits help restore soil fertility, promoting moisture retention and reducing erosion.
Vertical gardens are as they sound, layers of crops on top of each other. These multi-storey beds allow farmers to maximize space and grow a variety of crops, while conserving water.
From kale and spinach to a surplus of veg
Vivian took an active role during the two-day training, delighted to be upskilling herself. She and the other women in her community learnt how to construct Zai-pits and manage vertical garden systems. After the training, she received equipment to start her first vertical garden. She set it up straight away and began planting vegetables such as kale and spinach. Within a short time, she was harvesting enough for her family’s daily needs. Soon after, she started selling the surplus to neighbours!
This has not only improved her family's nutrition but has also reduced the money spent on purchasing food. “This project has changed my life,” says Vivian. “I never thought I could grow vegetables in such dry land. Now, my children eat better and I even make some money from what I sell.
“I feel proud and more confident now. I believe that even in dry areas, we can still thrive with the right knowledge and support. I now see trees and farming in a new light, this project has opened my eyes.”
Some of the 3,000 trees planted at St. Elizabeth Girls Secondary School in May 2024. 14 months later, they are thriving despite the challenging dry weather conditions.
Planting 22,385 trees
Thanks to this project in Morpus, West Pokot, there are now also two community tree nurseries run by local women. These nurseries are the source of seedlings for the local area.
In their first year they grew 22,385 seedlings which have been planted on farms and schools. The species planted include fruit trees for delicious nutrition and native trees which are providing shade, helping to enrich the soil, bringing back biodiversity and restoring the local landscape.
The women of Morpus, West Pokot, are breaking cultural barriers and owning cows
And the nurseries are providing a sustainable source of income for the women who manage them.
“When you empower a woman, you empower a community,” says Mercy, our Kenya Programmes Manager. “Through training, capacity building and commitment from these wonderful women, cultural barriers are being broken. Women are buying cows from proceeds earned from sale of tree seedlings and establishing green leafy vegetable vertical gardens that use minimal water.
“This is a first for a community where cattle are only owned by men. The women are breaking cultural barriers and moving towards attaining equality, improving their nutrition and increasing their self-worth and dignity.”
Donate today
You can help equip women in dry climates to grow bountiful food, provide for their families and breakdown cultural barriers all while restoring their local landscape.