… says rain water harvesting is key in boosting agricultural production incase of droughts.
Environmentalist Rolf Shenton says there is some opportunity to create rainwater structures on some sites where farmers have the capital to invest.
In an interview with Mafken news in Lusaka, Mr. Shenton said considering the rural population right now, the limited public money available in the national coffers, there is need for rain water harvesting on a national scale.
Mr. Shenton adds that rainwater harvesting is key in boosting agricultural yields incase of droughts as the case now.
He also advised farmers to adopt best practices in the management of soil.
“The best way we can capture more rain is without doubt soil health, increasing soil organic matter, keeping soils covered as much as possible.Every hectare that does not get burned will retain moisture and capture more rain next year,” he said.
“Every hectare where we can avoid overgrazing will retain moisture and capture more rain. Every hectare that can get some manure, preferably kept out of the sun and rain, will capture more rain. Every hectare that has more growing plants per m², will retain moisture and capture more rain,” Mr. Shenton said.
He adds that More plants dead and alive means More infiltration, means less run off and less drought and less erosion, less flood.
” Of the 1000s of dams built in Southern and Eastern provinces, few are still working, most have silted up due to rushing surface water and many have broken, been repaired and broken again due to the flooding water. The best bang for buck is to improve soil management so rainfall enters where it falls..then it is safe from sun and wind and can move slowly thought the ground to the dambos, streams and rivers , feeding plants on its way,” Mr. Shenton said.