A magazine on drylands development and sustainable agriculture / Issue 63, September 2011
REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011 1
Editorial
Dear Reader,
T
he theme for this issue of Baobab has been informed by the need to explore and understand the relationship between food production systems and mechanisms for its delivery to consumers at local regional and global levels. With increasing population, a changing global climate and varying patterns of utilisation of food crops, it is important that we create more platforms for discussions about food systems. As Dr. Immaculate Maina observes in the Theme Overview, the efect of food systems on human welfare depends on a range of factors including their environments; poverty status and their capacity to inluence or be part of food systems either as producers, processors or consumers. There is a place for the small scale farmer in the context of global food production and consumption. Given smallscale farmers tend to intercrop a wide variety of food types they contribute towards regional agro-biodiversity. They enhance the potential of local food systems to provide a large variety of grains, tubers, pulses, green leaves, wild fruits and berries, meat and ish that are locally important, nutritionally rich, culturally accepted and environmentally resilient. As population increases and with it demand for more food, it is expected that pressure for mass production of food will threaten this diversity. As the efects of climate change manifest in more frequent droughts in regions such as the Horn of Africa, the resulting low food production is already forcing communities to adopt various coping mechanisms among them: consuming less food in order to just survive; consuming only essential food or; consuming food of poor quality. The impact of this is reduced consumption of essential micronutrients which compromises capacities for production and therefore leads to low household incomes. This is why our Stork Story focuses on encouraging farmers to begin growing crops that enable them to cope with drought, while providing them with more nutrients and capacity to sell surplus to improve their livelihoods. A discussion of food systems with respect to East Africa is timely. The region, particularly northern Kenya and parts of Somalia have experienced severe food stress over the period 2010 – 2011, leading to the worst famine in 60 years. Many are now questioning existing regional food policies given that droughts in the region have become predictable. It is not diicult to ind one area in Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania experiencing food surplus while another area in the same country is experiencing food scarcity. Clearly, in such situations local mechanisms for distribution and access to markets are not well aligned. On a diferent note, I wish to share with you some good news. ALIN is the 2011 winner of Access to Learning Award (ATLA) given annually by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ALIN was recognised for providing access to information and technology in hard to reach communities through creation of knowledge centres in rural areas. On behalf of ALIN fraternity, I wish to thank all of you for your dedicated contributions towards supporting your network. We welcome your comments and feedback on the subjects covered in this issue. We trust that we will continue to count on your ideas and suggestions on how to make Baobab more relevant to the livelihoods of smallscale agricultural producers in East Africa. We are especially keen to receive ideas about how to ensure usable information reaches those whose lives depend on increasing the production of their crops and livestock in a manner that preserves available natural resources.
o u g N s e Jam
Regional Director
2 BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011
Contents ISSN: 0966-9035 Baobab is published four times a year to create a forum for ALIN members to network, share their experiences and learn from experiences of other people working in similar areas.
4 8 11 17
THEME OVERVIEW: Regional food systems
Editorial Board James Nguo Noah Lusaka Esther Lung’ahi Anthony Mugo – Chief Editor Illustrations Shadrack Melly Layout and Design
PROJECT FOCUS:
Bernie Wendoh (Noel Creative Media)
Adoption of Agro-Forestry Raises Food Production in Cameroon
Important Notices Copyright Articles, pictures and illustrations from Baobab may be adapted for use in materials that are development oriented, provided the materials are distributed free of charge and ALIN and the author(s) are credited. Copies of the samples should be sent to ALIN. Disclaimer Opinions and views expressed in the letters and articles do not necessarily relect the views of the editors or ALIN. Technical information supplied should be cross-checked as thoroughly as possible as ALIN cannot accept responsibility should any problems occur.
OPEN COLUMN:
Regional Editions 1. Farming Matters global edition by ileia 2. LEISA revista de agroecologia, Latin America edition by Asociacion ETC andes. 3. LEISA India, by AME foundation 4. Majalah Petani by VECO Indonesia 5. AGRIDAPE, French West African edition by IED Afrique 6. Agriculture, Experiences em Agroecologia, the Brazilian edition by AS-PTA 7. Chinese edition by CBIK
Soaring popularity of sweet potato in Kenya
Talk to us The Baobab magazine Arid Lands Information Network, ALIN P. O. Box 10098 – 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya AAYMCA Building, Ground loor, Along State House Crescent, Of State House Avenue, Nairobi Tel. +254 20 2731557 • Telefax. +254 20 2737813 Cell: +254 722 561006 E-mail: Baobab@alin.net • Or visit us at www.alin.net
NEWS:
ALIN wins Global Knowledge Award
Other Pages... Stork Story ...........................................................................................................................Pg 18 TECHNICAL NOTE: Indigenous Milk ............................................... Pg 23
About ALIN Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) is an NGO that facilitates information and knowledge exchange to and between extension workers or infomediaries and arid lands communities in the East Africa region. The information exchange activities focus on smallscale sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, natural resources management and other livelihood issues.
GUEST COLUMN: Interview ........................................................................ Pg 24 BOOK REVIEW:
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Pg 30
BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011 3
THEMEOVERVIEW
REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS Food is essential to life and is a basic human need; it preoccupies all persons - as producers, processors, distributors and as consumers. The World Food Summit of 1996 deined food security as existing “when all people at all times have access to suficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.” The three pillars of food security are availability, access and use. By Immaculate Maina The Nature of Food Systems 4 BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011
A
“
”food system” comprises the mutually supporting, linked and synergistic activities that result in the production, processing and packaging, exchange and consumption of food. A “food system” is a complex process that utilizes natural resources, inputs and technology in production. The raw materials are processed and packaged according to speciied standards and customer demands. The system then involves marketing, advertising and trade in distribution and retailing of food materials to end-users who then prepare the food for consumption. At the local level, food systems espouse shorter distances and closer trade links between producers, processors and consumers of a particular place. The local food systems operate in tandem to develop and form regional food systems that cover wider areas and regions. Thus, food systems are often diferentiated by their geographic reach (global, national, regional and local). Functional food systems guarantee all people at all times have access to suicient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life. Weak or failed food systems cause untold misery with far reaching physical, mental and economic efects on any community. When people subsist on less than the recommended 2,100 kilocalories per day that the average person needs to lead a healthy life; they are victims of under nourishment. The extreme is acute the hunger or starvation that is often highlighted in media and which is the basis for rapid emergency response. Poor food systems are caused by various factors including: natural disasters especially prolonged droughts; conlict; poverty traps where the poor lack enough money to buy or produce food; over-exploitation of environmental resources leading to poor productivity; poor farming practices, deforestation, over-cropping, overgrazing, erosion, salination and desertiication; lack of agricultural infrastructure such as roads, warehouses and; failure to use irrigation.
