In-field rainwater harvesting on croplands: Opportunities and challenges

Abstract

Food security Over the last 18 years the WRC has invested in a range of research projects on different aspects of rainwater harvesting. This research began with a sequence of projects by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Institute for Soil, Climate and Water, which led to the development and testing of the technique of infield rainwater harvesting and conservation (IRWH&C). In general terms, IRWH can be classified as a micro-catchment, on-farm method of water harvesting with runoff strips. This new technique is now successfully applied in backyard food gardens by more than 1 000 households in 42 villages at Thaba Nchu, in the Free State. The potential was identified for upscaling of IRWH to communal croplands. For this purpose the University of the Free State developed an innovative and cost-effective procedure to delineate soils suitable for cultivation and rainwater harvesting. Experts such as Dr Malcolm Hensley are convinced that with IRWH farmers can e.g. produce enough maize for own consumption and also earn cash with the sale of surpluses.

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