Issue 057 - Indigenous Knowledge by AgriCultures Network

PUBLISHED BY ALIN FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORKERS. ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

Enriching lives with information

Want sustainable development? Try indigenous knowledge © ALIN

By Jane Kimbwarata

Bett Kipsang a field officer with ALIN, documents indigenous knowledge from Mr. Ole Sisika on livestock farming

Indigenous knowledge (IK) is a significant resource which could contribute to the increased efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of the development process. IK is defined as the basis for community-level decision making in areas pertaining to food security, human and animal health, education, natural resource management and other vital economic and social activities. Harnessing of IK empowers local communities and could help improve aid effectiveness in poverty reduction…All communities have developed their own body of knowledge over generations (Nicolas Gorjestani, 2000). Research and Development (KNET). KNET is a partnership project funded by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). Its members include the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (IPAR), Kenya Institute for Public

This is the message that was repeatedly shared by presenters and participants alike, at a workshop whose theme was ‘Harnessing and Using Local Knowledge for Development’ organized by the Kenya Knowledge Network for Policy,

Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Kenyan Economic Association (KEA), Association of Professional Societies in East Africa (APSEA), Association of Local Government Authorities of Kenya (ALGAK) and Kenya’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MoHEST). IPAR is currently hosting the network. The aim of the network is to facilitate sharing of knowledge, expertise, resource materials, best practices, lessons, Continues Page 4

Inside this issue Want sustainable development? Try indigenous knowledge 1 Letters

Stork story: Support groups for PLWHA

Restoration of the Mau Forest

14 17 19

Growing bananas -Uganda

Goat farming earns residents a fortune

B Amaking OBAB Soap

Alternative fodder

ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

Doum palm tree; a case study of the Western lowlands of Eritrea

Resources

Editorial ISSN:

0966 - 9035

The Baobab is published three 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

Editorial Board James Nguo Noah Lusaka Esther Lung’ahi Job Mainye Rehema Kanini

Consulting Editor Susan Mwangi

Photography and Illustrations ALIN and James Mugo

Layout & Design Ngugi Wathuge

Important Notices Copyright Articles and illustrations from Baobab may be adapted for use in materials that are developmentoriented, 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 reflect 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.

Talk to us The Baobab Publication Arid Lands Information Network, ALIN P.O. Box 10098, 00100 G.P.O. Nairobi, Kenya AAYMCA Building, Ground Floor, Along State House Crescent, Off State House Avenue Tel. +254 20 2731557 Telefax. +254 20 2737813 Cell. +254 722 561006 eMail: baobab@alin.net Or visit us at www.alin.net

About ALIN ALIN is a network of grassroots Community Development Workers (CDWs) drawn from Non Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations and Government Departments offering extension services in their field of expertise. Our Mission is to Enhance Livelihoods of Communities by facilitating information exchange in order to create a knowledge-driven society

Acknowledgement The Baobab is produced with support from Oxfam Novib.

Dear Members, It is my honour to welcome you to read our first Baobab journal this year. ALIN’s commitment to passing knowledge for sustainable development still stands. The environment is very important to mankind as from it, we derive food, medicine, natural resources as well as energy. It is our responsibility to preserve and maintain it in its natural form as much as we can. In this issue of BAOBAB 57, we focus on the importance of indigenous knowledge in conservation of natural resources, food alternatives as well as the use of fewer chemicals in production of materials. The Mau forest debate has been on every Kenyan lips for the past few months as the government moves in to restore and conserve the forest. Effects of the destruction of the Mau forest can no longer be ignored as we witness the drying up of rivers and lakes in Kenya and Tanzania. The main story highlights the importance of indigenous knowledge. It also features the use of locally available materials to make soap, use of alternative fodder to save livestock in Kyuso and on the subject of, a piece on using indigenous knowledge as a way to achieve sustainable development. In 2009, ALIN made great steps in serving the network memberships and the community at large. In this period, we were able to widen our information base through the new publications of Kilimo Endelevu Africa and Joto Africa series. In addition, we also launched the ‘mobile’ Maarifa centres in shipping containers and deployed three at the community level. ALIN was also represented at the15th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark on the 6-19 December 2009. The conference sought to find a successor to the Kyoto Treaty, the global deal regulating greenhouse gases that expires in 2012. Over 15,000 people from around the world including100 world leaders attended the conference. As we told you in the last publication, Baobab will be merging with Kilimo Endelevu Africa (KEA) to form one journal. The new Baobab will have 36 pages. Lastly, we have embarked on developing a new strategy for the years 20102015 that will see the development of a true grassroots organization with an international image (ALIN.NET). We shall share more items on the strategy in the next issue.

James Nguo Regional Director for ALIN

KENYA Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN), in conjunction with the Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT), is very pleased to announce the launch of TechSoup Kenya, an online technology donation portal aimed at the Kenya NGO sector. TechSoup Kenya aims to assist NGOs by providing software and hardware for very low or discounted fees in conjunction with ICT donor partners, as well as by supporting NGOs to maximise their ICT purchases and infrastructure. Please visit the site below for details. http://www.techsoupkenya.or.ke

Theme of Baobab issue 58: . Small scale livestock production.

BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

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BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

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Cover Story From Page 1

and experiences. It is also intended to facilitate effective engagement by stakeholders in advocacy for national and regional development agendas. It is in this spirit that the workshop was organized. In his speech, the guest of honor, Dr. Bitange Ndemo, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication emphasized the critical significance of knowledge and knowledge sharing in promoting growth and socio-economic development in the country, especially when the government is continuing to implement Vision 2030, which basically demands harnessing local knowledge to spur growth, employment creation and socio-economic development of the country. The opportunities in the ICT sector have widened the market. The PS noted that researchers out there want to know, even at a fee, how we are using our indigenous knowledge to reform our countries.

Speaking on the Challenges of Documenting Indigenous Knowledge in Kenya, Dr. Henry Kemoni of Moi University said UNEP (2009) broadly defines indigenous knowledge as the knowledge that indigenous community accumulates over generations of living in a particular ÂŠALIN

In his presentation on The Cultural Foundations of Technological Innovation, Prof. Jesse Mugambi of University of Nairobi said that Kenya and indeed Eastern Africa must learn to harness local capacities for the common good.

The expanded East African Community provides great opportunities for adaptability. The process of technological innovation is lengthy and includes all dimensions of life, and that diffusion depends on cultural versatility, and resourcefulness is much more important than resources in innovation. What we need to learn to become resourceful. Imagination, creativity, curiosity, inquisitiveness, supposition and consultation are critical in innovation. Technological advancement depends on scientific advancement within a culture, and Kenya has everything needed for scientific and technological breakthrough. Kenya must protect the innovations and inventions of Kenyans. This is an ethical challenge much more than a legal one. On climate change, Prof. Mugambi urged going back to our indigenous crops which are adapted to current temperatures.