Functioning food systems Factors in support of or those that impede the proper functioning of food systems are rarely localized but are often spread over regions. Indeed, the on-going food crisis in the horn of Africa is an example of the regional nature of food systems and of the inherent
Figure 1: Food system activities and related outcomes Source: Ericksen, P. J. (2008)
dynamics within. Here, the compound efects of drought, conlict and poor infrastructure and bad governance have resulted in a serious hunger situation afecting millions and with ramiications over the whole of the East African region. This is happening against a backdrop of surplus food production in other areas within the region. Hence, dysfunctional regional integration is a root cause for many food crises. Food systems interactions occur between and within the bio-geophysical systems, agro-ecological zones (AEZ) and the human socio-economic environments inluencing both activities and outcomes over large areas. They are spread over areas of similar agroecological zones (AEZs). Africa is divided into various AEZs based on the length of the growing period (LGP) or the number of days when both moisture and temperature permit rain fed crop production. The AEZs are desert, arid, semi-arid, sub-humid, humid and highlands. The cropping systems within an AEZ are likely to be similar and the planting and harvesting systems will difer across regions. In addition, regional agrobiodiversity has a large variety of grains, tubers, pulses, green leaves, wild fruits and berries, meat and ish that are locally important, nutritionally rich, culturally accepted and environmentally resilient. Therefore, a regional approach to food security would ensure that food harvested in one area is availed to areas of shortage or to areas that are out of season. It would ensure that there is continuous supply of food to the diferent areas in a region.
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Regional integration has helped solve food crises, for example Malawi sells maize to Zimbabwe and Mozambique, Kenya purchases excess maize from Malawi or Zambia and Uganda sells food to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and South Sudan. Therefore any long term solution to food insecurity should take an integrated longer term regional food systems perspective. Regional food systems and African regional economic cooperation blocs Africa’s regional economic communities include, among others, the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). These blocs continue to inluence and present notable opportunities for African food systems, including: Harnessing resources in support of long-term connections in production, processing and packaging, exchange and consumption of food within and across regions. Enactment of public policies that improve macro-
Figure 2: Agro-ecological zones of Africa Source: http://www.fao.org/ DOCREP/005/Y4176E/y4176e00.jpg
economic situations and better management of public expenditure so that agricultural trade and enterprises can gain. Reductions in trade and non-trade barriers and improved infrastructural development for increased intra-regional trade and enhanced intra-boundary trade.
Regional bodies dealing with food systems Various bodies in Africa that deal speciically with food systems at regional level include the Africa-Union – Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). At the sub-regional level, the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) and the East Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (EAAPP), as well as the various Eastern African farmers’ organisations and grain marketing boards are good examples. Regional eforts in dealing with food systems also occur within the technical arms of regional economic commissions that deal with food issues. The New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) provides the socio-economic development framework for most of the on-going eforts. These bodies seek to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty by increasing public investment in agriculture; by promotion of integrated programs in good seeds and healthy soils; access to markets; information; inancing; storage, transport; and enabling policies. In East African, these intentions are epitomized in the East Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (EAAPP). The EAAPP is designed to invest in regional approaches that strengthen and scaling up agricultural research in Eastern Africa focusing on dairy, wheat, cassava and rice. Kenya was identiied as the host for the dairy centre of excellence, Uganda hosts the cassava centre of excellence while Tanzania and Ethiopia host the rice and wheat centres, respectively. The lead implementing agency for the EAAPP is the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). Given the foregoing, long-term solutions to regional food crises fall along the following key axis: Investing in regional Research and Development (R&D) activities to develop innovations and technologies that increase productivity and
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©ALIN
Implementation of CAADP frameworks and plans for countries to achieve the 10% budget share on agriculture. Regional initiatives for large public infrastructures such as roads, rail ways and other communication infrastructure. Leadership and conlict prevention and resolution as envisioned in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) since most countries afected by food insecurity are also prone to conlicts.
On-going challenges and emerging issues The African food systems are characterized by challenges and emerging issues that regional eforts could resolve. These include: An abundant harvest: Good food systems facilitate fair distribution of food.
are more resilient to climatic variability. In this regard KARI provides best practices in regional integration with its leadership of the EAAPP. Regional integration and collaboration is also exempliied by the on-going project, “Making agri-food systems work for the rural poor in Eastern and Southern Africa” funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). In this project, seven organizations in Kenya, Uganda and Malawi seek to stimulate the adaptation of pro-poor agri-food system innovations, with a focus on traditional crops of high value, as a contribution to improving food security and sustainable natural resources management. KARI is one of these seven organizations. Enhanced integration of regional markets and trade to facilitate distribution of food across borders using guidelines by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and EAC on removing trade and non-trade barriers and tarifs. Harmonization and coordination of regional food policies and responses to food crises. Regional eforts in this regard are espoused by the Eastern and Central Africa Programme for Agricultural Policy Analysis (ECAPAPA) and the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support system (ReSAAKS).
Transformation of the food retail sector as supermarkets become important outlets. Supplying supermarkets presents both opportunities and challenges for small scale producers who have to grapple with added investments and new practices in procurement, quality and safety standards. Increasing trends towards vertical integration of agricultural produce supply chains where cooperating irms control multiple steps along the production chain. The milk supply chain in Kenya is one such example. Contractual arrangements in the vegetable, legume and grain production systems. While such systems beneit farmers by reducing the risk of price luctuations they pose the risk of reducing competition and limiting production choices for farmers. In Genetically Modiied Organisms (GMOs) in the East African region require the development of harmonized regional policies and common position on biotechnology, as well as legal and regulatory frameworks for food safety, trade, environmental and public health issues.
About the author Dr. Immaculate N. Maina is a Senior Research Oicer within the Socio-economic and Applies Statistics Division of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. Email: Immaculate.N.Maina@gmail.com / inmaina@kari.org For more information: http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/publications/ downloads/ericksen07-foodsystems.pdf http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y4176E/y4176e00.jpg BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011 7
PROJECTFOCUS
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ADOPTION of Agro-Forestry
Raises in
Food Production
CAMEROON ŠCharlie Pye-Smith / World Agroforestry Centre.
Introduction of better yielding trees, particularly fruit trees and supporting farmers to practice agro-forestry more systematically has resulted in better productivity among farmers in Cameroon, through support of ICRAF. The range of trees intercropped with food crops has been increased through introduction of wild fruit trees to agro-forestry By Chris Mesiku
BAOBAB ISSUE 62, SEPTEMBER 2011 9
T
he World Agro-forestry Centre
(ICRAF) has been encouraged by the ongoing positive reports from rural farmers who can see that the agro-forestry practices they engage in resulting in an improvement to their livelihoods. One of the many beneiciaries is Cameroonian farmer Christophe Missé who is now growing fruit trees on his farm. In 1999, Mr. Missé attended a training session held by the World Agro-forestry Centre in Nkolfep, Cameroon that he says changed his life. He learned techniques for developing superior varieties of indigenous fruit trees and now runs a nursery with his neighbours, selling over 7,000 seedlings per year. He has also planted hundreds of indigenous fruit trees on his farm. Mr. Missé discovered that the economic return from his trees increase as the trees mature. This is especially true for his indigenous fruit trees which have been shown to not only produce a better yield each per area when compared with non indigenous species but are also more resilient to droughts.
