As I sit here writing this month’s installment on farming and agribusiness, I’m almost overwhelmed with anxiety and the feeling of finality at the realization that we are three weeks away from December and the end of another year. At this time of the year, you can’t help but become reflective. Yes, we were dealt an unprecedented and difficult blow with the outbreak of COVID and its devastating implications. Despite this, we have to play the best game we can with the cards we are dealt. So, have we planted the proverbial seeds that will allow us to build back better in the new year? Better yet, have we started “irrigating” the seeds we have sown? (Food for thought)

Different crops have different needs when it comes to irrigation – both in terms of quantity of water and delivery. Moreover, depending on your soil type, whether it’s Sandy, Clay, or Loam, the frequency of irrigating your crops will vary. For instance, areas with soils that have more clay content in their composition may not require regular watering since clay soils have a higher retention of water. In fact, areas with such soils may actually require more effective drainage systems to ensure the crops don’t become waterlogged. Another factor to consider is climate. Semi-arid areas may require more water due to a high evaporation rate brought on by scorching temperatures. Have you ever heard of the saying, “people in hell want ice water”?

The rule of thumb is that we need an average of 10,000 litres of water per acre per watering. If you are watering a minimum of three times a day, that is 30,000 litres of that good stuff per acre. In a perfect world, this would indicate that you need a storage capacity of that amount or more. Sure, one can argue that you could pump directly from your water source; but the energy costs will beat you down like a pedestrian in the midst of an anti-BBI rally.

Another consideration when it comes to irrigation, is your source of water. There has always been huge controversy concerning food grown with the aid of effluent from industries, especially those around Nairobi. Not only is this inappropriate, because what goes around comes around, it is also immoral to poison your fellow man or woman (it’s 2020 and Twitter fingers are always ready to come for you if you’re not inclusive). You must ensure that the source of water is safe and sufficient to see you through your production process. A key point to note is that collecting rainwater in a silanga will not be sufficient unless that “dam” can host enough water for the whole season. This, according to my calculations, would be 480,000 litres for one acre. I am not trying to paint a grim picture here and, granted, you could be living in the wetlands with a lot of success; but the aim of these blogs is to help you avert crises which could end in premium tears.

A final point to consider is the delivery of water to the crops. The best delivery system is drip irrigation. Drip irrigation is effective both from a water conservation standpoint and when considering recurring expenses. This is because most drip systems use gravity to move the water around. However, the capital expenditure, which is a one-off cost, can be prohibitive. But if you have a good capital war chest or a PHD (Papa Has Dough), this is the way to go. With other systems such as sprinkler systems and furrow irrigation, although they are easily set up, you have to be prepared for fungal infections to crops such as tomatoes and onions. You also have to anticipate a high cost directed towards weeding. Having said that, with proper management, these systems are more than capable to satisfy the objective at hand.

I know a lot of farmers have planted during this rainy season, and we here at Tukalime are cheering you on because your success is forever proof of the concept that farming pays. I wish you a good November and I leave you with this If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water-Loren Eiseley. Twende Tukalime.