Community members view documented indigenous knowledge at Ngâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;arua Maarifa Centre.

environment. It encompasses all forms of knowledge-technologies, knowhow skills, practices and enables the community to achieve stable livelihoods in their environment. Dr. Kemoni noted that Kenya does not have an indigenous knowledge systems policy to guide the whole process of documenting and disseminating indigenous knowledge. Mr. Noah Lusaka, the Program Manager, Capacity Building & Partnership at Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) indulged participants on The Potential Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Promoting Community Innovation. Mr. Lusaka noted that indigenous knowledge has potential to offer the best solutions to a developmental problem; local knowledge familiarity can help extension staff and scientists understand and communicate better with the local people; presents the successful way in which people have dealt with their environment; and may suggest alternative techniques to extension workers, development professionals and scientists. Key features of indigenous knowledge and innovations in agriculture are risk reduction, income generation, affordability, ease of availability, ability to fit into existing practices, easy to understand, able to meet multiple needs, and able to be attested by evidence from several sources including most trusted in community. Mr. Lusaka also illustrated how ICT can be used to promote indigenous knowledge, that is, through creation of knowledge databases. He cited the case of pest management among the Kyuso community and referred participants to OISAT Info www. oisat.org which is an online information service for non chemical pests management in the tropics. Still on ICTs, Dr. Joseph Kiplangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;at of Moi University in his presentation on the Application of ICTs to Harness and Preserve Indigenous Knowledge noted that there is need to mainstream and integrate indigenous knowledge with modern knowledge, otherwise, indigenous knowledge risks getting extinct due to rapidly changing circumstances. There is need, therefore, to map and take an inventory of indigenous knowledge and its application in all parts of the country, even with the inherent challenges in BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

ÂŠALIN

Cover Story

Farmers learning the value of indigenous vegetables during an open day at Ngâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;arua, Laikipia West District.

documenting indigenous knowledge. ICT has the potential role in capturing and preserving indigenous knowledge, as a cost effective means of dissemination of the knowledge. Indigenous knowledge is generated within the communities; it is validated and is abundant. Indigenous knowledge focuses on basic needs of human beings, oral and rural in nature and not systematically documented, hence the necessity of using an appropriate ICT system. Prof. Paul Okemo of Kenyatta University awakened participants to the realization that documenting and disseminating indigenous knowledge, whether tangible or intangible, exposes it to piracy as it is not well protected and thus vulnerable. In his paper on Issues of Indigenous Knowledge and Intellectual Property Rights, Prof. Okemo noted that there exist several ways of picking up indigenous knowledge and that there are attempts already to collect and document indigenous knowledge in Kenya. The state must balance creativity and innovation. Patenting indigenous knowledge is a big challenge especially if there is nothing new in the said indigenous knowledge. Indigenous knowledge can be harnessed for development by sensitizing the 5

BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

community to copyright and protect the indigenous knowledge. Participants were in agreement that there is need for all to support local expertise. There is need for government and Kenyans at large to decolonize the mind and embrace local knowledge. We are so rich yet so poor, in that we lack creativity around our knowledge. Indigenous knowledge is part of heritage, and the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) has a database on indigenous knowledge. NMK has had difficulties of publishing information that comes out due to intellectual property rights challenges especially in regard to protecting the local communities. There is already a draft Policy on Intellectual Property, Traditional Knowledge and Genetic Resources whose drafting was steered by the office of the Attorney General. There also appears to be several pieces of information on the same that are with several institutions but no inventory has been done of such information even in terms of gathering them. We need to find new answers to the emerging issues and the wise men of before, have not become less wise, only perhaps ignored. When the intellectual property laws

came into being, they were not conscious of the unique cultural and socio-economic circumstances of the developing countries. If pieces of indigenous knowledge were to be patented, who will be regarded as the owner or inventor? The participants also noted that there is absence of laws protecting indigenous knowledge. To protect indigenous knowledge, we must revise the existing laws to provide for such protection. This must be integrated with the patenting clauses as contained in the Acts of Parliament that establish and regulate the work of the Kenya Intellectual Property Institute (KIPI) and the laws relating to patenting. It is possible to be creative by establishing a fund for community creative ideas. Source: i) KNET Workshop discussions on Harnessing and Using Indigenous Knowledge for Development held November 30, 2009 at the Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi ii) Nicolas Gorjestani (2000). Indigenous Knowledge for Development: Oppor-tunities and Challenges http://www.worldbank.org/ afr/ik/ikpaper_0102.pdf [Accessed 03-12-09] Jane Kimbwarata is the KNET Coordinator and Resource Centre Manager at IPAR. She can be reached on jane@ipar.or.ke; or janemwema@gmail.com or +254 722 319 367.

Project Focus

Growing Bananas -Uganda Bananas are food crops that mostly grow in humid conditions. They are common in Uganda which is one of the leading African producers of bananas. In Uganda, there are different varieties including Matooke, Bogoya and Ndiizi which is known for its sweetness and delicate flavor. Much of Ugandaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s banana (Matooke) is consumed as a staple food crop in major areas of production. The estimated production of bananas of all types in Uganda in 1999/2000 combined was 6,130,000 tones. The western region reported the highest production accounting for 61% of the total output, central region had 1,687,000 tones (30% of the total output), while eastern region had 481,000 tones. Generally growing of banana was not common in the northern region with only 14,000 tones of Matooke food type. Culturally Matooke is of great importance to several tribes in Uganda. For example, the word Mmerre in Luganda as in several Bantu languages means food. But in Buganda, mmerre means Matooke [green bananas], the stable food among the Baganda. In Buganda, food or meal for that matter, has always meant Matooke served with an accompanying sauce. The leaves of the bananas are used to wrap food in most of the Ugandan homes. Banana leaves not only look beautiful, but also lend a fine aroma and taste when food is cooked inside them. Banana leaves can be used for barbecuing and steaming food. A banana leaf also makes a beautiful background on which to serve some Ugandan local dishes like Luwombo. Sometimes a local beer is brewed from bananas also called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bwakataâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Luganda With the increasing utilization of the land without any input and the incidences of pests and diseases that attack bananas, this plant is becoming difficult to raise and therefore the harvests are decreasing both in quality and quantity. This article describes how best one can grow bananas using locally available materials and be able to improve on both the quality and quantity of their produce.

Preparation of the garden Prepare the land that is going to accommodate the plantation by clearing it, most preferably at the end of the dry season. Dig the holes where the suckers are going to be planted. The hole should be two feet wide and create a basin like depression that will trap rain water (bananas require a lot of water) and two feet deep. Add fertilizers in the hole. Addition of fertilizers varies with the fertility of the soil and the moisture content. In very dry soils, add one basin of compost manure or half basin of poultry manure (richer in nutrients) in each hole where the suckers are to be planted.

Get the suckers that you want to plant. These should be those that are of better quality and characteristics. For example, the suckers that are got from mother plants that are not disease or pest infested. The suckers should be still young and capable of growing again. Clean or trim the suckers to make sure that no old leaves and roots are left because these normally harbor pests that might be transferred to other plants after planting. The cleaned suckers can then be soaked in a pesticide called Desburn to kill those disease causing organisms that might have penetrated the inside layers of the suckers.

