Kyuso Maarifa Centre

New sorghum variety gives hope to farmers

2012-02-03T18:34:00.001+03:00

Gadam sorghum was introduced to semi-arid regions of eastern Kenya as a way for farmers to improve their food security and earn some income from marginal land. The hardy, high-yielding sorghum variety has not only thrived in harsh conditions, it has won a place in the hearts – and plates – of local farmers.

The Government launched the sale of newly introduced Gadam Sorghum in the larger Mwingi district to East African Breweries Limited (EABL)

The six districts hived from the larger Mwingi district,(Mwingi central, Mwingi West, Tseikuru, Kyuso, Mwingi East and Migwani) which experienced food deficits in the last three seasons, last season the farmers in Kyuso in particular had bumper harvest and hence the Gadam sorghum buyers (Smart Logistics) have increased the buying price from Ksh 17 to Kshs 22 per Kilogram

To experience this Kyuso Maarifa attended a Field Day which was organized in Mr. Muthui Kanyili’s farm from Ndatani Sub-location, Kamusiliu location, Ngomeni division of Kyuso District. The field day was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture –Kyuso. The Field officer encouraged the farmers to grow drought resistance crops such as Gadam. He also encouraged people to share information whenever its available.

Mr. Muthui is a very successful farmer. Due to his effort Smart logistics company promised to deliver the sorghum threshing machine to his farm for sorghum threshing. Enjoy the picture of his effort.

How does construction affect disaster risk reduction?

2011-12-08T13:45:00.001+03:00

Photo by Musembi Nzengu

A lot of research have been carried to examines the ways in which construction practitioners might adapt or affect the built environment.  Most of the report notes that everyone interacts with, and is affected by, the built environment. However, the impacts of the construction either of roads or any public infrasture is considered a disasters by the locals since it can be so profound as to wipe out years of development and investment.

In Mwingi District which is in Mwingi North constituency of Kitui county . The local are counting losses after the construction of Mwingi –Tseikuru road was started. The pot-holed Mwingi-Kyuso-Tseikuru road which was the subject of a strike by both bus and matatu crew early 2011 tarmacing has started by Chinenese company. Apart from being a development by the area Mp honourable Kalonzo Musyoka most of the farmers were forced to uproot their Mango planataion for the road expansion.

Other affected parties are business men/women who had bult along the road. There has also been reported that many resident have lost livestock and pets such as dogs and cats due to being knocked out by the road construction machinery and vehicles.This thereat is very serious expecially when there is increasing global population , urbanization , climate change and terrostist threat in area. economic and process-related barriers to achieving built-in resilience.   It provides the following guiding principles:

Non-chemical Pest Management

2011-10-17T16:02:00.000+03:00

The song is composed by Kimbithi Kya muthanga farmers field school meaning secret in the soil. This is was one of the group that benefited form Online information service on non- chemical pest managemnet in the tropics (OISAT) The project was innitiated by Arid lands information Network (ALIN) 2011 ATLA Award winner and Facilitated by Pelum-Kenya. The song explained how the training carried out by ALIN has bennefited the group and the community in general as well as sharing some few Non- chemical pest control especially using Neem leaves The project aim was to eliminate the use of hazardous pesticides, reduce overall use, risk and dependence of pesticides, and increase support for community-based control over a sustainable produced food supply. Info online: http://www.oisat.org/

Important Disemination Tool

2011-10-17T15:52:00.001+03:00

Many people have tried different ways of disseminating information, One group in Ukamba (Kyuso district) Kenya known as Kimbithi Kya Muthanga meaning Secret in the soil have adopted using a song and poem for dissemination. The song talks about farming, soil conservation,non-chemical pest management

Meat Relief for the Hungry in Kyuso

2011-09-24T15:02:00.001+03:00

By Musembi Nzengu and Hussein Salesa

Hunger-stricken residents of Kyuso in Mwingi north Constituency have for the last few days been treated to 'meat rations' by the Department of Livestock Production head by District Livestock Production Officer, Mr. John Wanjii.

In a programme dubbed Drought Mitigation Livestock off-take on Site Slaughter, the department buys cattle from residents, slaughters them and distributes the meat to famine-hit members of the community.

"The government has decided to cushion farmers who are likely to lose their cattle to the ravaging drought by buying cattle and slaughtering them to distribute the meat to the hungry," said Maina, DC Kyuso.

