The PlantVillage team in Kenya, has constructed the first-ever underground capillary wick irrigation system at the Ririma borehole in Marsabit County (Northern Kenya) for growing vegetables: cabbages, kale, curly kale, Swiss chard, capsicum, beetroot, and sweet potato vines.
The project comes as the drought situation in Kenya escalates, with communities in the Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASAL regions) experiencing the worst effects in years. We are now entering the 6th successive below normal rain season which has led to widescale stress in the community.
The vegetable project is a resilience revolution and a bold step towards regreening Marsabit and, in the process, combating drought and famine, contributing to the national goal of food security for its people, and empowering vulnerable families through income generation.