Planting In each hole put a sucker that is approximately one foot tall and cover it with soil. The suckers will germinate out of the soil after three weeks. After every three months, add

BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

Project Focus

manure around the plant in a two feet radius because the plant has already established roots which will move further away from the plant and access the nutrients.

When the banana is about to flower, stop adding the manure. This is to enable the plant to flower and produce fruit instead of producing more leaves and hindering it from flowering.

Weeding and pruning It is important to prune the banana plant. Only the dry leaves and those that are yellow in color are removed. The brown banana fibres are also removed. The reason for removing the old leaves and fibres is because these normally act as hiding places for disease causing organisms. But they also give the plant room to receive enough sunlight. The green leaves and the fresh fibres should be left on the plant because these are water and food storage points for the plant.

Weeding of the garden should be carefully done such that the plants are not wounded in the process because that will create an entry point for disease causing organisms. In most cases uprooting of the weeds is done especially near the plant to avoid cutting the plant.

Maturity and harvesting Fruiting of bananas will normally require 10 to 15 months from the time a sucker emerges. The fruit stem normally requires three to four months to mature following its appearance. However, the bananas should not turn yellow on the stalk. Maturity is achieved when the individual bananas become full and rounded. They can be cut and consumed at that stage or they can be cut and hung or placed in a warm area to ripen to good eating quality. Once 7

BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

A farmer taking his produce to the market.

a stalk of bananas begins to ripen, the entire stalk will ripen in a few days. To peel a plantain, cut off and discard both ends; make a vertical slit in the skin and remove all of the peel before cooking.

Marketing Bananas are consumed locally at home but some farmers in Uganda obtain market for the bananas in the urban district markets like Owino, Nakawa and other smaller markets in the suburbs of the capital city. Source: OKN Portal : http://196.201.236.147/eNRICH By Esther Kabasiita Tel: +256 774338300 E-mail: kabasatha@yahoo.com

Abstract(s) Bananas are food crops that mostly grow in humid conditions. Bananas are common in Uganda which is one of the leading African producers of banana. Bananas in Uganda have got different varieties including Matooke, Bogoya and Ndiizi which is known for its sweetness and delicate flavor. Item okn.alin@118480 Esther Kabasiita. Created nn 02/11/2007 15:06:00 Published On 02/11/2007 15:13:18 and will expire on 12/12/2008 00:00:00

Technical Note

Soap Making by Kambiri community

Background Information Kambiri Inter-denominational Christian Fellowship is a Community Based Organization (CBO) established in early 2008. The organization was formed as a result of the need to share the gospel hence collaboration of different churches such as Friends church, Baptist, Pentecostal Evegelism Fellowship of Africa and Catholic church among others. All these aim at uniting and bringing together local communities through evangelism. However, there are three major activities within the organization. These activities are aimed at helping local communities by enriching and empowering them with information and knowledge to improve their livelihoods. These activities include soap making, motorcycle project and evangelism. The three projects are carried out under the leadership of respective managers either elected by members or appointed by the authority.

Organizational Structure The organization management is based on top-down leadership structure with

evangelism being the overall activity for the organization.

Organizational Meetings Meetings are conducted as per the guidelines set by the management based on the timetable i.e. 1. Wednesday – Home Fellowships from 2pm to 5pm 2. Thursday – Intercession Prayers from 2 pm to 5pm. 3. Friday – Praise and Worship Team Practice from 2pm to 5pm.

Sunday – After church service meeting from 2pm to 5Pm.

Soap Manufacturing The history of soap making is attributed to Tabitha Omoke who is the brain child of the project established in April, 2008. She now works at the Ministry of Agriculture in Kakamega Central District. She trained people on soap making but unfortunately only Paul Tela took the initiative to mobilize community members to form a group for soap making.

Project Stakeholders The project comprises of stakeholders from churches, Ministry of Health for standardization measures and the Ministry of Agriculture specifically extension officers.

Paul Tela preparing bar soap. BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

Technical Note Sources of funds

©ALIN

According to Tela, the Project Section Manager, the organization funds its projects through sacrifice of personal resources for the sake of the community. And also through membership contribution and registration in addition to membership shares where minimum shares sell at Ksh. 1,000.

Soap Processing The processing of soap is usually done during weekdays and sometimes on Saturdays depending on the need and urgency of the product by customers. The processing department is controlled by Benson Mukhwami and Paul Tela who have the necessary skills and knowledge about soap manufacturing. Soap making involves the use of locally available materials to produce the final products, that is, liquid detergent and bar soap which removes dirt from clothes with ease besides leaving a pleasant smell when used for bathing and cleaning toilets or mopping floors. The project is composed of 15 registered members among them eight men and seven women with Paul Tela as the Project Section Chairman and the overall Vice Chairman of the fellowship group. Benson Mukhwami is in charge of the production department. The products are produced in two formats: liquid detergent and bar soap product. However, according to the Project Section Manager, liquid detergent is the most highly produced product due to the little time taken to produce it. Thus, the group concentrates much on the liquid detergent as compared to bar soap which is tedious and takes long to manufacture and produce several pieces for selling unlike the liquid detergent. Bar Soap The raw materials include: • Oil/fat e.g. golden fry, Ufuta cooking oil etc • Acoustic soda as a chemical reagent • Fillers such as sweet potatoes, avocado, etc • Perfume e.g. lavender, especially for bathing soaps 9

BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

A customer with liquid detergent.

• Clean water Liquid Detergent The raw materials include:

Manufacturing of liquid detergent

• Unga roll (chemical)

Production of 10 Litres Liquid Detergent

• Ufacid (an acidic chemical)

Take ½ kg ufacid + ½ kg unga roll (acidic concentration is less compared to ufacid and its viscous nature creates form in the mixture). Mix the two chemicals by stirring them to form one complete solution. Step by step mixing of the chemicals allows proper and complete reaction of the chemicals and other materials to reduce and avoid the acids/ chemicals contained in the product from causing harmful effects to customers/users.

Add water into the chemicals litre by litre and continue stirring the mixture. The water should not exceed eight litres so as to give room for other chemicals to fill the remaining two litres in order to achieve exactly 10 litres of the final soap detergent. Any slight mess to the mixture may lead to either high concentration or low concentration depending on the quantity of chemicals used.

• Acoustic soda (a chemical reagent) • Perfume e.g. lavender, lemonade, etc • Colouring agents e.g. blue, yellow and green. However, the group prefers green and blue colouring agents due to their appealing nature to customers • Industrial salt • Water

Equipments a.

Small cooking stick – for stirring the solutions.

Moulds - for pouring bar soap after processing to form rectangular shapes.

Gloves - used for preventing chemicals from coming into contact with the skin/hands.

Measuring cans e.g. 1 litre size.

Bottles for packaging

Technical Note 3.