He however cautioned those whose animals have been purchased through the programme not to squander the money but keep it safely to buy other animals once the situation improves. Maina said the government was keen to ensure that no one succumbed to death due to hunger as adequate relief food was available.

Energy-Saving Stoves Project

2011-08-27T12:10:00.005+03:00

By John Njue

In most schools the provided food rations are prepared on the traditional three-stone open fire stove. Firewood in the urban setting is expensive and it is not unusual for urban schools to spend Kshs. 10,000-35,000 per month to cover firewood expenses. Parents are responsible for the provision of firewood at the school level. As many families survive on less than US$1 a day, the parental contribution required places a burden on the children.

In addition, studies show that excessive use of firewood and charcoal contributes to environmental degradation throughout the country. Between 1990 and 2005, Kenya lost 5%, or around 186,000 hectares, of its forest cover. Read Full Details

Prepare fodder early, for the dry season

2011-04-26T17:39:00.001+03:00

Farmers can avoid dry fodder shortages by conserving it when it is plenty during the wet season.

If we go by recent weather forecasts, the country is likely to experience a more severe drought in the coming dry season beginning next month. Livestock farmers might face problems in getting fodder and pasture for their animals. But this should not be the case if farmers plan ahead to determine their feed requirements and take fodder conservation measures.

Farmers have been blessed with adequate rains since the beginning of the year. The rains have provided most parts of the country with plenty of pasture. It may be too late to prepare hay or silage now, but after harvest, a lot of crop residue from maize, beans and other crops will be available this month and December. A wise farmer can make good use of these residues and improve their nutritional value by properly conserving them. Read more>>

Farmer adaptations

2011-03-08T12:15:00.000+03:00

Farmer adaptations

Many farmers are struggling to adapt to the changing climate. Joseph Meithya Kasawla, a 57 year old farmer from Kyuso, believes that people think only traditional crops such as maize grow in the region. These no longer do well with the increasingly poor rains, but many farmers are unaware that crops such as cowpeas would survive better in the drier conditions. Farmers also lack theseeds which are a critical farming input. However, some farmers are adapting by switching to fruit crops, particularly mangoes (see side bar).

The experiences in Kyuso are relevant to areas facing similar challenges:

· Farmers need information about switching to drought tolerant and fast maturing crops, and access to seeds

· It is important to promote water harvesting and demonstrate different techniques

· The storage of grain during bumper harvests is vital to provide enough food in poor seasons; processing this surplus can also add value and avoid wastage.

· Grain distribution centres, markets and local farmers can all help to improve the supply of seeds of promising cereal crops, so that people take advantage of the good seasons wherever they occur

The way to go.

2011-03-04T10:46:00.000+03:00

Agriculture contribute very big percentage in Kenyan economy.There has been several changes in climate for the last numerous years. The rain patterns have changed, Some tree species ceased and the livelihood of people changed too.
Due to the changes agricultural techniques have changed. Most of people have started organic farming such as using manures, Non-chemical pest management and Afforestation
The programme is aimed at encouraging the farmers to adopt organic farming for better yield

Testimony of Joyce Mutiso-A Focal group members

2011-02-21T18:40:00.001+03:00

"You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him/her to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives’’ this quote from Mr. Clay P. Bedford were the words spoken by Mrs. Joyce Mutiso After participating in a farmers’ field and exposure learning visit on seed handling and saving. ‘ALIN has helped me learn a lot from the visit’

The field and exposure-learning visit was held from 17th February 2011, it attracted participants 24 Non-governmental organization working with communities.

The exposure visit was organized by Participatory Ecological land use Management (PELUM) association and hosted by Kithio Kya Mawithyululuko and Institute for culture and Ecology (ICE)

The objective of exchange visit was to get exposure to different and diverse of seed conserved by Kithio Kya Mawithyululuko women group in Yatta, share knowledge, experience’s, lessons and creates Network as well as develop action plan of what to implements with respective groups

SEED SYSTEM

2010-09-14T14:57:00.006+03:00

SEED SYSTEM
Most of the seed in the recent past used by the small scale who form the majority of the farming population In Kyuso is either own saved seed .Some farmers uses seeds from the ministry of agriculture office where drought resistance seeds are given which includes Katumani Maize, sorghum, sweet potatoes ,cow peas ,green grams .The farmers here value this seeds in terms of the number of crop grown and maturity period .Education on growing crops of different maturity has been done to ensure regular food supply and spread of labour demand evenly during the seasons. The farmers use indigenous knowledge to preserve the own-saved seed such as using the local indigenous tree species such as Neem, pepper and finger euphobia. The labour in Kyuso is provided by the family and also the community where the residents are invited to assist in planting, weeding and so many activities. The local seed varieties is well adapted to specific conditions of the area but due to lack of rainfall for the last four years seasons there has been no seed in store and hence opted to the seed from the ministry .Ensuring the security of the seeds in the household is the responsibility of women although men are supposed to prepare storage facilities (granary) locally known as ‘Kisomba’ for both grain and seeds.

