KFP i.e. Kedia Farm Pattern is an amazing rain water harvesting technology invented by an Indian Scientist Mr. Vijay Kedia. KFP is an unique technology that can harvest upto 80% rainwater underground, contrary to other RWH technologies which can store only upto 18% rainwater above ground which is open to evaporation.
KFP is a toll-free express-highway joining Sky-water & Ground-water.
The Technology
The real cause of Water crisis is not less rainfall but erratic rainfall that normally occurs with high intensity and for short durations. This results in high run-off events & poor soil-moisture storage.
Thus there is a need to store as much as available rainwater; and what can be a better storage than the ground itself!
‘Jalmitra’ Mr. Kedia believes that - Proper place of harvesting rain water is the Womb of Mother Earth (below ground), not the Lap of Mother Earth (above ground)
But rainwater does not percolate in the ground automatically; it has to be recharged underground.
In KFP this recharging is done through specially made, non degradable, long lasting, branded plastic sheet. This KFP sheet acts as a conduit for rainwater and upto 80% rainwater seeps in the ground.
Initially this rainwater is retained by soil upto 4mtr depth which is available to plant roots as moisture.
Once the field capacity of this zone is achieved (in 1-5 years), excess rainwater increases ground water table and simultaneously increases well water level.
Thus water is available throughout the year. The soil too remains moist throughout the year and even in summer soil just a foot below the surface is found moist. Where as in present situation when rainwater starts flowing from the fields as run-off, soil may remain completely dry just 2 ft below surface, even in monsoon.
This implies that within 4-5 years an additional crop can be harvested, increasing crop production.
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KFP harvesting system increases the Green water i.e. water in the form of soil moisture that feeds plants & crops. Once the field capacity of the soil is achieved, additional infiltrating water becomes Blue water i.e. flowing water. It increases ground water level & flows towards wells, rivers etc. Water level is seen rising in wells even in low rainfall.
Where KFP is implemented, 40-50% rainwater recharged in the ground is available to plants in the form of soil-moisture compared to the usual 10% i.e. 4 times more.
Technical Feasibility -
KFP structure can be made in any Individual farm of 1 hectare land.
The only requirement is soil depth should be more than 1.5 mtr (no rock) At least 1 run-off loss during monsoon.
Usually 1 KFP Structure is required per hectare where land slope is 1-3% and average rainfall is 1000 mm.
More than one KFP may be required per ha, for steeper fields or where rainfall is more than 1000 mm.
Water recharging speed and percolation may vary, depending on rainfall intensity & soil strata.
For increasing water in the wells, 2 KFP structures may be required in the vicinity of the well.
Note:
1. KFP in Terrace Farming (Sloping hilly area) -
In terrace farming with slopes more than (12% or 7 degrees) KFP should be tried cautiously as failure may cause severe land damage. Terraces should drain sufficiently because impermeable clay layers are formed by mixing topsoil & subsoil during terrace construction, saturation of bench terraces may cause overland flow & erosion. (More than one KFP may be required per ha in steeper slopes.)
2. KFP and Black Cotton Soil (B.C. Soil) i.e. Soil with Poor Infiltration -
In soils with poor infiltration (like B.C. Soil), where water tends to run-off without soaking in, KFP increases infiltration and such soils can hold the moisture well, although rainwater harvesting may be in the range of 30-60% (not 80% as normal RWH potential of KFP).
The Highlights
KFP is a Natural way of irrigation - the way Nature planned its system to work.
Crop roots cannot absorb water unless it is converted into soil moisture. And it is first time in the history of rainwater harvesting that a technology has successfully tapped this. KFP System percolates rainwater into ground and store it in the form of soil moisture throughout the year. Therefore farms with KFP needs less electricity for irrigation of water. It makes KFP a natural way of irrigation.
By percolating rainwater into the ground and building groundwater channels KFP gives back the Nature its broken system.
Because of the innovative technique used, KFP rainwater harvesting system -
harvests 80% rainwateryet
requires No Land under submergence
has No evaporation losses
has No run-off losses
No silt deposition problem
No water logging
& still is Eco-friendly
KFP is a low cost system with Life of minimum 200 yrs that too without maintenance.
A permanent solution for water crisis for 6 generations to come...
KFP is a single solution to many major problems related to agriculture as well as social. The returns from KFP are innumerable, to name a few -
Solution for Drought
Solution for Floods
Saves Electricity i.e. Saves Carbon Emissions
Increases Crop Production
Limits the use of chemical fertilizers
Stops Soil Erosion
To view complete list of what KFP gives, click
To know how KFP is a modern farming technique -Click Here
The Highlights