ALIN Awarded 2011 Access to Learning Award by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

James Nguo, ALIN Regional Director, rejoices after the announcement in San Juan, Puerto Rico by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Photo: © BMGF


Watch video here: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/atla/Pages/2011-atla-award-alin-slideshow.aspx

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Drip Irrigation: Grow more vegetables with less water

Drip irrigation is a method of watering plants with single drops of water at a time. The set up consists of tapes with very small outlets that let out water one drop at a time wetting the soil around the plants roots. The technology was developed in the USA and Israel for growing crops in dry climates where water is limited.
The technology is efficient in use of water - no water is wasted as runoff or lost by moving down through the soil too quickly for the roots to absorb it. The technology has been further simplified and requires low water pressure to operate. The tapes are very flexible and can be modified to suit different lengths of rows or plot sizes.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

'WE HAVE FAITH WITH ALIN'

It is quite clear that the community  ALIN serve appreciates the services offered at different Maarifa centres.All categories of users appreciates the efforts ALIN through its Maarifa centres to disseminate practical and useful information in their community.

During the recent open day in Kyuso the above was clear. Every body who had a chance to speak to the particpants had a reason to thank Kyuso Maarifa centre for. The District Commissioners Kyuso Mr. Peter maina said during his speech that he has related very well with ALIN and more so Kyuso Maarifa centre. He added that every government department represented in Kyuso has benefitted through one way or another.  he said numerous people are able to access information that they couldn't.

More over he said most of his officers have been trained on ICT skills in the centre. He said that the free training have helped many people including farmer, NGO/CBO , Students and government officers. He said among the officers trained is the District Crimainal Investigation Officer (DCIO)- Kyuso. What the DC found interesting is that even the old are getting trained on this skills. He was happy to award certificate graduates of over 60yrs.

He said i quote "with what ALIN has done for us, i will be willing to help them according to my ability  " said DC " who ever will try to separate me with ALIN and Kyuso Maarifa centre will face the consequences "

He also complimented the work done  by Kyuso Maarifa centre field officer Mr. John Njue. He asked whether everybody who uses Maarifa centre services knows John. He was amazed to find even the Farmers who had attended the open day knew the field officer.

He advices the community to utilize the centre and advised the youth to use social sites positively.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Kyuso Open Day

Introduction
An  open day is an exhibition organized so that companies, organizations, Government departments and community self help group can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent trends and opportunities. It is open to the public, while others can only be attended by company representatives (members of the trade) and members of the press.
Kyuso is an ASAL area found in lower Eastern Province, it covers a total of Three division which are Kamuwongo, Ngomeni and Kyuso.  Although the area is quite dry most times in the year the economic potential is quite high and cuts across all the sectors. This includes ventures in agricultural activities and business trading in a quite number of goods and services.
                                                                                                                                 
The climate of the district is generally hot and dry for the greater part of the year. The maximum mean annual 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 a long stretches of dry, hot seasons between the months of August and September and again in the months of January and February.

The Kyuso Maarifa  centre together with stakeholders has been offering servivecs enhancing information delivery and utilization so as to ensure that the community is food secure, increase in literacy level and also increasing the income level.
This year the maarifa centre through outreach programme has been conducting 3 outreaches and 1 open day in a month.

July open day was very wonderful since it involved almost all the stakeholders in the district. The following stakeholders participated:

1.       ALIN HQ
2.       Drought Management Officer
3.       Kenya Adaptation to Climate Change in Arid Land
4.       Catholic Diocese Of Kenya 
5.       ACTION AID
6.       POLYTECHNIC
7.       MUKY ORDAP - CBO
8.       WEMHIS
9.       ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Every stakeholder played a different role e.g.
1.       ALIN played overall responsibilities
2.       DAO will be exhibiting dry land farming techniques
3.       KACCAL have a project on site on climate change adaptation
4.       DMO will be distributing leveling boards, badge and T - Shirt to the graduated farmers in terracing
5.       CDK is the sponsor of the polytechnic
6.       Muky to exhibit value addition of the local food
7.       Action Aid for community mobilization

 [JJ1] NUMBER OF DIVISION