MetaMeta’s Drain to Gain Project: Road runoff harvesting for nature-based farming in Makueni – Global Resilience Partnership – Inergency

In the Eastern region of Kenya, Makueni County stands out amidst arid and semi-arid zones, surrounded by the Volcanic Chyulu hills, Mbooni hills, and Kilungu hills. Famous for its mango and pixies orange production, the county’s agriculture thrives through water management community projects such as dams, irrigation schemes, and boreholes.

Eugene Kaiga

Through GRP’s Resilient Agriculture Innovation for Nature (RAIN) challenge supported by Shockwave Foundation and the Munich Re Foundation, we had the opportunity to visit MetaMeta’s project, Drain to Gain, in Makueni County Kenya.  MetaMeta is one of the RAIN for profit short listed candidates. Their project focuses on harvesting road runoff for nature-based farming. This initiative integrates sustainable land management strategies, including road run-off harvesting, agroforestry, climate-smart farming, and bio-gully control, aiming to build a resilient community and landscapes for green business development.

Eugene Kaiga

Michael Maluki, a civil engineer collaborating with the Makueni County government, has taken a proactive role in training over 100 farmers through the Trainers of Trainers (ToT) program. His emphasis on public participation is a driving force behind efforts to educate the community on water harvesting and gully protection through road runoff.

Success stories from Makueni farmers

Peter Ngwasi’s water harvesting journey

Eugene Kaiga

Peter Ngwasi, a dedicated farmer, shares how he overcame the challenge of limited rainfall in the region. Through Michael’s training and MetaMeta’s guidance, Peter learned to combine gully restoration with road water runoff harvesting. Creating terraces in his farmland, he successfully captures and utilises water for domestic and agricultural purposes, ensuring a continuous water supply until the next rainy season. Despite the last rainfall occurring in April 2023, six months ago, the crops continue to thrive due to the successful implementation of these sustainable water management practices.

Peter expressed with pride that the practice of water harvesting has not only allowed his farm to flourish but has also generated sufficient income to support his son’s university education. Previously, he faced considerable challenges in meeting the financial demands of his son’s school fees.

Eugene Kaiga

As an active member of the community project management committee, Peter extended his support to neighbors, teaching them these valuable techniques. His future plans include further training within his community, particularly focusing on educating the youth. He aims to accomplish this within the next two years. 

Benjamin Makengau’s transformation through water harvesting

The second farmer, Benjamin Makengau, is a teacher who engages in farming driven by his passion, particularly focusing on the cultivation of mangoes and pixie oranges. 

Eugene Kaiga

Initially, Benjamin did not fully commit to or believe in the effectiveness of water harvesting interventions. However, upon realising its tangible impact, his dedication grew stronger. In 2020, MetaMeta and the local municipality collaborated, bringing a team of 20 individuals to Benjamin’s farm to assist with the implementation of water harvesting interventions. The process took 4-5 days to establish the necessary infrastructure. Since the introduction of water harvesting, there has been a significant transformation in the water conditions on Benjamin’s farm. He expressed, “There isn’t any season when I lack fruit.” Notably, Benjamin has evolved into a Trainer of Trainees (ToT), having imparted his knowledge to 20 fellow farmers.

Gladys’s journey to sustainable farming

Eugene Kaiga

Gladys Kiluni, a teacher practising farming as a side hustle, faced challenges due to the short duration of rainfall in Makueni County. Moreover, the nearest water source, a distant river, made it feasible to fetch only enough water for domestic use, not for agricultural needs.

Eugene Kaiga

To address this, Gladys, along with her family (brother and uncle), took the initiative to excavate a dam/pond on their land to harvest rainwater. This intervention eliminated the need to travel to the distant river for water. The water from the pond is utilised by two farms, to  cultivate vegetables and for domestic purposes throughout the year. A significant change from the previous necessity of purchasing vegetables all year.

Their irrigation system involves using a generator to pump water from the pond to the top of the farm, followed by gravity-driven irrigation for the crops. However, a drawback of this system is the reliance on the generator, which not only requires petroleum but has also become more expensive, compounded by the impacts of climate change. 

Eugene Kaiga

In Makueni County, water harvesting emerges as a golden solution, transforming the agricultural landscape and empowering farmers to overcome the challenges posed by the region’s climate. Through community-driven projects and individual initiatives, the residents are not only adapting to climate change but also thriving in sustainable, resilient farming practices.

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