Add industrial salt into the solution. This acts as a reagent by speeding up the chemical reaction process. Continue adding water into the solution one litre at a time little by little until the solution is moderately mixed. Add a colouring agent to the solution. This is mainly used for changing the colour of the product to attract more customers/users. Finally, add the perfume i.e. lavender which gives a pleasant smell to users. This aims at attracting more customers to adopt and use the product. After this, allow the solution to react slowly until after eight hours when you can start packaging it into bottles. At this time, the solution is completely ready and good for usage since all chemicals and other components have completely dissolved into the required and recommended levels.

Target Group The groups target audience include orphanage homes e.g. the Spiritual Life Centre Orphanage Home which is just next to the manufacturing place, supermarkets, retail shops, salons and household customers, especially mothers.

in terms of training the manpower to replace them. • Inadequate funds to support the project. That is, money to obtain the certificate of the product in order to acquire a trademark. • Penetrating the local market with the liquid detergent is a major challenge. • Lack of proper marketing strategy to reach many customers and convince them to adopt and use the product. • Failure to meet, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) measures due to inadequate skills • The business project is not strategically located • Inadequate duction

equipment

for

pro-

• Lavender perfume is expensive to purchase.

Solutions • The group has started establishing training courses on capacity building in order to train members to gain the skills and knowledge on how to attain KEBS measures. • Searching for donors and well wishers to support the project financially.

Testimony by Mama Sharon

The soap is for multi-purpose use. This include: bathing, cleaning utensils, toilets and mopping floors besides washing clothes.

Mama Sharon, a salon owner, had this to say about the product:

• The group is dealing with youths who prove to be difficult especially in getting their attention and involving them into the project. This is because they are looking for employment opportunities that will give them immediate large sums of money and therefore in case of any opportunity arising elsewhere they leave immediately with all the skills and knowledge leaving behind a gap to be filled, which is very expensive

• Make use of proper marketing strategies e.g. posters, sign posts, local radio stations and even the internet for international customers. • Looking forward to locate the business in an area that is close to community members so that they can see the full process of soap making and even see the testing so as to be fully convinced about the products. • Involve more youths so as to avoid having gaps and shortages once one leaves for another place or a better opportunity.

Selling Price Liquid detergent costs Ksh 80 per litre. The bar soap goes at Ksh 50 per piece (one with no fillers). However, the organization is in the process of using fillers in producing bar soap therefore, the price is likely to change to Ksh 80 per piece.

Benefits sharing • The project’s benefits sharing is based

Customer Satisfaction/Testimony

Soap Usage

Challenges

• Persuading the local market to adopt and use liquid detergents besides bar soaps. Also through free samples to customers.

“The liquid detergent has replaced shampoo in her salon for washing ladies hair because it neutralizes and removes dandruffs from the hair so perfectly as compared to shampoo. The soap softens the skin and prevents the feet from developing cracks unlike other soaps. The product has a pleasant smell. I am pregnant but then I have no desire for another smell other than the one produced by this soap. The smell further makes me dislike other oil and jelly products. The soap strengthens the lining of clothes and avoids cloth shrinkage and therefore

one can put them on without having to iron. I use the soap for washing babies, cleaning utensils and washing my baby’s and other adult clothes. I have been using the soap since last year and I have no intentions of stopping or changing to another product unless they stop producing it.” Other customers interviewed said the soap is good. That the smell is pleasant, it is cheap hence affordable by many, long lasting and it softens clothes and the skin when used for washing and bathing respectively. According to the project manager, despite all these benefits it has been difficult for them to penetrate the local markets with the liquid soap/detergent simply because most people are used to bar soaps.

BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

Technical Note on how much money or resources one inputs into the project. This determines how much output one gets as benefits from the project. This is mostly calculated in percentage form. • Those working in the project get a small token as per the signed agreement between the two parties i.e. the project management and the worker(s).

Other services offered • Computer training services. • Typing and printing services. • Photocopying services. • Scanning services. All these serve as income generating activities to the organization’s project where community members pay a little money towards the services offered so as to support the organization financially.

The future of the project • The project management is looking forward to establishing a plantation for sunflower so as to cut down on costs of acquiring oil/fat which is one of the raw materials for making soap and is very expensive. • Develop capacity building programs in order to train people in order to acquire more skills and knowledge on developing the product to attain Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) measures. This will help them acquire the license and trade mark for their products. • Looking forward to establishing a cottage industry where high production of the products can be made alongside other products. • Posting and uploading the organization’s product on the internet so as to expand the marketing of the project plus its products. • To produce high quality and competing soap products on the market.

Contribute to the Baobab Your contribution to the baobab is very crucial for continued networking. It can take different forms; either through writing an article that shares your experiences from your community, or through letters to the editor where you either respond to a particular article, which has been published, query certain information or request further information from the secretariat or a contributor. The journal therefore, gives community development workers (CDWs) the opportunity to network, share experiences and learn from the experience of other CDWs working in similar areas.

Key Considerations in Writing a Good Article

•

Your article should be descriptive, giving sufficient information on your subject.

•

Always remember to address the 5Ws and H when writing an article- WHAT,

BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

WHY, WHO, WHERE, WHEN and HOW. In answering these pertinent questions, the article should be able to provide background information, address the problem, give your intervention, lessons learnt and the way forward. •

Make the article easy to read and understandable.

•

Techniques described must be simple. Low- cost, useful and appropriate for sustainable drylands development.

•

Most important, ensure the article is well researched, since we hold the reader accountable for any misinformation published.

• Acquiring advanced moulds that are fixed with screws so as to reduce and avoid risks of soap breaking when removing the pieces from the moulds. • Looking forward to producing up to about 10,000 pieces of bar soap and 10,000 litres of liquid detergents per day.

Lessons learnt The project acts as an income generating activity to the organization. The project helps engage idle minds especially the youths. The project makes it possible to use locally available materials to produce products i.e. bar soaps, liquid detergents. The project makes the community be part of the organization i.e. by either participating in the entire organization’s activities or by registering to become a member of any existing project.

Conclusion Soap making locally is an upcoming activity in Kambiri and the organization is looking forward to support from donors and well wishers to promote the activity to benefit the community by accessing products directly from their locality at much cheaper and affordable prices to all and also by creating employment opportunities to youths and women. Through efforts put forward by members within the organization, a cottage industry in the area is the ultimate plan for all. This will help them enter large scale production for their commodities so as to supply the market with adequate products. By Jeremiah Binyenya binyenyajeremiah@gmail.com 0715718140

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BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

Support groups for PLWHA are of essense. One should not shy away as there is much to gain.

On the Subject of

Restoration of the Mau Forest By Moses Radoli

The complexity of the Mau Forest seems to be far from over even as the government sets pace for its planned restoration programme. With the government’s determination to restore the forest complex to its former glory and the country’s top water tower, more challenges keep emerging for the government to deal with.

