Promoting environmental stewardship and climate change adaptation preparedness in Ugenya District, Kenya
This project seeks to sustain and enhance the successes, scale-up the concepts for wider coverage and address the emerging issues and lessons learned from the recently-concluded Community Awareness Creation Project on Climate Change in Ugenya District (See Project 151).
During the next phase of development, the following outcomes have been achieved:
Energy-efficient cook stove construction
(See photo opposite which shows a newly-constructed Rocket stove)
723 energy-efficient cook stoves have been constructed in 723 households out of 1250 households projected. It is envisaged that the remaining stoves will be completed by the end of 2010. There is need to enhance awareness on the energy efficient cook-stoves within communities who should be empowered socio-economically to purchase the stoves. Therefore, a working methodology relevant to mobilising local capital known as ‘Community Savings and Loaning’ is recommended for this purpose.
Agro forestry, reforestation biochar and sustainable agriculture
The tree nursery is already established and is operational currently stocking between 60,000 to 75,000 seedlings. Species in the tree nursery are:
- Casuarinas equisetifolia
- Gravellea robusta
- Bamboo
- Mangoes
- Pawpaw
- Moringa
- Cassia sp
- Jacaranda
- Spathodea Nilotica
- Caliandra etc
During the last planting season (April-May 2010), 117 farmers were reached with training and extension services on sustainable agricultural practices. Additional tree seedlings areto be raised to meet the demands for agro-forestry species of trees commonly known as ‘multi-purpose trees’ such as Gravellea robusta, Casuarina, makhamia lutea etc. In the second planting season more farmers will be reached with information on early maturing crops, conservation agriculture (minimum tillage), irrigation and general demand-driven extension and capacity building.
In the next phase of this project it is recommended that an information platform is created between small scale farmers groups and the weather forecasters (Kenya Metrological Department) to enable farmers to adequately prepare for any adverse changes in the weather patterns. Mobile telephony can be exploited for this purpose.
Alternative livelihood support
Promotion of horticulture (planting vegetables such as kales, tomatoes and onions for sale, etc. ) has been identified as an alternative livelihood for communities along River Nzoia. Business plans have been developed for this. In the coming phase, it is intended to allow for scale-up and marketing of the farm produce and the diversification and development of other income-generating activities such as bee keeping, eco-tourism, etc
There is need for to encourage the community to diversify to a wide range of alternative livelihoods through training, capacity building and entrepreneurship, conservation enterprises such as eco-tourism, bee keeping, aquaculture, butterfly farming etc
Communication strategy
World environment day was celebrated June 5th 2010, attracting over 400 participants. T-Shirts were printed, fliers and banners developed and distributed and 3 Stakeholder workshops undertaken to raise awareness. 5 schools also ran environmental clubs. In the next phase of the project, it is highly recommended that a special focus is given to climate change peer education in schools for youths in school as well as youths out of school through their groups.