Where we are Heading to

2010-09-13T15:07:00.001+03:00

There has been several cases of abortion in the world. This vice has caused several lifes of people. In Kenya Aphia II eastern started peer education in Schools where they train the students and pupils on the danger of abortion. The play was performed by Peers Nthangani Primary school in Kyuso district of Kenya.
It aims at enlightening the viewers on the dangers of Abortion.

Water situation in Kyuso

2010-09-04T11:15:00.000+03:00

The video progamme aims at encourage people to adopt other water harvesting method such as rock catchment. The water situation in Kyuso which is in eastern province of Kenya is very severe since the only source of water was from earth dam and pans but now there has been introduction of rock catchments

iPOD Gadget Impact in Kyuso

2010-08-20T23:03:00.000+03:00

By John Njue

As the technology improvement takes place, Kyuso community is not left behind. Kyuso community center is situated in Kyuso district, which is one of the smallest and youngest districts created recently in eastern parts of Kenya. Kyuso is located approximately 67 kilometers from Mwingi town.

The Ipod technology hit the communities around the district early July 2009, unleashing both technology and information on livelihoods and climate change. The gadget was highly received with curiosity and enthusiasm by the community members. Nobody had ever seen such a gadget in the area See full details>>

ALIN AN IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDER IN FOOD SECURITY IN KYUSO

2010-07-02T16:27:00.001+03:00

By John Njue

ALIN is one of the stake holders highlighted in solving food security problem in Kyuso district. According to the meeting that took place at Mivukoni division of Kyuso district, ALIN was congratulated for the information disseminated. The meeting was organized by WEM integrated health services (WEMIHS) in collaboration with the ministry of agriculture- Kyuso

Impacts of Climate Change on Livestock in kyuso

2009-12-05T15:24:00.000+03:00

By John Njue Njiru

For several years, Kyuso framers have endured the pain of looking for pasture. Due to prolonged drought, the only place they can get pasture for their livestock is Mumoni hills which is approximately 12 kilometers from Kyuso.

This year the problem has worsened since the grass that used to be found around Mumoni and Matingani hills is no longer there.

The animals here are surviving on root tubers which are so scarce and expensive for the drought stricken community. Read full detail

Climate Change And Land Cultivation In Kyuso District

2009-08-27T14:08:00.000+03:00

Kyuso District is located in the Eastern parts of Kenya, where drought is one of the main problems affecting farming processes. According to the history of community members, the area used to receive enough rainfall and there were no drought problems. Food in the farms was doing well and there were minimal crop pests and diseases. But the rains have been reducing each passing year and currently the rains have become so scarce and unpredictable. This factor affected food production and as a result, subjects members of the community to food dependency. See Full Detail >>

What Kyuso residents say about climate change.

2009-08-27T13:59:00.000+03:00

By John Njue
Water is life, that is one fact that we can never over emphasize and both human beings and animals cannot survive without it. All the same, most arid and semi arid regions in Kenya continue to experience severe water shortages and as a result, there have been many assumptions as to what is causing the water shortages. To the people of Kyuso which is an arid and semi-arid area, they have attributed the changes in water levels and water shortages to climate change. See Full Details >>

Climate Change and Religion in Kyuso

2009-08-27T13:21:00.000+03:00

By John Njue
It is said that there has been gradual change in the rainfall patterns since 1997 after the El-nino rain. The residents say that there has been unpredictability and uncertainty of the climate. Research has found that climate change has got a lot of effects/impacts and people are trying their level best to adapt to these change. Check full Detail >>

Climate change increases food insecurity in Kyuso, Kenya

2009-08-27T11:06:00.003+03:00

Resident of Kyuso Have turned to livestock keeping since the crop production is no longer sustainable

Since 2006, the rains in Kenya’s eastern province have become less reliable. The March and April rains arrive later, and the season is much shorter. In 2008, there were only four days of rain. People living here rely on seasonal rivers to provide water for irrigation, livestock and domestic uses but these have mostly dried up, leading to water and food shortages. See full detail>>