Value for indegienous trees In many rural settings where partial agro-forestry systems have been in operation for many years, ICRAF researchers focus on maximizing the productivity of the already existing systems by producing trees that compliment that diversity. This is done by improving the germplasm (seeds and seedlings) of certain trees to have desirable qualities like improved nitrogen ixation for better soil fertility. The work of utilising quality germplasm, maximising farm productivity and improving the market access of smallholder farmers is carried out by ICRAF’s Global Research Project. “We ask local people which indigenous trees they value most and for what traits,” explained Zac Tchoundjeu, co-leader of ICRAF’s Global Research Project, commenting about the work of ICRAF’s Tree Domestication and Agroforestry Germplasm. “Best responses are by farmers with large, sweet fruits grown on trees that mature quickly.” In Cameroon, these species include bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis), African plum (Dacryodes edulis), African nut (Ricinodendron heudelotii) and Bitter kola (Garcinia kola).
fruit trees found in forests. Tchoundjeu said “Diferent trees of the same species can bear fruits that are sweet or sour, large or small.” With availability of fruit bearing trees that are economically competitive Tchoundjeu added: “People become less dependent on commodity markets, and they produce a crop they can both eat and sell.”
The impact of growing trees The money Christophe Missé has earned from practising agro-forestry on his farm has contributed signiicantly to his livelihood. “With the money have made I have built a new house,” he said. “I can now pay for two of my children to go to private school.” However, without clear strategies for accessing markets, Christophe Missé would have had minimum gains from his fruit trees. ICRAF continuously works to create mechanisms to help smallholders access markets. Farmers who have quality forest products that are in demand in the market place help contribute to conservation. Like Missé, such farmers can directly help shape land-use change in many parts of Africa because as tree products like medicines and oils are embraced by the broader community, there is less dependence on traditional cash crops often associated with farming practises that are detrimental to ecosystems. Some of the agro-forestry trees farmers grow can rehabilitate degraded parts of Sub Saharan Africa by enhancing the nutrient cycling and organic matter in the soils. An important factor is access to water especially during drought times. Some agro-forestry trees planted by farmers can also improve the hydrology of those farms making them less vulnerable to the efects of extreme weather. With over 3,000 species of wild fruits in Africa, local farmers can experiment and pick the best trees for their soil type and region. These species represent an enormously important and largely untapped natural resource for food security and ecological management. When most of these species become competitive in the market place and more farmers like Christophe Massé embrace them, they will contribute signiicantly to alleviating food insecurity, improve environmental conservation and enhance adaptation and resilience to climate change. These trees will have transformed both the lives of rural farmers and the landscapes on which they depend.
About the author With the help of local farmers, agro-forestry scientists have identiied and domesticated many varieties of 10 BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011
Chris Mesiku is the Associate Communication Specialist, World Agroforestry Centre Nairobi. Email: cmesiku@cgiar.org
SOARING POTATO
IN KENYA
POPULARITY OF SWEET
ŠTony Kimathi 2011
Demand for sweet potatoes in Kenya has soared as its popularity as a healthy food has grown. In some areas, farmers are not able to meet demand and some are abandoning traditional staple crops to grow sweet potatoes. This has in turn created more interest in the food crop among researchers to develop varieties that combine better nutritional value with faster maturity and higher productivity. By Mwangi Mumero BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011 11
F
or Charles Muthike, a sweet
potato farmer in Ndia Division in Kirinyaga County, demand for this versatile food cannot be met. “We have lorries and small traders trooping to our farms looking for ready sweet potatoes to buy and sell to the swelling urban population. A large number of farmers in this area have switched from growing maize to fast moving sweet potatoes,” says Muthike, a father of three and a farmer at Karima, near the Nyeri - Nairobi Highway. A bag of sweet potatoes retails at Kshs. 4,500 (approximately US$50). With rising shift toward more traditional foods and as lifestyle changes demand healthier eating habits the so called “orphan crops” such as sweet potatoes and yams have become a favourite for many health conscious urban Kenyans eager reduce consumption of “junk food.” While Central Kenya produces a small fraction of the sweet potatoes in the country, the main growing areas being western Kenya - mainly Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Rachuonyo and Kisii counties, land area under sweet potato has been increasing in some parts of the province. Sweet potato is an important cash crop in Mosocho and Suneka divisions in Kisii County. In Kisii, a 90 kg bag of sweet potatoes sells at Kshs. 5,000 (about US$55). Over the years, acreage under sweet potatoes has been rising with average yield at about 10 tons per hectare. Sweet potato is adaptable to diferent agro-ecological zones ranging from 0 - 2100m above sea level. It is occasionally found in altitudes of about 2400m. It thrives at average temperatures above 24°C and abundant sunshine. The sweet potato plant requires rainfall of 750 1000mm per annum and a moderate soil pH of 6.0 for optimum production. It also requires well drained soil to allow root development. The growing period for the crop is three to six months depending on the variety. However during the short rains, farmers prefer varieties maturing in three months and during the long rains those maturing in six months.
Land preparation Land should be prepared to loosen the soil to make mounds of 80 cm by 30 cm and one to three vines planted per mould or on ridges of 90 – 150cm by 30 - 60cm along the ridges. Vines are used for establishment. The shoot should be cut 30cm from the growing point before planting. Cultivation of some of the newly introduced varieties currently under testing by the International Potato Center
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(CIP) and the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) has lead to higher yields. Average per capita consumption of sweet potato in Kenya is about 24 kg per year with higher proportions consumed in the western parts of the country. The white skinned variety has desirable characteristics to both farmers and consumers. These include short maturity period – three to four months - high yields, moderate stability after harvesting - up to seven days - and an attractive yellow lesh. The major disadvantage of the variety especially if grown for home consumption is that its quality deteriorates very fast when left unharvested beyond one month after maturity. Another variety has a red skin and yellow lesh and matures within six to seven months after planting. After maturity the tubers can retain their quality for a further three to six months when left un-harvested. This variety is therefore suitable for cultivation for both home consumption and marketing as it can store relatively well after harvesting.
Nutritional value Sweet potatoes, particularly the yellow leshed varieties, are good sources of vitamins. At the same time they yield more calories per acre than many other starchy foods. A comparison with other starchy food crops shows that sweet potato yields more calories per unit area than either maize or Irish potato and nearly as much as cassava and that its protein yield is far higher than the latter. Despite the clear potential of the sweet potato in helping to meet its food needs, full exploitation of the crop is constrained by its bulkiness, perishable nature, low cost per unit sold, as well as low consumer acceptability. Consumers perceive it only as a snack and not as a main dish. This perception is an important barrier to increased sweet potato consumption and hence production. “Mostly, people buy potatoes to roast or boil and eat them as snacks. Few customers buy more than ive pieces at a time as they are not considered a full meal even at family level,” observes Alfayo Njeri, a trader at the Kibingoti market, located along the Nyeri - Nairobi highway.
A farmer weeding sweet potatoes in Kabete, Kenya
At the market, groups of mainly women traders hawk all types of foods including fruits and sweet potatoes to the thousands of road users along the busy highway. At major Kenyan urban centres, traders roasting sweet potatoes alongside maize have become a common feature.
