Climate change Meeting successfully held in Baringo

By: Joyce Okuta
 
Arid lands Information Network (ALIN) convened a community consultative meeting on climate change at Kabasis Location in Kabarnet on 17^Th   July 2014.

The objective of the meeting was to get the community views in regard to the effects of climate change and their adaption strategies. This information will be consolidated and shared with the county leadership for consideration in their plans and for county policy development on climate change.

The  meeting was attended by over 120  participants , the group was well mixed with over 8 village elders, women representatives, secondary school teachers,3 assistant chiefs, youth representatives,2 ministry of Agriculture staff,5 Agricultural Sector Development programme (ASDSP) staff and local weather predictors.

In attendance was the County Director of Environment, Jeniffer Kipkazi and ward administrator for kabartonjo Mr. Elijah Chemjor.

The county Director lauded the community for turning up in large numbers .She also notified the participants that the ministry of environment is currently giving tree seedlings to schools, churches and institutions.

“We have already distributed mango seedlings to 15 schools as an adaptation and mitigation measure on climate change which has adversely affected our county.”Said Jeniffer Kipkazi

She further highlighted their goodwill in working with women groups to ensure their full participation in conservation issues in the county.

Baringo County Director for Environment giving her remarks

Kabartonjo ward Administrator, Mr. Elijah chemjor said that kabasis area is well known for landslides leading to death and loss of property due to the effects of climate change.

“Land slide cases are high in this area and this needs an integrated approach to deal with this kind of a disaster.” Said Elijah chemjor

Noah Lusaka, ALIN’s project manager led the participants into discussions on climate change. He briefed them on ACT project that is currently implemented in Baringo, Laikipia and Kajiado counties.

He shared about portable farms and emerging technologies in Arid and Semi Arid Lands areas that conserves water.

The discussions sought to address Impacts of climate change at community level, coping mechanisms, what contributes to climate change, the status of natural resources and community’s contribution to the county plans with a focus on climate change issues and policies among others.

Noah Lusaka moderating the meeting

Nolororo women groups experiences in irrigation at Eldume

By: Joyce Okuta

Communities living in Marigat are pastoralists and keep large herds of livestock that includes goats, sheep and cows. Due to the changing climatic conditions, some communities have started growing crops through irrigation..

According to a report by the Ministry of water and Irrigation, the effects of Climate Change due to deforestation of Mau Forest were highly felt first at Eldume area before any other because of its Arid and Semi Arid Lands nature.

A section of farm at Eldume Irrigation scheme

Eldume Irrigation scheme is located in Baringo County, along Marigat- Loboi road, approximately 6 Kms from Marigat Town in Baringo County.

The scheme was initiated by National Irrigation Board to boast food production in lower Baringo in  the year 1980 The main source of water for irrigation is River Molo that flows from the Mau hills in Nakuru County. The scheme has  approximately 800 acres under irrigation and  operates under the umbrella of Eldume Co-operative society.

Nolororo Women group is among hundreds of farmers in the Eldume farmers co-operative. The group has a membership of 30 farmers, 25 Female and 5 male. The group was formed in 2006 to support one another financially through development initiatives.

Main activities of the group include: farming, fattening and selling livestock and financial support to the less fortunate in the community. They also have a piece of land at the local centre on which they have built two rental houses, creating yet another source of income for the group

“Last year we harvested 50 bags of maize from our group farm, we sold locally at Kshs 2,800 per bag,” Says Alice Sauroki, the group's Chairlady.

She adds that they use furrow irrigation in their 2 acre piece of land owned by the group.

They have to cater for the cost of hiring pumps which goes for Kshs 400 per day. Maize is irrigated at least 3 times a week, it takes 8 hours for the women to irrigate one acre piece of land.

They have an addition cost of buying fuel for pumping water into the farm, one litre of fuel costs Kshs 120, they use an average of 5 litres to irrigate one acre, this means they spend Kshs 600 to irrigate 1 acre. The total cost for irrigating one acre per week is Kshs 1,800.

Alice clarifies that the amount of fuel used depends on the topography of the land.

“When there is a steady supply of water in the canal, we can plant up to 3 times per year, if the water decreases then we plant twice a year.” Says the chairlady

She further says that women spend a lot of time and money in irrigating their farms which they would otherwise dedicate to other development activities.

On the other hand, the group members are striving to meet their objectives, which they intensely feel they have achieved some.

The women group has supported one orphan by paying school fees; the student is in Form three at Marigat secondary School.

Prolonged drought experienced in the County has affected their farm activities; they intend to plant tomatoes and beans in the demonstration farm.

Eldume Co-operative Society  farmers  meeting in progress

NECOFA project kicks off

By: Joyce Okuta
 

Network for Ecofarming in Africa (NECOFA) has today launched a three year project in collaboration with Manitesse, an Italian based organization.

The project which is funded by the Italian Co-operation will focus on Local economies and protection of environment, favoring the inclusion of little producers and farmers in the food chain development and in the management of water and forestry resources.

“The project will be implemented specifically in the Molo River basin, from Nakuru county to Baringo County following the flow of Molo River.” Said Mr. Samuel, Project manager for Manitesse.

Molo river arises from the Mau forest and flows into lake Baringo, hence the communities in Ilchamus and salabani wards in Marigat Sub-county will benefit.

On the upper side of River Molo basin they target Potato farmers and on the lowers side Livestock farmers.

The main activities will be rehabilitation of River banks, training and distribution of energy saving jikos to the most vulnerable.

In attendance was member of county Assembly, Mr.Wesley Kakimon, who lauded the work done by NECOFA, citing the alarming poverty levels in the County.

“Farmers need to be capacity built to understand the market standards and how to improve livestock breeds to gain profit,” said the MCA.

He reiterated that the pastoralists culture could be a contributing factor to poverty since they prefer keeping more animals and they end up losing them due to prolonged drought.

Marigat ward administrator, Mr. Obeta Sirma, said that the county government is working with line ministries to ensure that the county is disease free by 2017.

“The county government is working on ways to cultivate and nature more improved breeds which are disease resistant and are putting in place disease control mechanisms.” Added the ward administrator.

Meanwhile, NECOFA is setting up an Eco-tourism centre along Marigat-Loboi Road to promote active participation and interaction between local and international tourists. They have plans to promote fish farming as an enterprise.