The dry season is here, and Masindi’s permaculture Resource Center by Agri Planet Africa is getting creative. With careful planning, we can maximize the potential of this period of low rain through innovative farming techniques. Today, we demonstrated basin farming, which requires no tillage and involves making small basins in the ground where compost and seeds are planted.

To further demonstrate this basin-style farming technique, we planted cucumbers in the basins while compost was applied to tomatoes in a separate area. These demonstrations are intended to illustrate how to maximize water efficiency for crops grown in arid regions like Masindi during this dry time of year.

Aside from basin farming, permaculture resource centers typically focus on agroforestry, rainwater harvesting systems, and zero-waste approaches. All these methods help farmers increase their yields while preserving resources and supporting local communities in arid regions. This is key to promoting resilient food production in areas with limited access to water.

Learning more about sustainable techniques like basin farming can create a more secure future for those living in semi-arid regions where rainfall is unpredictable. As exemplified by our permaculture Resource Center instructors in Masindi, with careful planning and dedication, we can build robust systems that support us even during times of drought.