Antioxidants On their part, researchers have upped the ante and identiied another milestone in the nutritive value of sweet potatoes –which are seen as an important food crop in semi-arid lands across the world. According to breeders at the International Potato Center (CIP) in San Ramon, Peru, the pigmentation of the purple leshed sweet potato varieties is due to the presence of anthocyanins. Studies from Kansas State University have revealed that two of these anthocyanins contain properties inhibiting the growth of cancer cells in the human colon. The
high anthocyanin content - an antioxidant - in sweet potatoes prevents cancer and aging. According to Dr. Ted Carey sweet potato breeder from Ghana ailiated with CIP, the anthocyanins in sweet potato are easily absorbed from the digestive tract into the bloodstream, where they may have beneicial efects. Currently, in addition to ield testing, CIP scientists also do laboratory tests for nutritional characteristics of these and other sweet potato clones with an aim for future multiplication. “We are evaluating nutritional components such as beta-carotene, protein, starch and dry matter, and also minerals and micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and magnesium”, explains Genoveva Rossel, CIP’s sweet potato germplasm collection curator.
About the writer The writer is a freelance journalist. He can be reached through: mwangimumero@gmail.com BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011 13
OPENCOLUMN
SOIL LIMING
IMpROVES
Maize Yield
Leucaena pods.
In Western Kenya Long term and repeated use of nitrogen based fertilizers in the maize growing zones of western Kenya has resulted in high soil acidity reducing farm yields for the crop. Recent introduction of the use of lime to reduce soil acidity has resulted in dramatic improvement in maize yield. By Isaiah Esipisu
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A
s food security situation worsens
in East Africa, some smallholder farmers in Western Kenya are still feeding their families on maize they harvested last year, thanks to ongoing implementation programme of research indings to revive the fertility of soils in the region. According to David Mbakaya, a soil scientist at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), early indings from an ongoing research have so far established that soils in Western Kenya have become too acidic for maize production due to climatic factors and overuse of nitrogenous fertilisers. “From ield trials, we have discovered that the average Potential of
Hydrogen (pH) levels in soils within the region stands at 4.5 – meaning that such soils can hardly support maize growing,” said Mr. Mbakaya. Scientiically, the neutral pH level is supposed to stand at seven on the pH scale. At that level, it means that it is neither acidic nor alkaline. Anything below seven is acidic, and above that is alkaline. However, maize can withstand mild soil acidity ranging from 6.5 to 5.5. But this has to be controlled because alkaline soils that measure anything beyond 7.5 on the pH scale will ruin the crop as well. The four major reasons as to why soils become acidic include rainfall and leaching, use of acidic parent material, organic matter decay, and harvest of highyielding crops. Experts say that high soil acidity occurs when ammonia based fertiliser materials are applied to the soil. “In reality, nitrogen fertilizers increase soil acidity by increasing crop yields. This happens when there is an increase in the amount of basic elements being removed from the soil as nutrients,” said Mbakaya.
Lime as a soil additive To solve the situation, research scientists through the KARI – Kakamega Branch with funding from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) are encouraging farmers to neutralise their soils using lime - a soil additive made from pulverized limestone or chalk which is cheaply available in Kenya. “I have tried liming my land for two seasons, and the results are astounding,” said Isaac Ochieng Okwanyi, a 29 year old father of two, who settled for farming after he was evicted from Nairobi’s Mathare Slum in 2008 following the post election violence in Kenya. “Just like any other young man, I thought that working in the city was the best way of earning a living. But after I lost everything during the violence, I decided to stay back home and try my luck in farming,” said Okwanyi who hails from Nyangera village in Siaya County. Using part of the six acres of land he inherited from his father, Okwanyi embarked on growing maize on three acres using the same phosphorous and ammonium fertilisers his parents had been using for years. “In that season, I harvested two 90 kilogramme bags of maize from each acre, half of which I sold since I needed some money, and the rest served as food for my family and my parents for three months,” he said.
Liming trials on farms However, in 2009, his farm was selected for liming trials by the KARI team of researchers because of its easy accessibility by the researchers and other community members who might be keen to learn BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011 15
from it. “I gave them a half an acre for trials. But the entire community including myself were very sceptical because we did not believe that what looked like cement (lime) could change anything,” said Okwanyi. But upon harvesting in the trial phase, the villagers got convinced that there was a huge diference by looking at the results from control lines (lines where lime was not applied) and trial lines (where lime was applied). As a result, in 2010 Okwanyi tried liming on two acres of his land while at the same time applying traditionally used fertilisers. “Indeed, it rained as expected. And from what I saw, I can attest that I have never seen such a big harvest in this community,” he said.
Improved yields From each of the two acres, he harvested 16 bags, totalling 32 bags of maize from two acres, which was far higher than the four bags he had harvested from the same land in the previous season. “The proof of my last year’s harvest is evident. I have since moved from a tiny grass thatched house to a nice semi permanent house,” he said pointing to a new house which he says he constructed using proceeds from the harvest. Together with ive other farmers who had made huge harvests, the group created a grain bank at the Sega market, where they have been withdrawing small portions of the grain for domestic use. “We created this bank because of security reasons. With the biting hunger at the moment, it is possible for people to break into our semi permanent houses in order to steal maize,” he said. So far, he has two bags remaining for his domestic consumption, while his next harvest – now on three acres of land is only a few weeks away. “When we started trials for liming in 2009, we had 44 farmers in the program. But after the irst ield trial phase, the number has grown to 5000, where 3000 are from Northern Kakamega in Western Province and 2000 from Siaya both in Western Kenya. However, before any farmer considers liming as an option, it is important to have soil samples from their farm tested in a certiied laboratory in order to analyse the level of acidity, so as to determine the amount of lime needed to neutralise it depending on the crop they desire to grow. 16 BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011
Western Kenya is one of the regions in the country with stable rainfall all round the year. But according to Dr Marin Odendo, the Senior Research Oicer - Socioeconomics and Statistics Division at KARI, the region imports food for six months every year. “Most of the farmers in Kakamega are smallholder farmers. Yet this should not be the case because there is growing evidence that smallholder farmers hold key to the world’s food security,” said Dr Odendo. But he is conident that with the ongoing research, there will be a huge increase in terms of harvest in the near future.
About the writer Isaiah Esipisu is a science writer based in Nairobi. E-mail: esipisus@yahoo.com Stories and Pictures by Isaiah Esipisu
All-round excitement as
ALIN wins
Global Knowledge Award
A joyous James Nguo, ALIN Regional Director, holds the accolade aloft.