Challenges The challenges started when the government announced its plans to evacuate settlers from the forest early this year in a bid to save it from total destruction that would result in devastating environmental consequences. The announcement to evict settlers from the forest drew fiery opposition from political leaders from the Rift Valley province and as the settlers started leaving the complex, mostly voluntarily, more challanges followed as the same politicians breathed fire. Topping the list of these challenges is keeping politics out of the whole operation and the planned restoration exercise. This is the biggest challenge since the exercise began following the Government orders for settlers to quit the forestland. The most critical question is whether the government will be in a position to restore the complex to its former natural state independently or if it will need the involvement of the local communities, which might prove thorny. Though it had been reported that the majority of the settlers, mostly squatters without title deeds, resisted eviction out of the complex on expiry of the government quit notice deadline on November 14, their departure was voluntary following the deployment of more than 600 armed security officers. Even after the deadline of eviction, ALIN witnessed security officers trying to convince squatters, in their mud walled and grass thatched dwellings deep in the forest, to leave.

Wildebeests crossing the Mara River.

Many families, mostly women and children, and their household belongings were loaded onto government trucks with the help of the security detail who drove them to various temporary camps on the roadside, market centres and other sites where the evacuees felt appropriate to set up camp on the forest outskirts. A humanitarian crisis has now emerged from the handling and management of more than 4,500 families who are camping in makeshift un-protected temporary shelters in the open without food, water and other basic necessities.

Post election violence This development comes in the wake of the thorny and yet to be fully resolved question of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) following the post 2007 disputed general elections violence that displaced more than 300,000 people mostly from the same Rift Valley province. Many of these victims are still living in makeshift shelters in satellite (IDP) camps popularly known as ‘Echo Cities’ where they were moved from the original camps by the government during its Operation Rudi Nyumbani that was executed in 2003.

Unlike the assistance given to IDPs after the post election violence, within three days of the human exodus out of the Mau forest complex, more than 3,000 people living in makeshift camps had not received any humanitarian assistance. It was not until after a week that the Kenya Red Cross and the government through the Ministry of Special Programmes started distributing some food, mosquito nets and blankets. However, the biggest threat to the affected people is from the heavy rain as they are without any protective cover like waterproof tents. A leader of the Ogiek/Kalenjin Community Welfare Organization, Major (Rtd) John Sei says the government was too hasty in ordering the settlers out the forest complex without offering the victims alternative settlement sites and appropriate shelter. Maj.Sei says though the settlers were not refusing to leave the forest, they had no place to go to and it was the responsibility of the government to take care of the victims’ welfare. He said: “Under the current weather conditions we are going to suffer very badly because we do not have anything to protect us from the heavy rains, to keep us warm or even feed us because BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

On the Subject of

all food we had we left behind on the shambas (farms). We are indeed exposed to all forms of diseases, especially the deadly pneumonia.”

Identifying indigenous occupants of the Mau The other critical challenge that is being voiced by the settlers targeted for evacuation, particularly in phase one of the process, is for the government to systematically identify the genuine traditionally Mau forest dwelling Ogiek Community members and provide them with a permanent solution to their settlement problem. A member of the Ogiek Community Welfare Organization, Charles Kipngetich Rono alleged that although some members of the community had received five-acre parcels of land during the 1990s allotments from the previous government, the majority had not benefited or had sold them. Mr. Rono says that though the community had lived in the forest for centuries as hunters and gatherers, majority of them are still squatters on their ancestral land with nowhere to go. “It is from this background that the issues affecting the Ogiek community must be immediately addressed by the government and a permanent solution provided once and for all. We are not land speculators and opportunists who moved into the forest hoping to be allocated land, we are the real owners because it belongs to our ancestors,” he argued. However, another challenge for the government will be how to make clear distinctions from the indigenous Ogieks and the settlers because over the years there have been inter-marriages between the settler communities from other parts of the province and country at large. Says one of the eviction victims at the Tinet camp in Kuresoi: “The intermarriages have resulted into a completely new forest community which speaks languages that have intertwined as well as cross bred cultural practices for one to say so and so is a pure Ogiek.” On the heels of the complex Ogiek 15

BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

A portion of the destroyed forest.

question comes the issue of how to deal with fake title deed owners who are supposed to be moved out during phase two of the government’s eviction programme.

Fake title deeds Most of the fake title deed holders, according to ALIN investigations, are victims of corrupt individuals, groups and even politicians who set up bogus land buying companies through which most of the buyers pumped millions of shillings to buy land in the area, but ended up with fake title deeds and land allocations. One of the victims, Joseph Mwangi Murugi, near Ndeffo farm laments: “We do not know where to start or end. We do not know where to go. Yes we are wishing to leave this Mau forest area, but where are we going? We have nothing apart from useless fake title deeds, no land and no future.” Mr. Murigu says that the majority of the people who will be worse hit in tens of thousands fall under this category because they came in droves at the height of the land scam in the area in the 1990s as it sold cheaply at shs. 20,000 per acre. “That was not all, it is also because this land we are talking about is extremely fertile and highly productive for any agricultural crop you can think of. We were making not less than shs. 25, 000 per acre in a month from the extra produce sales. It does not require fertilizer,” he said. The other challenge that the government will have to surmount in its Mau forest complex restoration programme is the successful identification and compensation of the genuine land title

deeds owners who are supposed to be compensated and moved out of the forest in phase three of the eviction programme. Those with genuine title deeds throughout the affected area do not know where to take them though the government had issued an order to surrender the documents. Which means that the question of compensating them for their land or resettling them elsewhere remains a tricky un-resolved affair. The chairman of the government’s Interim Coordinating Secretariat for the Mau Forest Complex, Mr. Hassan Noor Hassan says that those affected in the ongoing eviction process should go back to the homes where they originally came from. “They have no option but go back to the homes where they originally came from, because the government is serious about this matter and has no plans nor resources to resettle these people anywhere,” says Mr. Hassan He says the government has already identified the genuine eviction victims from the forest and has made plans to compensate them since the money has already been set aside for the purpose as well as finding a permanent solution to the Ogiek challenge. Mr. Hassan who is also the immediate former Provincial Commissioner of the Rift Valley says though at the moment there were some logistical problems in the efficient management of the whole exercise, this is being ironed out. Moses Radoli, Tel: +254 727 247754 E-mail: moses.radoli@gmail.com.

Info Exchange

Goat farming earns residents a fortune ÂŠALIN

Andrew Muendo Nyamu

Matingo Self Help Group with their goats

Matingo Self Help Group has been able to start a goat-rearing project, which has seen them raise their living standards and meet their basic needs with ease. The group is located in Mateveve Village of Kandae sub-location in Mutomo district. It was formed in 2005 and has 22 members. Currently, they have 43 goats.

Reasons for starting the organization

Projects members engage in

The main reason why the residents of Mateveve started the organization was to enable them to lead more decent lives. This idea was triggered by the realization that most of them had no formal education and hence could not easily secure formal employment. The members also wanted to be able to pay school levies for their children and afford other school requirements. The poverty levels were very high among the residents and hence they wanted to pull together in efforts to meet their daily needs and help each other pay hospital bills. Since the formation of the organization members have been able to have more decent lives.

Currently, the group has 43 goats that are distributed to the members who keep them together with their livestock. The goats are of the indigenous species that adapts to the local semi arid climatic conditions and are able to depend on locally available shrubs and pastures. On regular interval the goats are brought together to be dewormed and undergo other medication which are mainly done manually or using the locally available equipments such as water cans for applying accaricides or even use of bushy tree branch of convenient size and shape. The goats are sold at an agreed time and the money used as per the members agreement.

