Zaï Pits: Water Harvesting and Soil Improvement

Zaï pits are an ancestral water-harvesting technique used in the Sahel to rehabilitate degraded lands. Farmers dig small basins (20–40 cm in diameter and 10–20 cm deep) during the dry season to trap rainwater, soil particles, and organic matter. Between 12,000 and 25,000 pits per hectare are typically dug, with excavated soil placed downslope to capture additional runoff. Each pit is enriched with organic matter (compost, manure, or straw) and mineral fertilizers (5–6 g of NPK or DAP per pit, totaling 72–144 kg per hectare). Millet or sorghum seeds are then planted at the center of the pit. This method enhances water infiltration, retains nutrients, and improves soil structure, ensuring better crop performance in arid environments. Zaï pits can be combined with other dryland techniques like stone bunds, half-moon structures, and tied ridges to maximize land restoration and agricultural productivity.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

Scaling readiness: idea maturity unknown; level of use unknown

Project adoption4

Technology integrated in the Agro-Industrial Zones- Togo, Guinea, Senegal, ENSURE- East Africa, SSEFPP-1- South Sudan, and EFPP- Zimbabwe projects.

Project	Beneficiaries	Budget	Duration	Key figures
Agro-Industrial Zones- Togo, Guinea, Senegal Promotion of Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains in Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Program	79,178 households. 2,400 cooperatives (51%women) and youth (30%).	285.38 million	2024–2029	200,000 farmers trained. 39,179 ha under solar irrigation.
ENSURE- East Africa Enabling Environments for Sustainable Regional Agriculture Extension	3,000,000 farmers.	13.14 million	2024–2027	149,940 farmer leaders & trained farmers. 9,996 trained. 2 → 3.5 t/ha.
SSEFPP-1- South Sudan SSEFPP-1 Emergency Food Production Plan	100,000 farming households (50% women & 20% young people).	8.1 million	2022–2023	498 tons of sorghum seed. 30 tons of fertilizer. 100,000 trained.
EFPP- Zimbabwe Emergency Food Production Project (AEFPF)	180,000 beneficiaries (40% women)	25.5 million	2022–2026	2 → 4 t/ha (corn and wheat). 400,000t.

See project details ›

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

Increases food security and income for farming households by improving crop yields.

The poor: Positive medium

Requires minimal external inputs, making it affordable for resource-poor farmers. Increases food availability and reduces reliance on expensive fertilizers.

Under 18: Positive low

Youth can participate in land preparation, learning traditional farming techniques. However, labor intensity may discourage engagement.

Women: Positive medium

Women, who are often responsible for food production, benefit from improved soil fertility and yields. However, the labor-intensive nature of Zaï pits may pose challenges unless supported by community-based labor-sharing initiatives.

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Increases resilience to droughts by improving water retention and soil fertility.

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Encourages sustainable land management, reducing vulnerability to climate shocks.

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Can support soil microorganisms and plant diversity if combined with agroforestry or intercropping.

Carbon footprint: Much less carbon released

Enhances soil organic matter storage, contributing to carbon sequestration.

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

Reduces soil erosion, prevents land degradation, and enhances ecosystem services.

Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility

Improves soil structure, nutrient content, and organic matter levels.

Water use: Much less water used

Increases rainfall infiltration and reduces runoff, making better use of available water.

Problem

Low rainfall and frequent droughts in the Sahel reduce crop yields and threaten food security.
Soil degradation and crust formation limit water infiltration and plant growth.
Nutrient-poor soils hinder crop productivity, making farming unsustainable.
Runoff and erosion lead to further soil loss and reduce available moisture for crops.

Solution

Zaï pits enhance water retention and soil fertility in drylands by using a micro-catchment system. This technique:

Increases crop resilience by improving moisture availability during dry periods.
Boosts yields by 60–90% for millet and sorghum compared to flat cultivation.
Restores degraded lands, making marginal soils productive again.
Optimizes local resources by incorporating organic and mineral fertilizers.
Is cost-effective and easy to adopt, requiring only manual labor.

Key points to design your program

Zaï Pits are a traditional water harvesting and soil restoration technique that uses small planting pits to capture rainfall, improve water infiltration, and concentrate organic and mineral nutrients around crop roots. By restoring degraded soils, reducing runoff, and improving moisture availability during dry periods, the technology increases the productivity and resilience of millet and sorghum production in drought-prone environments. It is well suited for climate-smart agriculture, sustainable land management, dryland restoration, and food security programmes, contributing to SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land). The technology provides significant benefits for smallholder farmers by restoring degraded land, improving resource-use efficiency, and increasing agricultural productivity with locally available resources. To successfully integrate this technology, consider the following key actions :

Identify drought-prone and degraded production areas where low rainfall, poor soil fertility, runoff, and soil crusting limit crop productivity.
Establish partnerships with national research institutions, extension services, community organizations, and local authorities to support the dissemination of Zaï technology and sustainable land restoration practices.
Facilitate access to organic matter, mineral fertilizers, and simple hand tools required for Zaï pit establishment and maintenance.
Strengthen technical capacity by training farmers, extension agents, and community groups on Zaï pit construction, nutrient management, water harvesting, and integrated soil fertility management.
Promote integrated land restoration practices by combining Zaï pits with organic amendments, agroforestry, stone bunds, or other soil and water conservation measures adapted to local conditions.
Promote the participation of women and youth through community-based land restoration initiatives and improved access to technical knowledge and productive resources.
Monitor programme performance through indicators such as restored land area, crop productivity, soil moisture retention, adoption rates, and the participation of women and youth.