ALIN scores a irst in winning coveted global accolade stamping its authority in pioneering the use of ICTs to empower remote arid lands communities with knowledge and information, transforming their livelihoods. By Noah Lusaka
I
n a development that marked the global
recognition of the organisation’s work, ALIN was declared the 2011 winner of the prestigious and highly competitive Access to Learning Award (ATLA) given annually by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The timing of the award was highly signiicant for ALIN coming as it did at the time when the organization was celebrating its 10th Anniversary since it started operations in East Africa. The Award was announced at an event held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 during the International Federation of Library Associations meeting at a ceremony presided over by Deborah Jacobs, Director of the Global Libraries initiative at the (BMGF). ALIN was recognised for taking advantage of the beneits of ICTs to empower arid lands communities by locating Maarifa (Knowledge) centres in remote arid lands across continued on p 20 BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011 17
STORKSTORY
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© ALIN
multi-media approach in information capture and dissemination by using online portals, magazines, videos and direct presentations and exchanges among communities.
Celebrating the Win in Kenya In a follow up event held to share the news about the big win in Kenya and to celebrate ALIN’s 10th Anniversary held on September 1st 2011, more than 300 guests were in attendance representing diferent partners and donor organisations.
Women use iPods to view agriculture content at Mutomo Maarifa Centre from p. 17
East Africa and providing free access to information resources, including the internet and library resources. Communities that receive information resources from ALIN have used them to initiate local social enterprises that have improved their livelihoods over the years. This made ALIN to be the irst organisation in subSaharan Africa to win the Award. On hand to receive the accolade was Mr. James Nguo, the founding Regional Director of ALIN. ATLA comes with a cash prize of US$1,000,000 meant to help the recipient organisation to scale up the winning concept in order to impact a larger number of people.
They came together in recognition of ALIN having facilitated networking and knowledge sharing among infomediaries (extension workers) across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. In her keynote speech, the Acting Regional Representative of The Ford Foundation, Dr. Joyce Nyairo noted that ALIN had distinguished itself as an innovator in the use of ICTs to empower marginalized communities using the unique concept of Maarifa centres. The Foundation has been supporting ALIN’s innovation in the use of ICTs among other elements of knowledge sharing.
Key ALIN milestones in the irst 10 years ◆
Establishment of ALIN regional headquarters based at AAYMCA building, Nairobi Kenya.
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Establishment of twelve (12) Maarifa (knowledge) centres (seven – Kenya, three – Uganda and two Tanzania) and equipping them with ICT and library resources.
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Establishment of three (3) Maarifa centres for partners in Kenya and Uganda.
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Production of information products that include 34 editions of Baobab Magazine, eight Issues of Joto Afrika brieings magazine, 22 video clips, 10 diferent CD ROMs, 5 books numerous posters and other information, education and communication products.
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“Thousands of people in these remote communities of Eastern Africa are improving their lives through the information available at these centers” said Deborah Jacobs, Director of the BMGF’s Global Libraries initiative, at the award ceremony.
Pioneering use of ICTs in marginal areas starting with digital satellite broadcasting, VSATs and more.
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Working with over 60 youth volunteers in marginal areas.
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Nomination the founding Director, Mr. James Nguo, ALIN as an Ashoka fellow in April 2011
Co-Chair of the BMGF, Bill Gates Senior, while congratulating ALIN for this award highlighted the eforts made to providing access to information resources that have transformed communities’ lives in marginal areas through the established 12 Maarifa (knowledge) centres. He also recognised the
About the writer
Networking to transform communities’ lives Speaking during the event, Mr. Nguo had this to say: “We understand that each community we serve is diferent, and each individual we serve is diferent. Some communities need information about water harvesting, while others are dealing with a particular kind of pest. We have also found that while some people have taken to computers and technology, others prefer live demonstrations or lectures in their native language.”
20 BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011
The Writer is a Projects Manager at ALIN. He can be reached through nlusaka@alin.net
TECHNICALNOTE
Indigenous Milk
Preservation Technology Among the Kalenjin of Kenya By Bett Kipsang
K
enya
is famous for its world conquering athletes who traverse the globe bringing in medals and cash prizes. The Kalenjin community from the Rift Valley is famous for giving returning champions a drink of traditionally fermented milk known as Mursik from a colourful gourd or sotet. This article highlights the process of making the nutricious Mursik.
treat the gourd. Factors determining the quality of a cows’ milk include: stage of lactation; cow breed and; the cow’s diet.
Materials and Tools for Making Mursik •
Gourd (preferably dry), fresh one can also do so long as it is fully ripe.
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Sharp machete or large knife
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Palm tree branches
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Cow urine
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Clean water
Origin of Mursik
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Dry ash
Mursik technology originates from the Kalenjin community for whom milk is a staple diet. The community developed the unique milk preservation technology using indigenous tree species about 300 years ago. The technology evolved as a result of the need to avoid wastage by preserving and storing excess milk for use during the dry season.
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A piece of cow hide
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Several dry sticks from a milk preserving tree species (preferably Cassia didymobotrya)
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A bow shaped palm stick (sosiot) without bristles
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Fire
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Milk in a clean container with a lid
Mursik preparation
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Water
Milk treatment is traditionally the preserve of women; however men do sometimes practice the art. Extreme care must be taken during the gourd preparation and milk fermentation processes and high hygiene standards must be observed to avoid potential food poisoning. Depending on the availability of milk, a large quantity of Mursik can be prepared at once or alternatively small quantities of milk can be poured into a prepared gourd on a daily basis until it is full. The fermented milk provides the culture for the new milk and accelerates the process of fermentation. The lavour of Mursik is determined by various factors including the quality of milk used, technique of cleaning the gourd, time taken before the milk is served, and to some extent the tree species used to
Steps in Making Mursik 1) preparing the gourd: Cut the top of the gourd systemically using the machete or knife. Remove the seeds and pour a mixture of water and ash into the gourd. Cork the gourd and put it aside for a few days. Pour out the water in readiness for cleaning and treating the gourd. 2) Cleaning the gourd: Take some branches of the palm tree and hit them on a irm surface such as a tree trunk until the edges form brush like bristles. Using the stif bristles remove the inner lining of the new gourd in order to ensure that the milk does not acquire the bitter taste of the gourd. Pour some cow urine into the gourd and put it aside for a few days for curing and BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011 21
seasoning. Pour out the cow urine and use a bow shaped palm stick (sosiot) to clean the gourd again. 3) Treating the gourd: Take a few sticks from the selected milk preserving tree species and burn the tips them into charcoal. Put the burning embers inside a clean and dry gourd, shaking it to avoid burning. Using the bow shaped palm stick grind the embers by pressing them against the walls of the gourd using the sosiot in a methodical, circular in and out movement of the hand. Repeat the grinding movement until the inside of the gourd is evenly covered with ine
22 BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011
dust. Pour out any large particles and excess coal dust and allow the gourd to cool down. 4) preparing and treating the gourd lid: Prepare a well designed, tightly itting lid for the gourd using animal hide/skin. Test the lid to make sure it its tightly into the mouth of the gourd. Treat the inner side of the lid with charcoal dust using the method for cleaning and treating the gourd. 5) Milking, boiling and cooling the milk: Milk the cow and boil the fresh milk immediately. Cover the boiled milk to avoid contamination and allow it to cool down. Traditionally the cow was milked directly into a treated gourd and the milk
would be mixed with some blood and stored in a cool place to ripen. However this practice has since ceased due to a change in lifestyles and widespread awareness of the need to improve hygiene standards. 6) Fermentation: Pour the cold boiled milk into a treated gourd or sotet. Cork the gourd tightly with the treated lid. Store the Mursik in a cool dry place for about one week to allow it to ripen until it achieves the consistency of sour milk. 7) Shaking and serving the Mursik: Shake the Mursik well to ensure it has a smooth, uniform consistency. After thorough shaking, good quality Mursik is a clear liquid with a sharp taste that is almost bitter in some cases, in which white globules of butter loat. Systematic tapping on the skin lid produces a popping sound, allowing excess air to escape. Mursik is best taken during the dry season or on a sunny day and served cold with hot ugali, a Kenyan staple food made of maize/corn lour, millet, sorghum, or a mixture of diferent types of lour.