Goat keeping

Contributing money Members also contribute money on a monthly basis of Ksh 20 per person. The collected money is used to buy a goat, which is then given to one member to raise together with his/her flock. The contribution is also used to pay hospital bills whenever a member of the group or child to a member is hospitalized. The group contributes Ksh 4,000 to settle such a bill and if it is beyond the amount the concerned member can get a loan from the group and repay later without interest. Cattle keeping The group has also started a cattle rearing project and currently has three cows. It intends to expand the project and have more cattle but the major challenge has been the erratic rainfall which has resulted in the cattle being adversely affected by the dry spell.

BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

©ALIN

Info Exchange daily needs such as paying school charges, hospital bills, buying food and clothing for their children among other domestic needs • The group has been able to increase the social bonding of its members subject to long hours spent working together in the field • Whenever the group has made sales from their investment they share the money amongst members and this raises their financial status • Members have been able to learn from one another as they partake their projects and this has enabled them to carry out similar project on their own

CONCLUSION Growing vegetables The group has established a vegetable farm along River Nzeeu where they plant Sukumawiki (Kales) and tomatoes. The vegetables are sold and the money deposited into the group account. The members provide labour on the farm and keep watch of destructive pests. Tree nursery The group has a tree nursery where they have planted many different tree species both fruits and wild trees. Most of the trees are drought resistant and have high economic value. Some of these trees include Jatropa, Melia Volkansee, Orange tree, Mango trees, and Pawpaw tree among other species.

Challenges they are facing • Some diseases affecting the livestock are resistant to the available medication • Some of the drugs for the livestock, vegetables and tree nurseries are of low quality as the members cannot afford the costly ones • Marketing of the livestock during the current dry spell has seen the price of goat reduce to Ksh 400 down from average price of Ksh 1800. Selling of the produce in large numbers also has a gone down as the buyer dictates the price 17

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• There is an acute water problem in the area and this has adversely affected their projects which all revolve around water such as irrigation of the vegetables that requires a lot of water. Currently the group depends on manually provided water which is cumbersome and unreliable • Salinity of the available waters is also affected leading to crops withering

Achievements of the group • The group members have been able to acquire goat nitrogenous milk from the goats under their custody

Since the formation of this group in 2005, the members have been able to reform their living standards and are now able to lead better lives. There has been encouragement from one another and this has seen the increase of new members. Contact person Ruth Nzisikwa Samuel Chairperson Matingo Self Help Group Mobile +254 711 952 145 Written by Andrew Muendo Nyamu Community Information Volunteer Mutomo Community Knowledge Centre Mobile +254 722 962 986

• Members have been able to meet the

Comment on specific Baobab articles using SMS! Dear reader We are pleased to introduce to you a simple SMS and web integrated survey system for the Baobab Journal. We have assigned each article a code as indicated below. To comment on the articles first you need to sign in, indicate your name, gender, age, location and country. To register, go to the message box and key in the following words; Reg space followed by a comma, your name followed by a comma, your eMail followed by a comma, your gender (M or F) followed by a comma, age, location space your country Reg,Baobab Magazine,baobab@alin.net,F,29,Nairobi Kenya Then send this SMS to +254717032322 . You will receive two SMS, one confirming your registration and another giving you the details on how to give your comments. See sample response below MAG , BB ,56,A1,1,1,1,5, Dear Editor, the article on from goat keeping to ICT business was very timely for we farmers . . . .

Article SMS code Want Sustainable development? They indigenous knowledge A1 Growing Bananas A2 Stork Story: Support for PLWHA A3 Challenges in the restoration of Mau Forest A4 Goat farming earns residents a fortune A5 Plonged drought to use of livestock fodder A6 Daum palm tree in Eritrea A7

Meeting Place

Alternative fodder ÂŠALIN

By Dorothy Amboka

A farmer shows the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;kithunzuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tuber

As a result of prolonged drought linked to climate changes, communities in Mwingi District have now turned to modified alternative fodder for their livestock feeds. Mwingi is an Arid Semi Arid Land (ASAL) area found in lower Eastern Province, it covers a total of six Districts, which are Mwingi Central, Mwingi East, Mwingi West, Kyuso, Tseikuru and Mumoni.

temperature ranges between 260 C and 340 C whereas the minimum mean annual temperature ranges between 140 C and 220 C. This translates into an average annual temperature of 240 C. The District experiences long stretches of dry and hot seasons. Farmers depend on March-August rains and NovemberDecember rains. The area has experienced a one and a half year prolonged drought due to the failure of December 2008 and March 2009 rains.

Although the area is dry most times of the year, the economic potential is high and cuts across all the sectors. This includes ventures in agricultural activities and trading in quite a number of goods and services.

All forests and crops have dried up as well as the grass and what remains are dry rivers, a skeleton of a forest and plain land.

The climate of the District is generally hot and dry for the greater part of the year. The maximum mean annual

Kyuso District depends on livestock as an economic activity. Last year most cattle died due to hunger and only a few heads

Due to the huge loses of livestock, it was very painful for farmers to watch their cows die helplessly without any assistance to offer. survived the drought. Those surviving were thin and weak and vulnerable to diseases and even death. For lack of food, they turned to feeding on plastics, leather shoes and polythene papers. The Ministry of Agriculture supplied very little relief grass to a few communities that was not enough. The grass distributed was dry that the animals could not feed on without water. The Livestock Agricultural officers were left with no BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

Meeting Place option but to advise the community to feed the animals on anything that has water and is green, so long as they survive. They gathered into groups to discuss how they can feed their livestock to avoid the deaths. They identified trees that store water in their roots and stems as a drought coping mechanism, and decided to use them during drought as an alternative livestock feeds.

Livestock alternative feeds discovered Root tubers ‘Kithunzu’ These are root tubers of a ‘Thurnbegia Guekeana’ tree under the group of climbers. It’s very common in forests and it climbs high on the trees. It has thread like stem and rarely has leaves especially during dry season. Its root tuber is as big as a cassava, with white flesh and is very juicy. The tubers have a lot of water and cows that feeds on it consumes very little water. It can also be stored for sometime without loosing its water content.

rubbery. This is because they have to protect themselves against the harsh heat, and the unpredictable amount of rainfall. This particular species of tree has also adapted the colour of its leaves. The leaves of the Acacia are dark green in colour to a medium, or dark brown. The colouring of the leaves prevents them from being burnt, or scorched by the incredibly hot sun. Ripe fruit pods burst open, releasing the seeds, which are dispersed by animals eating the pods. Kyuso people collect the pods and feed them to the animals. Acacia galpinii is one of the trees that can survive hot and dry conditions, which is often preferred. It provides dappled shade on hot summer days, making it an ideal tree for planting on a lawn where some sun can penetrate. It has waxy leaves to cut down water loss and long tap roots to reach moisture underground. It is a large tree with luxuriant, light green foliage, making it ideal for a big garden, avenue or park. It is also valued by farmers.

