Harvesting Water with Hafirs : Lessons from East Africa
Echoes from our Network: Six Mulching Principles
From ECHO’s Seed Bank: Adzuki Bean
Books, Websites, and Other Resources: Tools for Underutilized Crop Selection - VACS Explorer, CropBase, ISHS Symposium on Underutilized Crop Species and others
Articles
Harvesting Water with Hafirs
Harold Msanya
Hafirs are shallow, excavated basins that collect and store rainwater for various uses, such as irrigation, livestock watering, and domestic needs. Hafirs effectively capture runoff during the rainy season for use in the dry season. Hafirs are particularly useful in drylands, where rainfall is erratic and traditional water sources like rivers and wells are often insufficient.
Six Mulching Principles
Clint Bower
Network member Clint Bower shares six basic mulching principles that he has found to be key to promoting soil health in their context in Haiti. Specific crops and techniques are explained but may need to be adapted to your context.
Adzuki Bean
Robert Walle
Adzuki bean is native to eastern Asia and has been introduced around the world for its versatility as a cover crop, its nutritional value, and its use in traditional Asian cuisine. Dense plantings and pure stands cover the soil well.