Milk treatment and Environmental Conservation The use of some tree species for milk preservation and flavouring is part of indigenous knowledge that also helps in conservation of biodiversity. Cassia didymobotrya is native to Eastern Central Africa and the most preferred tree species for milk treatment. Cassia didymobotrya is locally known by diferent names, for example senetwet (Kipsigis); Inyumganai (Kamba); Mwino (Kikuyu); Lubino (Luhya); Obino (Luo); Osenetoi (Maasai) and ndimu or limau (Swahili). The shrub grows well near cattle bomas (sheds) especially near decomposed cow dung. It prefers well-drained soils, can withstand occasional drought and is propagated through seeds, which readily germinate. Its leaves are evergreen with elliptic to oval lealets and yellow ornamental lowers, which appear for prolonged periods in warm climates (Mureithi, 1997). Animals rarely feed on cassia leaves; therefore it has a survival rate of almost 100 percent.
Other tree species used for milk preservation Other tree species used for Mursik preparation are: Lantana kitu (Muokiot), Olea afrikana (Emitiot) Rhus natalensis (Natal Rhus), Olea capensis, Acacia meansii and Prunus africana’ among others.
Conclusion Milk is a locally available and easily accessible commodity and value addition through the use of Mursik technology has proved highly successful. Adoption of Mursik technology by non-pastoralist communities has introduced the element of its commercialization as a viable source of income for livestock farmers. As a valuable tree species Cassia didymobotrya deserves the attention of researchers to ensure its conservation and to explore its anti-bacterial efects, among other useful characteristics. There is need to preserve gourd planting, cutting and cleaning technology since gourds are cheap and easily accessible, making them ideal storage containers for farmers.
About the writer Bett Charles Kipsang is ALIN’s Field Oicer, Ng’arua Maarifa Center. Tel: +254 720 857 718; Email: Bettsang@gmail.com or Bettsang@gmail.com.
References: 1. Farmer initiated research and extension by william Mureithi. 2. Internet: http://www.plantzafrica.com 3. Personal observation and background knowledge.
BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011 23
GUESTCOLUMN
Extension Body Enhances
KENYA’S POTENTIAL for
Food Security
The Baobab’s Anthony Mugo spoke to Mr. David Nyantika, the National Training Coordinator of the National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme (NALEP) about government policies and plans to boost food security. The following are excerpts from that interview. 24 BAOBAB ISSUE 63 SEPTEMBER 2011
As a government programme, NALEP is funded by the Government of Kenya with support from Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) to facilitate extension services to the Kenyan public. NALEP works on a premise of creating a platform for eicient delivery of extension services and creating demand for the services. We facilitate government and other extension service providers to pass available technical information to beneiciaries. Demand for such services is higher than supply, particularly as more inhabitants of arid and semi arid lands (ASALs) take up agriculture. Being aware of the critical role of agriculture and livestock in food security, the government through NALEP, is determined to use more innovative means of supporting beneiciaries in production, value addition and marketing of agricultural produce. For example, we have been creating specialised groups known as Commodity Interest Groups (CIGs) to help beneiciaries produce, add value and market their produce in a manner that maximises their returns. A recent study conducted by Egerton University indicated that NALEP’s intervention has resulted in the improvement of production of maize by between 100 to 150 per cent in Nyanza and Coast Provinces.
Why then do we still have perennial famines in Kenya? We have not maximised the potential of food production in the arid and semi arid lands (ASALs). Surprisingly, all that is needed is water. ASALs have richer soils, and due to higher prevailing temperatures, crops mature faster and yield better than they do in the high and mid rainfall areas of east Africa. The other reason is that our farmers do not use the recommended levels of fertilizer and certiied seeds. Importantly, Kenyans have a very limited choice of eating habits and seem to believe that only a maize-based diet can sustain them. As such, shortage of maize is perceived as famine even if the country has adequate supply of alternatives such as potatoes, cassava, sorghum, millet and bananas. As a result of the high emphasis on maize production, many areas which would otherwise be most suitable for growing other crops such as sorghum and millet are not optimally utilised. Other reasons for perennial famine are poor infrastructure for delivering agricultural produce to the market, poor access to extension services and high cost of inputs particularly fertiliser and certiied seeds.
(c)Tony Kimathi 2011
What does the National Agriculture and Livestock Extension programme (NALEp) do?
A member of Gathia Youth group waters vegetables in Kabete, Kenya
Knowing this, what are you in government doing? The Government has stepped up eforts to harness the potential of ASALs by investing directly in water harvesting starting with 30 of the old ASAL districts. Other measures are pasture improvement and promotion of alternative livelihoods such as bee keeping, dairy goats and production of gums and resins. At the policy level, the continued holding of large tracts of idle land by individuals has contributed to reduced agricultural production in Kenya. As such radical measures are required particularly to bring about land consolidation through which communities must be compelled to move to concentrated settlement areas to free up land for food production. This will require a determined and focused reform of the land tenure system.
Recently the debate about genetically modiied organisms (GMO) has arisen with some supporting introduction of GMOs while others are opposed. What in your opinion is the issue with GMOs? Personally and as a scientist, I support the use of biotechnology to improve food production and to bring about food security in Kenya. Biotechnology, particularly conventional plant and animal breeding, has been used in Kenya for many years. In GMO technology manipulation is done inside the cell to change gene sequences and therefore alter the genetic codes of crops and
BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011 25
animals. The body is programmed to digest and process nutrients found in foods that humans and animals consume. GMO has the ability to introduce nutrients and chemical products that may be “alien” and not be easily processed by humans or animals. It is quite possible that the inability to digest such nutrients could lead to their getting deposited in body tissues with undesirable health consequences. In some cases, such “foreign” ingredients might trigger immune responses leading to allergic reactions.
maize farmer containing, in suicient quantities, high quality seed, fertiliser and a legume (nitrogen ixing) crop seeds. The bags were given as grants and farmers were expected to repay after harvesting their maize crop. On its part, the Malawi government committed to buy excess maize from the farmers. Through this intervention, Malawi became a net maize exporter.
Many who are opposed to unplanned introduction of GMO food are concerned about the fact that the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) does not have the capacity to analyse GMOs from other countries and inform consumers about extra components that have been introduced in GMOs. This denies the consumer the right to make a choice about what they would be consuming. I am aware that certain countries produce GMO food purely for export. Do we have the advanced facilities required for thorough and conclusive testing of GMOs? To me the answer to that question is in the negative. As a consumer I have not seen the information I would need from KEPHIS to enable me to feel comfortable consuming GMO maize for example. Consumers must have that information in order for them to make informed choice as to whether or not to consume GMOs.