It’s tasteless and gum like and the inner flesh has starch content reducing the body weakness in cattle. They are readily available in most areas in Kyuso District. The farmers have decided that when the rains come, they will plant the tubers for use incase of another drought situation. The root of one plant can grow several plants through propagation. To feed the animals, the roots are uprooted from the forest, washed, and cut into small pieces using a panga. The nutritive value of root tubers has never been established. However, the Kyuso people have used it as a coping strategy over a long period of time without knowing its effects. However, It was realised that when goats take too much of it during pregnancy they abort. Acacia pods ‘Ngaa’ and kales The Acacia Tree adapts to life in arid land areas. Over many years, the leaves of the acacia have changed to suit the environment in which they thrive. The leaves are tough and somewhat 19

BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

Cattle feeding on root tubers.

Description Acacia galpinii is a deciduous tree, losing its leaves during dry season. It is fastgrowing and can reach 25-30 m. Creamy to light yellow flowers appear during the growing season (September-October). Reddish to purplish brown pods ripen during February-March. Dry grass ‘Nyeki Nyumu’ and dry leaves Dry grass and leaves are also some of the alternative feeds. This grass is imported from other areas and stored for animal’s consumption. Farmers have stored some of the grass for more than two years. They cut grass and store it at an airy place for it to dry up without rotting. Most people store it on top of a tree, house roof or on a raised ground. After drying the grass, its tied up in bales and stored for use. The Ministry of Agriculture supplies some of the dry grass as relief food. Leaves are collected from the forest. Sometimes animals are taken to the forest to feed on the leaf litters by themselves.

Meeting Place

The ‘Thurnbegia Guekeana’ tree which produces the ‘Kithunzu’ root tuber.

The problem with dry grass and leaves is that, they increase thirst when consumed by the animals and yet there’s no water for consumption. In cases where there is water, the animals end up consuming a lot of water leading to death. Most carcases found at the riverbanks died because of consuming a lot of water after feeding on dry leaves from forests. Dry grass is not nutritious since all nutrients disappear after drying. They are only used to sustain the animals. Pawpaw stem ‘Mivavai’ Pawpaw is one of the drought resistant fruits. Kenya Forestry Research Institute discovered that fruits like pawpaw, mangoes and oranges can do very well in semi arid lands. Mangoes and pawpaw’s survived the drought. Despite the fact that they did not have fruits, their trees remained green throughout the drought period. Pawpaw tree stalk and branches are green and soft. They have a lot of water fluids. Their stalk and branches are good for animals’ consumption. They have nutrients especially vitamins since the tree remains green throughout the season. The pawpaw branches and stalk

are cut into pieces and fed to the animals. The stalk is soft but tasteless.

Testimony Mr. Fednand Mwingi of Mivukoni location, Kyuso District, has released his animals to his Malia Volkensii farm of more than five hundred trees. He claims that although the trees are valuable, he will feel better if some of his animals survive the drought. “The ‘Mikau’ tree will dry up immediately it rains, but I will plant more afresh. I was forced to feed the animals on the bark of the trees because my animals were dying and I had no option. I am remaining with only two cows and 8 goats out of 20 cows and 40 goats that I had before the drought. “It’s so sad” he says.

Challenges

Despite all these, the animals are still dying. Some of them die due to the abrupt change of nutrition, infections caused by low body immunity and others from thirst. The people are also insecure consuming meat from Eastern Markets in fear of infections that may lead to death of human as well.

Animal food is never enough and no one knows when the drought will end. There are claims that the taste of meat from Eastern Kenya has changed. It used to be the best but is now tasteless and sticky. With all those alternative feeds, no food comes close to the green grass that is nutritious.

Conclusion Climate change effects are getting worse everyday. We may experience more intensive droughts and floods but the Kyuso community with help of ALIN is trying to put in place strategies to help them cope with such situations in future. They are now planning to plant more alternative fodder in preparations of such situations. The government of Kenya should as well chip in by incorporating climate change impacts into vision 2030 to reduce poverty. Dorothy Amboka Kyuso Maarifa Centre Tel: +254 722297876 E-mail: ambokadorothy@gmail.com

BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

Meeting Place

Testimony Mr. Kisinga Musya of Kakunike area in Kyuso District cuts the pawpaw stalk into pieces, mixes it with some vegetables and feeds it to his cow. He also picks acacia seeds, dries them up and feeds them to his cow together with kales. Melia volkensii ‘Mikau’ This is a valuable tree for semi arid areas. It’s the most drought resistant tree. Has an effective mechanism for accumulating water to all tissues for use in times of extreme water stress. The plant is deeply rooted and exhibits a good degree of resistance to attack by common insects. It is also good for firewood, timber, medicine, fodder, bee forage, shade, and mulch and soil conservation. It’s intercropped with food crops in arid land areas with no adverse effect on the yield. The animals are released to the Melia Volkensii farm to feed on the bark of the tree.

Joto Afrika is a series of printed briefings and online resources about adapting to climate change in sub- Saharan Africa. The series will help people understand the issues, constrains and opportunities that people face in adapting to climate change and escaping poverty. Joto Afrika is Swahili; it can be loosely translated to mean ‘Africa is feeling the heat’ Each issue focuses on a particular theme around climate change adaptation and development, and is supported by a wide range of online materials, including videos, audio broadcasts and discussion forums.

What the series covers The series draws together lesson, experiences and practical information from sub- Saharan Africa, including:

• Summaries of academic research on climate change, written in a clear, easy to read style

BAOBAB ISSUE 57, JANUARY 2010

Mr. Kisinga feeding his cow on acacia seeds and kales.

• Case studies of community - based knowledge and action in response to climate change • Letters and readers.

feedback

from

Who are the briefings for? The briefings are intended for everyone in Africa who needs to know about adaptation at regional local levels: communities, civil society organizations, government officials, researchers, decision makers and planning departments. The series will also enable these groups to communicate with each other and share experiences

Contribute to Joto Afrika We are looking for research articles, community case studies, videos, audio

clips and photo essays about climate change adaptation in Africa. If you would like to contribute, please contact the editor at jotoafrica@alin.net

Meeting Place

Doum palm tree; a case study of the western lowlands of Eritrea By Abel Tekeste

Doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) is one of the most abundant and economically important trees in the forests of Eritrea. It protects rivers and banks from erosion, improves soil fertility by helping to absorb rainfall and assists in recharging of groundwater systems. The hardy species is a traditional source of seasonal feed for animals and human food. It contributes to conservation since wild animals depend on the shrubs and grasses that grow beneath it. In Keren area of Southern Eritrea doum palm fruits and seeds were historically used as raw materials for an Italian button-making factory and a doum palm-processing factory was recently established in the region.

