Lesson 1 of 4 ยท Grade 6 Agriculture and Nutrition
Water harvesting and irrigation
15 min
Water harvesting
Collecting and storing rain water for later use.
- Roof catchment: gutters lead rain from roofs into tanks.
- Water pans and dams: store run-off water.
- Zai pits: small pits around crops that collect water.
- Ridges and trenches that hold water in the soil.
Irrigation
Watering crops artificially.
- Drip irrigation: water drips slowly at the roots; saves water.
- Sprinkler irrigation: sprays water like rain.
- Furrow (canal) irrigation: water flows in channels between rows, e.g. at Mwea rice scheme.
- Watering can / bucket: for small gardens.
Drip irrigation is the best for saving water in dry areas.
Key points to remember
- Roof catchment collects rain into tanks
- Zai pits hold water near crops
- Drip irrigation saves the most water
- Mwea uses furrow irrigation for rice
Test yourself