60 - 90 %

Yield Improvement

IP

Open source / open access

Project	Beneficiaries	Budget	Duration	Key figures
Agro-Industrial Zones- Togo, Guinea, Senegal Promotion of Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains in Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Program	79,178 households. 2,400 cooperatives (51%women) and youth (30%).	285.38 million	2024–2029	200,000 farmers trained. 39,179 ha under solar irrigation.
ENSURE- East Africa Enabling Environments for Sustainable Regional Agriculture Extension	3,000,000 farmers.	13.14 million	2024–2027	149,940 farmer leaders & trained farmers. 9,996 trained. 2 → 3.5 t/ha.
SSEFPP-1- South Sudan SSEFPP-1 Emergency Food Production Plan	100,000 farming households (50% women & 20% young people).	8.1 million	2022–2023	498 tons of sorghum seed. 30 tons of fertilizer. 100,000 trained.
EFPP- Zimbabwe Emergency Food Production Project (AEFPF)	180,000 beneficiaries (40% women)	25.5 million	2022–2026	2 → 4 t/ha (corn and wheat). 400,000t.

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Burkina Faso	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Chad	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Ghana	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Mali	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Mauritania	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Niger	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Senegal	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid	–	–	–	–
Semiarid	–	–		–
Subhumid	–	–	–	–
Humid	–	–	–	–

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 1: no poverty

Enhances agricultural productivity, increasing incomes for smallholder farmers.

Goal 2: zero hunger

Improves food security by increasing millet and sorghum yields in drylands.

Goal 5: gender equality

Supports women farmers but may require gender-sensitive labor-sharing mechanisms.

Goal 6: clean water and sanitation

Reduces water runoff and enhances local water retention.

Goal 13: climate action

Improves climate resilience and supports adaptation to droughts.

Goal 15: life on land

Prevents land degradation, restores soil health, and supports sustainable land use.

1. Site Selection and Preparation

Choose a degraded or low-productivity field with compacted or crusted soil.
Clear the land of large debris, rocks, and weeds before digging.

2. Digging the Pits

Dig small basins (zaï pits) of 20–40 cm in diameter and 10–20 cm deep during the dry season.
Arrange the pits in a staggered pattern across the field.
Ensure a density of 12,000–25,000 pits per hectare, depending on soil type and slope.
Place the excavated soil downslope of each pit to help trap additional runoff.

3. Adding Organic and Mineral Fertilizers

Apply two handfuls of organic matter (compost, decomposed manure, or cereal straw) in each pit to enhance soil fertility and water retention.
Add 5–6 g of NPK or DAP fertilizer per pit (equivalent to 72–144 kg per hectare) and mix it with the soil at the base.

4. Sowing the Seeds

Plant millet or sorghum seeds at the center of each pit at the recommended depth.
Ensure proper seed spacing for optimal growth.

5. Maintenance and Management

Regularly monitor the pits to remove weeds and replenish organic matter as needed.
After the rainy season, repair or deepen pits that have filled with silt to maintain effectiveness.
Over time, integrate other soil conservation methods (e.g., stone bunds, half-moons) to enhance land restoration.

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Last updated on Jul 3, 2026

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
Dr Dougbedji Fatondji

Commodities

Sorghum/Millet

Sustainable Development Goals Details ›

public.components.sdgs.motre

Subcategory

Water management

Value chain step

Pre-production

Solution

drought soil degradation

Tested/adopted in Details ›

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Where it can be used Details ›

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones.

Target groups

Farmers

Zaï Pits: Water Harvesting and Soil Improvement

Project adoption4

Inclusion assessment 4

Climate impact 7

Problem

Solution

Key points to design your program

60 - 90 %

IP

Project adoption

Tested/adopted in

Where it can be used

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 1: no poverty

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 5: gender equality

Goal 6: clean water and sanitation

Goal 13: climate action

Goal 15: life on land

How to use

1. Site Selection and Preparation

2. Digging the Pits

3. Adding Organic and Mineral Fertilizers

4. Sowing the Seeds

5. Maintenance and Management

Downloads

Downloads

Commodities

Sustainable Development Goals Details ›

Category

Subcategory

Value chain step

Solution

Tested/adopted in Details ›

Where it can be used Details ›

Target groups