But Nguuzi is a member of the Maluma Farmer Field School, where Farm Africa has been teaching farmers how to grow food more effectively in dry conditions.

Drought-resistant crops

Nguuzi learnt techniques to save water and soil, as well as which crops can survive in drier and less reliable conditions. He now knows how to grow different crops including cow peas, green grams, sorghum and pigeon peas on his 1.5 acre farm.

He is supplementing his family’s diet and income by growing vegetables, which he keeps watered using the drip irrigation techniques Farm Africa taught him and a water tank we built.

Higher prices

With the sorghum that Nguuzi grows his family can eat porridge, and he earns money by selling his green gram crop through a farmers’ group, which helps him get a better price.

Nguuzi’s previous harvest raised only 1,000 KES (around £7.50), but since working with the new varieties and techniques his latest harvest made him 9,500 KES (around £72). He is also selling a crate of tomatoes a day – earning him an extra 1,500 KES (approximately £11.50) for household costs.

Nguuzi’s 71-year-old father Munyasa watched his son’s success, and decided that he too wants to use the techniques and crop varieties to improve his own harvest. He has even given Nguuzi 1.5 acres of his own land.

With the money he’s making, Nguuzi has been able to pay for school uniforms so that his children can attend school.