In Marsabit County, Northern Kenya, Caritas Switzerland has, together with communities, constructed three rock catchment systems. In this region, there are no permanent rivers and the dry seasons can get severe. Moreover, not all groundwater sources are suitable for human consumption and people often rely on scarce and mostly unprotected water sources. Only about 35% of the population have access to safe water.
The rock catchments collect rainwater from large bare rock surfaces before it gets channelled to storage tanks. The three systems serve 3,500 people and can store a total of 2.34 million litres of water per rainy season. This covers for approximately three months of human water consumption.

More information: https://www.caritas.ch/en/what....-we-do/worldwide/cou
Short version of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcfgZkA5uK0&t=16s

Renowned indigenous permaculturalist, Mr. Zephaniah Phiri from Zvishavane, describes the lack of rainfall in the semi-arid natural region four in Zimbabwe and the good results he's had with his water harvesting pits that gather and infiltrate what falls in the few major storms they receive. Mixing his humourous style with penetrating questions, and an eye on the practical, Mr. Phiri is still inspiring innovation in the land after more than fifty years of prayer, protest, experimentation and teaching; he is the vision behind a lot of the innovation occuring in Mazvihwa. With cameo appearances by Patrick Holden and Brock Dolman.

For more information on this interview go to http://www.muonde.org

For the blog entry go to: http://www.muonde.org/2013/07/09/renowned-indigenous-permaculturalist-mr-zephaniah-phiri-from-zvishavane-describes-the-lack-of-rainfall-in-the-semi-arid-natural-region-four-in-zimbabwe/

“You must plant the rain before you plant a seed or tree!” proclaimed rain farmer Mr. Zephaniah Phiri Maseko of Zimbabwe. By doing just that, he and his family turned a wasteland into an oasis, raised groundwater and well levels even in dry years, reduced flooding in wet years, and enhanced the fertility of the soils. This inspiring story will be shared along with the strategies used, and more importantly, the guiding principles that informed the choice, placement, and implementation of these strategies into a more integrated and productive system. These principles work in any climate experiencing a dry season or drought. And they help us see and act more holistically by asking us questions that direct our attention to important aspects of water and fertility systems we might otherwise overlook.

Presenter: Brad Lancaster is a dynamic teacher, consultant, and designer of regenerative systems that sustainably enhance local resources and our global potential. He is the author of the award-winning, best-selling book series Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond.

Download the presentation slide pdf here : http://edn.link/xfqc94

To see other videos from the Conference : http://edn.link/eiac-video-2016

For more information about ECHO, visit https://www.echocommunity.org

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