BY LINDELWA MYENI
MBABANE– Farmers at Dvokolwako Ebusweni Farmer Field School are gaining practical lessons in efficient irrigation and sustainable farming after water from the Mbuluzi River was harnessed through a newly installed drip irrigation system.
The system draws water from the river, approximately 120 metres from the field, into a 5 000-litre storage tank before it passes through filters and is distributed to crops through drip lines.
The irrigation system is providing farmers with a practical platform to learn how to manage water efficiently while improving agricultural production.
On September 1, approximately 0.6 hectares of the 0.8-hectare plot was planted with Javelin carrots, with tomatoes expected to be planted before the end of the month.
Farmers prepared ridges to support carrot development, while river sand was mixed with the small carrot seeds to ensure more even distribution during planting.
Mulching was also applied to support crop growth and protect emerging seedlings from harsh weather conditions.
The Farmer Field School forms part of livelihoods work being implemented in collaboration with World Vision Eswatini and contributes to Sustainable Land Management (SLM) initiatives.
The Ministry of Agriculture Eswatini is providing technical support to strengthen agricultural production and irrigation practices.
The intervention also contributes to the objectives of the Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project (MERP), executed by the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC), implemented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The project demonstrates how efficient use of available water resources can support agricultural learning, strengthen livelihoods and promote more sustainable farming practices in communities along the Mbuluzi landscape.
#MbuluziRestoration #FarmerFieldSchools #DripIrrigation #SustainableAgriculture #WaterStewardship #Eswatini
(Courtesy Pic)