I am a strong believer that access to market should begin at the grassroots. Every county government should have a well developed market infrastructure. Farmers should begin by exploiting those markets before going for distant and export markets. The colonial government appears to have igured that out because it required market centres to be established within a given average distance from neighbouring settlements.
Small scale farmers have been described as the cornerstone of food security in Kenya and possibly east Africa, would you agree with this position? I would agree. However, I think there are a number of policy and technical aspects that need to be addressed in order to maximise crop and livestock production by small scale farmers. For example, it does not make sense to set aside one acre for growing of tea if a farmer owns only two acres of land. One acre of tea cannot produce enough green leaf to make economic sense. In my view, small holder farmers need to be supported with timely and usable information and to be able to access suicient inputs particularly appropriate seeds and fertiliser. This support should be in form of small loans that are payable with proceeds from their farms. Malawi provides a good example. Upon taking oice, President Bingu wa Mutharika introduced the so called “Magic Bag”. This was a package given to each 26 BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011
Does the Government have a role in linking farmers to markets?
County governments should also invest in smallscale agriculture commodities processing of say fruits to juices and bananas, potatoes and cassava to crisps or even loor. This is beginning to happen in some areas. A good example is the current plan by the Government to set up a factory to process rabbit meat at Thika. The Government should enable more farmers to access greenhouse technology in order to grow horticultural crops for the export market. Country governments should also undertake agricultural market surveys aimed at informing farmers about agricultural products that are in high demand at local and international markets. Access to information provided by the National Agriculture Farmers’ Information System (NAFIS) should be broadened through the use of modern ICTs.
In your opinion, is food security afected by conlict? Conlict afects all aspects of production and food security is no exception. Whenever there are high levels of poverty and food insecurity, conlict becomes inevitable. More broadly, people do not invest in places that that are unstable and where future peace and tranquillity is unpredictable.
About the writer Anthony Mugo is ALIN’s Programmes Director. E-mail: amugo@ alin.net Mr. Nyantika is the training coordinator, National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme (NALEP), Kenya ailiated to the Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock Development. Visit http:// www.nalep.co.ke/
Here Comes
ALIN 3
Strategy
I
n 2011, one year into the implementation of ALIN Strategic Plan 2010 – 2015, a new phase known as ALIN 3 has began. It coincides with the completion of the irst 10 years of ALIN’s work in East Africa and looks to be a phase of great promise because of the numerous opportunities for information and knowledge exchange made possible by new technologies.
Why ALIN 3!
ALIN 3 relects the phases that ALIN has undergone since 2000 when it started operations in East Africa. The irst 5 years were spent in setting up systems for the network and bringing the network closer to the people. The following 5 years were spent on development of partnerships and testing technologies for information and knowledge delivery. ALIN 3 will be based on the 3 pillars that will make knowledge work for the poor as explained below.
Enabling access Enabling access will involve strengthening the existing infrastructure made of Maarifa centres as points of engagement of communities and the technology infrastructure constituting ICT equipment and deployment of ield workers.
Knowledge creation Creating knowledge will involve interacting with beneiciaries in the ield to better understand their information needs and then ensuring that needed information is provided in a timely manner and in formats and languages that will make it usable. Best practices and indigenous knowledge coming from communities will also be captured and shared widely.
Empowerment Empowering communities will involve working with arid lands communities to facilitate them to adopt agriculture, livestock and natural resource management best practices that will enable them to maximise their production in a sustainable manner.
What will change in ALIN 3? Information will be provided according to demand by users. ALIN will work more closely with other partners such as those involved in civic education to support the holistic empowerment of arid lands communities and reduce their marginalisation. There will be a more systematic and sustained extension support from Maarifa centres to increase adoption of new agriculture and livestock rearing technologies and practices that enable arid lands communities to adapt to climate change. BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011 27
How to water
Baobab Magazine Introduction The Baobab is a quarterly magazine that is published in March, June, September and December. Every issue has a theme that guides the topic one can write on. Topics for 2011:
March: Youth & Farming June: Trees & Farming September: Regional Food Systems December: Land Issues
How to Write Know what you are writing about in advance and think clearly, carefully relecting on: • WHAT was the initial context and what were the diiculties faced? • WHAT were the reasons for the approach taken to improve the situation? • HOW did they go about it and who took the initiative? • WHEN did all this happen, and to what extent was the timing important? • WHAT happened as a result? • WHY did it work out as it did? (We appreciate opinions/analysis/conclusions relevant to ield level, as well as recommendations for policy makers). • WHERE did the action take place?
3. Please provide a current contact address at the bottom of the article. This will also be published in the magazine. We would also appreciate a contact phone number for our own use. The editor reserves the right to decide whether or not to publish an article or contribution after receipt of the irst full draft. Articles that are accepted will be edited to the Baobab house style and shortened if necessary. Contributions edited in this way will be returned to the authors for approval before publication. Articles accepted for publication in the Baobab may be chosen for translation in any of the six regional editions. We will endeavour to inform authors if their article appears in other editions.
please Ensure that You 1) Thoroughly read the call for articles and check that the article its well with the theme being covered. 2) Explain any terms or ideas that may not be understood in every part of the world. 3) Acknowledge all sources and references used. 4) Explain any abbreviations used. Full editorial support is provided. As the articles go through a rigorous editorial process, authors are usually requested to provide additional information or clariications. We would therefore rather have too much information than too little in the irst draft!
Format 1. Articles should be about 700 to 1000 words (one, two or three-page articles) and should be emailed to baobab@alin.net or smwangi@alin.net as a word document attachment. 2. Include no more than ive references. Each reference should include title, year of publication, name of author, and publisher. 28 BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011
photos Pictures speak volumes. Two to four pictures relevant to what you have written must accompany your article. Illustrations, drawings, or maps are also welcomed. Please provide the name of the photographer or artist. Please ensure the photos or illustrations are of suitable quality. Send the pictures as attachments in jpeg format of at least 300kb and above. Also remember to include a caption outlining the people or activity in the picture.
Creative Commons License Please note that we use the “Creative Commons License Attribution non-commercial share alike 3.0 unported’’ policy regarding copyright. We encourage free and open exchange of information. As such readers and authors are encouraged to copy and circulate articles from the Baobab quoting the source. In addition, this means that we may use submitted photos or text in our other publications. We will try to contact you and credit your work in accordance with the license.