Doum palm in the western lowlands of Eritrea The most dominant vegetation in the western lowlands of Eritrea is savannah woodland including riverine forests that contain significant amounts of the doum palm. Locally known as “Arkobkobay”, the species grows close to groundwater sources as well as farther away and is widely distributed in the Sahel zones of the Sahara. It grows on the banks of rivers, streams, and sometimes on rocky slopes. Originally native to the Nile Valley, the doum palm, which is also known as gingerbread tree, is a deciduous plant belonging to the palmae family. It produces an edible oval fruit and its name ‘Hyphaene’ is derived from the

Doum palm seeds

Greek word ‘hyphaino’ referring to the fibers from the leaves. H. thebaica is one of the 11 species of the genus found in Africa, growing across the Sahel from Mauritania to Egypt and from Senegal to East Central Africa, including Eritrea, Sudan and Tanzania. Although it does not do well in waterlogged areas, the doum palm is very resistant to bush fires. It begins producing fruits after six to eight years of growth, with flowering occurring annually from February to April. Its fruits begin appearing in March and persist until the following season’s flowers appear. In Eritrea, doum palm is the main component of the riverine woodlands in the intermittent basin of the Barka

River, especially in Mensura, Shegelgel, Engerne, Garsei, Ker-Ubel, Tekreret, Shiglet, Mogoribe and Hademdemit; and in the intermittent basin of the Gash River, especially in Ghurguji, Haikota and Alebu. Doum palm dominates the banks of both these rivers and protects them from erosion. These riverine forests have well watered fertile soils and are located on flat land that is suitable for development of commercial agriculture.

Traditional uses of doum palm Doum palm provides a wealth of resources and is essential for the maintenance and sustainability of the livelihoods of the local communities. All parts of doum palm are important but the most important is the doum palm leaf, which has traditionally been used by people living along the Nile for weaving baskets. Doum palm is an essential component of the traditional livestock production system in the Sahel region where it provides fodder, browse and shelter. In Eritrea livestock production plays a significant role in the national economy and is essential to food security of the rural population. It is closely integrated with crop production and is a major source of livelihood for the local population. Livestock are used for transportation and are important sources of protein, food, milk and meat for humans. They also produce raw materials for the local industry, including hides, skins, bones and manure for fuel, biogas and fertilizer. Majority of the communities in the western lowlands of Eritrea engage in cutting, transporting and processing of doum palm leaves to provide shelter, income generation, fodder for domestic animals, firewood and other household needs. It has traditionally been used to overcome scarcity of animal forage

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Meeting Place during dry periods. Its leaves are used for making thatch, mats, ropes, brooms, and for production of different types of artefacts. During the harvesting season, doum palm fruit is used as a source of human food throughout the country particularly in the lowlands where it originally grows. In the Tigrinya region, for example, doum palm is locally known as ‘Akat’ and its large brown fruit is normally eaten dry. Doum palm is one of various indigenous species exploited by the colonial Italian government during the early 19th century. The Italians established a button making factory at Keren, which contributed to the growth of the colonial economy. Facts about doum palm: • Local communities utilize the doum palm and its products in different ways. Every part of the tree is used but the most important is the leaf. • Doum palm trunk provides termite resistant timber used for making railway bars. • The leaves, fibre and seed have diversified uses ranging from roofing, firewood, manufacturing of baskets, ropes and other ornamental products. The leaf stalks are used for fencing and construction of hats. • Humans and animals eat doum palm fruits. • Industrial uses include production of commercial feed for animals from doum palm fruit while the seed can be used for making buttons.

Sheep on doum palm meal feeding trial

Doum palm as a source of sustainable livestock feed

Challenges and future prospects

The doum palm is grinded into a meal that is used as an alternative source of livestock feed. When supplemented with other sources of protein, it provides a substantial amount of carbohydrate or energy for livestock, which contributes to enhancing animal production in the country.

A 2001 report entitled ‘State of Forest Genetic Resources in Eritrea’, which was prepared by Food and Agriculture

Research on animal feed indicates that when fed with doum palm meal, highland fat tailed sheep achieved an increase in body weight. However, due to limited production, doum palm meal is mostly used as a supplementary feed in some of the small scale and commercial farms in the country.

Organization(FAO)/ International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI)/ International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), indicates that the doum palm tree is threatened by uncontrolled cutting of its leaves for weaving and basketry as well as exploitation of its stems for timber. Since the doum palm regenerates itself into more branches when cut and there is preference for other palm species, its destruction for timber has reduced considerably. However, efforts should be made to conserve and protect the few remaining riverine forests of this unique vegetation in Eritrea. Clearance of riverine doum palm forests for agricultural purposes is rapidly reducing biodiversity and if this trend continues adverse consequences such as desertification along riverbanks and siltation of waterways will increase, leading to severe consequences. For more information please contact Abel Tekeste (MSc) Email: abelteha@yahoo.com Tel No. 291-1-162480 P.O. Box 2110 Asmara, Eritrea

Children feeding on doum palm 23

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Resources Resources

The world of organic agriculture Statistics and emerging trends 2009 The data and information compiled in this volume document the current statistics, recent developments and trends in global organic farming. The comprehensive data, from 141 countries, are an important tool for stakeholders, policy makers, authorities, the industry and consultants. They can be useful in supporting strategies for organic agriculture and markets as well as for monitoring the impact of support activities for organic agriculture. An overview of the contents plus a summary can be viewed at www.organic-world.net/yearbook-2009.html Helga Willer and Lukas Kilcher (eds.), 2009. IFOAM, FiBL and ITC, 286 pages.

Making the most of the water we have The soft path approach to water management

The title of this book refers to an approach that not only looks at water efficiency, or reducing the amount of water needed to accomplish one task, but also at water conservation, and the need to “change the task” so that it uses less water. Such a comprehensive and integrated approach needs to look at a watershed, but also at people, as end users. The editors have put together papers written by many of the persons who are developing this approach, all of whom illustrate their ideas with examples from different countries. The last section looks at the advantage of this approach as a planning tool. David B. Brooks, Oliver M. Brandes and Stephen Gurman (eds.), 2009. Earthscan, 296 pages.

Millions fed:

Proven successes in agricultural development The “Millions Fed” project set out to assess the evidence regarding ng the policies, programmes or investments that have actuallyy reduced hunger and poverty in n developing countries. Looking g back at the last fifty years, twenty cases were selected to best represent success, providing important lessons for the future. These were chosen on the basis of criteria such as impact or sustainability, covering vering areas such as staple food production oduction or the role of markets. This book is vital reading for anyone engaged in agricultural development. Downloadable from the IFPRI website. David J. Spielman and Rajul Pandya-Lorch (eds.), 2009. IFPRI, 179 pages.

Climate change in Africa Although it has contributed the least to climate change, Africa is the continent where the impact of global warming will be greatest. There is therefore an urgent need for African countries to actively participate in the international negotiations. By clearly describing the he consequences of climatee change in the continent, t, Camilla Toulmin providess material to strengthen theirr m position. In addition to looking p aat the current and future aavailability of water, or at the iimportant role of forests, she llooks at the opportunities eemerging from the carbon markets. This all makes this m book essential reading for b tthose making sure that the African voices are heard. A Camilla Toulmin, 2009. African Arguments series, Zed C Books, 172 pages. B

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