Lukenya University Hydropan
Support this projectIn Kenya, students at Lukenya University have designed a hydropan, a water reservoir that uses cover crops to reduce water evaporation.
How to conserve water from unreliable rainfall in the arid and semi-arid lands of the Kibwezi East Sub-county, Makueni County, Kenya? How to ensure a constant food supply?
Students at Lukenya University have developed a climate-smart and environmentally friendly hydroelectric technology: the hydropan.
Hydropan uses cover crops, supported by metal bars erected across them. The cover crops form a canopy over the collected water that minimizes water loss due to evaporation from direct sunlight. Finally, the production of foliar fertilizer using denol worms avoids the use of inorganic fertilizers.
In order to reduce food insecurity, the cover crops used are pumpkins which are very rich sources of carbohydrates. This technology provides a constant water supply for drip irrigation of crops which include cassava, green grams, strawberries and region specific vegetables.
Improved food security
The project team has set up a demo climate smart hydropan system at Lukenya University to train students, farmers, local and regional community members in Kibwezi East Sub-County. The project would be gradually expanded into Makueni County.
Its use has many positive impacts for the environment and local populations: increased soil fertility and food production, reduced production costs, reduced malnutrition, improved food security and standard of living of the inhabitants.
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