Kazachi Environmental Farmers Group Irrigation Tower
During my Peace Corps service in rural Zambia, I spent thousands of hours working with Kazachi Group to implement a $9,259 USAID grant we obtained to build a water tower and an agricultural training center. Kazachi is comprised of members from three villages: Kalichero, Zamanga, and Chitseko (Ka-Za-Chi!).
At over 13 meters tall, our tower is constructed with locally available materials, has nearly 4km of pipes, a 10,000 liter tank, and supplies 1.5 hectares of newly established high-value fruit and nut orchard with standard-pressure drip irrigation. Additionally, our tower supplies 6 nearby households and 3 hectares of existing gardens and orchards with tap water.
We spent a few months making and firing thousands of mud bricks, and mining sand and stones for mortar/concrete, to prepare for the construction of our solar-powered water tower. The Headman of Chitseko Village is pictured moulding bricks for our tower.
With a large chalkboard, bench seating, orchards, gardens, and fish ponds, we have transformed this location into a perfect area for learning. The members of Kazachi have been hosting classes for the local community in the new training center, teaching concepts in orchard establishment, sustainable agriculture, fish farming, irrigation technology, and business management.
The orchard has nearly 1200 drip sites. Together, we developed a five year plan to grow 600 high value trees, intercropped with approximately 600 sites for annual crops like melons and tomatoes. This allows the group to generate income while the trees are maturing.
To protect the orchard from animals, we planted Gliricidia sepium with close spacing as a "living fence". This tree improves the surrounding soil and can quickly recover from being chopped or burned down to the ground. It is also foul tasting, so livestock avoid eating it. A living fence doesn't experience issues with termites or rot, doesn't cost any money, and can quickly regenerate after an accident.
During the historic drought of the 2023/24 growing season, Kazachi Group greatly expanded their gardens to produce maize and vegetables with irrigation.
The tank has also assisted the group in their tree nursery activities. With water on tap, they have already produced tens of thousands of fruit, timber, and soil-improving tree saplings.
The water tank towers over the surrounding landscape; any spot that is lower in elevation than the tank is capable of being irrigated. This project is still expanding, greatly increasing the agricultural output in the area.
