Improved water storage structures for agriculture in Malawi

Because of a lack of (rain)water and water run-off in Malawi, there is a need for year-round water storage structures for irrigation. But these structures are often not effective and need improvement; a lot of water is evaporating or leaking, sediment accumulates, expensive unsustainable materials are used or storage tanks are cracked. In this project Youthure Foundation helped farmers increasing their access to water, by developing sustainable water sources and providing farmers with access to a small water pump with a solar panel.

Various elements were researched, like the sourcing of water, digging, sizing, coverage, filters, extraction of water and multifunctionality of water storage structures while focusing on locally available and affordable materials. The project also included field trips, on-site experiments at two farmers and organizing a training for officers and farmers. The outcomes and lessons will be combined in a manual that will be disseminated to (local) farmers, farmers organizations, other NGO’s and local political parties. The best practices have the potential to reach all farmers in Malawi.

Key outcomes of this project are:

– Two manuals were developed to enable farmers to use solar-powered water pumps and harvest rainwater, effectively using it for crop cultivation.

– Two water storage dams were built, and 26 solar-powered water pumps were distributed and put into use.

– Five training sessions were held for a total of 50 farmers. Three groups of farmers were trained to use the water dams.