The study combined rainwater harvesting (RWH), agroforestry (AFS) and soil organic amendment in a holistic approach with the aim to address water scarcity and enhance crop yield in dry areas with limited moisture and depleted soil. The field experiment was conducted in eastern Tigray- Ethiopia following detailed RWH site suitability assessment and evaluation of existing RWH and AFS systems. The results showed BWAFS (RWH, poultry biochar and AFS) significantly increased pH, SOM, TN, Av.P as well as yield and biomass of both crops (maize and barley). The study proved the potential of the holistic approach for improving soil quality and crop yield in arid and semi-arid regions facing water scarcity