Call for articles
LAND SYSTEMS Impact on small scale agriculture
T
he current and impending food
crises are increasing pressures on the ownership of land and its use for agriculture. What are the implications of this for family farmers? Land grabs cause large scale migration, poverty and conlict – not to mention environmental impacts. Biodiversity decreases when small family farms are replaced by mono-crops treated with pesticides and fertilizers. Small-scale farmers have little power to farm sustainably if they don’t have control over land: secure access to land is a prerequisite for farmers to invest in sustainable agriculture. Land grabs give rise (directly or indirectly) to other issues, the rights of pastoralists, ethnic or political conlicts, and can also threaten protected areas. The key question is: who has the rights to land, or to determine what happens to it? In some countries, the central government is the main decision making authority over land issues, while in others this control is delegated to local authorities, or traditional leaders. Land policies can undermine collective land management, as land is divided up and allocated to
individuals. Farmers are often excluded from land planning processes: they are overruled by local leaders or removed from their land without warning. Also among farmers, some have more access to, control over and rights to land than others. Minority groups, for example, including the indigenous population, often have less power over land. The same is true in many societies for women, who have less inluence when it comes to decision making and ownership. How can (all) farmers be included in all decision-making processes? We will examine these issues exploring how farmers, development organisations, researchers and policy makers think about them and what lessons are to be drawn from them. We welcome articles on this topic including pictures and suggestion of other people, experts or organisations that can contribute for this Baobab. Pictures must be 300KB and above and in jpeg format. Forward articles to the editor: amugo@alin.net by November 31, 2011. BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011 29
Book Reviews Fruits and nuts species with potential for Tanzania Fruits and nuts are essential in the diets of people all over the world. This handbook presents 40 indigenous and exotic species that have untapped potential for increased production, trade and use. Although the species selection is based on Tanzania, the content is relevant for the whole of eastern Africa. The books focuses on commercial production rather than subsistence. It emphasizes techniques to produce good quality fruits and nuts that can be sold and fetch good prices. It outlines techniques for propagating and planting, gives options for processing produce of each species and tells how to deal with pests and diseases. The nutritional value of the species is well covered. This book is useful for extension agents and educational institutions. It will also be of value for planners, project leaders, local leaders, commercial enterprises for anyone wishing to promote increased production, sale and use of fruits and nuts.
The impacts of fodder trees on milk production and income among smallholder dairy farmers in East Africa and the role of research This occasional paper series is meant to demonstrate the efects of fodder shrubs on milk production and their value at the household and regional level and the contribution of research towards strengthening the impact of fodder shrubs. The study is a synthesis of previous studies related to dissemination, adoption and impact combined with two new analyses, one quantitatively measuring the impact of the shrubs and the other a qualitative analysis to better understand constraints on adoption and gender issues related to participation and control of beneits from fodder shrubs. Among the study indings are that fodder shrubs have been widely adopted in East Africa, by an estimated 205,000 smallholder dairy farmers by 2005. Copies of the two publications can be obtained by contacting the communications unit World Agroforestry Centre P.O. Box 30677 00100, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: +254 207224000 E-mail: icraf@cgiar.org www.worldagroforestry.org
30 BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011
Dear Editor, I have just read the June issue of the Baobab on Trees and Farming and I found it to very interesting. I saw on the section of themes that in the December edition you intend to cover land issues. Depending on the angle that the issue will take, I would wish to contribute an article. Kindly supply me with the breakdown of this thematic area so that my planned article can fall in line with the issue, because land is a very wide subject area.
s r e d a e R r Ou m Fro
polycarp Otieno part Time small scale farmer, Western Kenya
Dear Mr. Otieno We are encouraged by your willingness to write an article for the December issue of Baobab. Please refer to the Call for Articles section of this issue for guidance in the areas of focus for the articles. We will look forward to the article. Editor
Dear Sir/Madam, I am an agricultural extension oicer tasked with disseminating information to farmers and Farmer groups in Loitokitok District in Kenya. I learnt about this magazine from CTA’s Spore magazine No.153. Relevant information on agricultural technologies, rural development, water, agro forestry, livestock and any other extension related information is very key to our career and would very much be proud to associate with you in working together to trickle down information to empower farmers. I look forward to receiving the regular copies of Baobab magazines. Thanks in advance. Silas K. Kipng’etich p.O. Box 50, 00209, Loitokitok, Kenya
Kindly visit www.alin.net and download a copy. Editor
Dear Editor, Greetings from Matumaini. Thank you for your Interest in our centre. With my neighbour who represents Matumaini on the Agricultural committee in Molo, we are grateful for receiving Baobab. At this time our special interest is in drought resistant crops. I have lived in this area for many years and it seems to be getting drier and drier. Most people around here own or rent small plots of land usually under half a hectare. Maize is the main crop grown with a small amount of beans and potatoes. Do you please bear any suggestions on what crop can do well in this area? Thank you Miss G. Scott Kellie (Founder)
Dear Silas, Thank for these encouraging comments and the good work you are doing supporting farmers in Loitoktok. The easiest way to get Baobab is through ALIN’s website www.alin.net. We will also be happy to send you an electronic copy. You can also obtain a free hard copy from our oices.
Matumaini Rehabilitation Centre p.O BOX 62-20106 MOLO
We would suggest you contact the local District Agriculture Oicer of the area to recommend the right crops for the area.
Editor
Editor
Dear Editor,
Dear Editor
I have seen the Baobab magazine information in the Spore magazine of June - July No.153. I have got an interest in it; I would like to apply for the subscription. Kindly send copies.
I appreciate the great ideas we get from reading Baobab 62 on Trees and Farming I have liked the use of Prosopis tree which has more beneits than I thought. In Magadi, we only use it for animal feeding and rehabilitating saline areas. We learned on other beneits people from Marigat are reaping from the same resource and we recognize the need to apply the same since we have more than enough trees and we also need to control its spread.
Myson S.Sobe District Agricultural & Livestock Oice Dear Myson p.O. BOX 94,
Julius Kasifu
MBOZI.
Tuko disabled coordinator, Magadi division Nguruman maarifa centre.
TANZANIA
BAOBAB ISSUE 63, SEPTEMBER 2011 31
September 2011 was a sad month during which Arica and indeed the entire world lost an ardent crusader for environmental conservation as well as peace and winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize following the death of Prof. Wangari Maathai. We publish the quotes below in her memory.
“It’s really amazing. You plant a seed; it germinates and looking so fragile, and within a very short time it becomes a huge tree. It gives you shade and if it’s a fruit tree it gives you fruit… to build and transforms lives… We want to see many Africans planting trees. here is absolutely no excuse to stop desertiication because this is something that is doable and cheap.”
“he environment and the economy are really both two sides of the same coin. You cannot sustain the economy if you don’t take care of the environment because we know that the resources that we use whether it is oil, energy, land … all of these are the basis in which development happens. And development is what we say generates a good economy and puts money in our pockets. If we cannot sustain the environment, we cannot sustain ourselves.”
“It is evident that many wars are fought over resources which are now becoming increasingly scarce. If we conserved our resources better, ighting over them would not then occur…so, protecting the global environment is directly related to securing peace…those of us who understand the complex concept of the environment have the burden to act. We must not tire, we must not give up. We must persist.”
Baobab is published by ALIN with support from ileia - The Centre for learning on sustainable agriculture. ALIN and ileia are members of AgriCultures, a global network of organisations that share knowledge and provide information on small-scale, sustainable agriculture worldwide.