With depressed rains in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), access to water is a critical ingredient for tree growth. By Nelson Nkoilale
Water is a matter of life and death in degraded dry lands. Without water, you may not be able to grow trees. Now Nkoilale Community Development Foundation has found the secrets of growing trees in communities.
Without water, most pasture tries in growing trees in drylands has yielded little. Now the secrets lie in water harvesting, fencing and taking care of trees. With this approach, we have started recording positive results.
There are no shortcuts to success in tree growing in ASALs. You must invest in water harvesting, fencing and taking of your trees.
"I had already given up in tree growing. With this water that I got from NCDF, I have now managed to grow 300 trees in my compound." -John Kiok Livestock Farmer
The underground water dams
The underground water dams comprised of pylethene dam liners have made it possible for community members to pick the appetite of growing trees in their households.
The dam can hold more than 30,000 litres of water. With this water dam, more than 10 community members are now able to water their trees, share it with shoats and establish a kitchen garden.
The underground water dam kills three birds with one stone. It helps to care for trees. It helps to produce fresh vegetables for nutrition and food security. In future with this support, the greening efforts of Nkoilale will be realized.
