Xeriscape Agroforestry Can Climate Proof Bahrain’s Agriculture

TDT | Manama

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Bahrain has extreme climatic conditions thanks to the arid desert climate that translate to hot summers and scanty rainfall. This naturally has a detrimental impact on agriculture which needs ample water resources in order to ensure a healthy crop yield. In this regard, Bahrain can explore the large scale commercial roll out of Xeriscape Agroforestry. Derived from the Greek word xeros meaning “dry”, Xeriscape practices combine water-wise landscaping with tree-crop integration, offering key benefits like extreme water conservation, improved soil health, and higher climate resilience. Agroforestry on the other hand is a sustainable land management system that deliberately combines trees and shrubs with crop farming and/or livestock grazing on the same piece of land. Combining xeriscaping principles with agroforestry systems in desert nations can deliver vital advantages such as desertification control.

The concept relies on usage of drought-tolerant native trees and shrubs to reduce irrigation needs. Besides cutting down of heavy watering by 50 per cent, xeriscape agroforestry promotes slashing down the use of chemical fertilisers and encourages grouping plants with similar water needs together to maximise efficiency. The addition of organic matter and supported by drip irrigation not only improves soil moisture retention but also delivers the moisture directly to the roots. This is further helped by the usage of mulch or rocks to lock in soil moisture which in turn regulates temperature and suppresses weeds. These measures improve soil fertility and enable diversification of crops from a single dry plot of land.

Xeriscape Agroforestry also has a tremendous positive impact on environment as it helps water conservation and enable the tree root networks to lock arid soil in place and thereby prevent severe wind erosion and desertification. Additionally, the creation of dense multi-layered tree canopies lower ground temperatures, increase ambient humidity, and reduce crop heat stress. But perhaps the most important benefit of xeriscape agroforestry is the role played in carbon sequestration as the hardy desert trees act as permanent carbon sinks in areas previously devoid of substantial biomass. These environmental benefits help create self-sustaining resilient ecosystems that in turn prevent salt accumulation from over-exploited aquifers, a key driver behind Bahrain losing fertile agricultural land.

The large scale implementation of xeriscape agroforestry can alter the trajectory of climate change for Bahrain by mitigating severe heat pockets across the rapidly urbanising Kingdom. Additionally this form of agroforestry can lessen the national reliance on energy-intensive, vulnerable coastal desalination infrastructure and also offer alternative income streams for the farmers through resilient non-fodder products if primary seasonal crops fail.

Xeriscape agroforestry can future proof Bahrain's agricultural sector from climate change.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Daily Tribune)