Thomas Machokoto surveys his farmland – three hectares of bare soil neatly dug with ditches, pits and furrows in preparation for the rains. Together with other members of a small group of local farmers, he has been digging these contour bunds and infiltration pits to capture and store rainwater. The furrows, or tied ridges, will be used to plant above the areas that become waterlogged during the rainy season. They will allow minimum soil disturbance when the time comes for planting and harvesting – and when they have been covered with some of the crop residue for mulch, they will also help regenerate the soil.