Kitui County raises voice for resilience to climate change

Kitui county government and its stakeholders have embraced effects of climate change and have action plan to adapt or mitigate to it.

The government of Kitui supported sustainable land management project funded by UNDP to organize a world environment day in Kyuso sub-county and have its governor Dr. Julius Malombe officiate it.

While addressing the gathering Malombe said that the most affected by effect of climate change is livestock due to lack of pasture caused by unreliable rainfall. He urged the residents to harvest water for domestic consumption using roof catchment and also conserve water in their farms by planting trees and digging terraces amongst  other structures.

He also urged stakeholders to promote use of traditional value crops such as sorghum, millet, cassava amongst others and urged the community too to embrace the use of these foods.

“The county government has a plan of constructing 60 subsurface dams in each ward” said Malombe. A subsurface dam is an impervious barrier constructed beneath the surface or a river or stream to retain water upstream by raising the water. The water will be used for irrigating small farms and hence increased income because these dams will be near to everyone.

World environment day (‘WED’) is celebrated every year on June 5 to raise global awareness to take positive environmental action to protect nature and planet earth. It was established by United Nation General Assembly in 1972 on the day that United Conference on the Human Environment began.

WED is celebrated every with different themes. Over the years WED has grown to be a broad, global platform for public outreach on environmental issues that is widely celebrated by stakeholders in over 100 countries. WED is one of the United Nation primary vehicle through which it stimulates environmental awareness, enhances political attention and action worldwide.

Today environmental concerns are major issues all over the world. These issues relates to the natural element that makes up the earth and surrounds living organism, enabling life. The environment is not a single factor but a lot of things which interact and interfere with human activities. Human environment concerns are related to proper hygienic conditions. Importance of clean and healthy environment should be emphasized to each and every individual on the planet. When it comes to maintaining a clean and healthy environment it's everybody’s responsibility.

 Climate change has been recognized as the most serious and threatening global environmental problem. While natural variations in climate over time is normal, human are contributing to climate change through emission of substantial amount of greenhouse gases. Some green gases exist naturally in the atmosphere and are necessary to keep earth at global temperature suitable for ecosystem and life as they have evolved. However greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere from human activities are building up and trapping extra heat in the atmosphere.

This year’s county theme was “RAISING OUR VOICE FOR RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.” Mwingi North sub-county` had an opportunity to show case the initiatives and best practices that the community and other stakeholders are undertaking and to act as an example for sub-counties to embrace

How will you make your voice heard this year for environment?

The call this year is to recognize that we all face the same challenges and are connected and united by our common goal of a sustainable and prosperous life. The call is to raise our voices in solidarity with one another, particularly with citizens of Kenya in general and Kitui County in particular. Whether it is to organize clean ups campaign, Food water reduction initiatives , plastic ban, art exhibit, tree planting drives, concerts, dances recitals, recycling drives and social media campaign because every action counts.

Donkey to help in ensuring food security in Kyuso

By John Njue

Women in Kyuso sub-county have something to smile about after they were introduced to use of donkey for land preparation. 

Even though donkeys have been extensively used by people in many areas in the world their use has been synonymous with backwardness, underdevelopment and low status.

Donkey ownership has been associated to women in this area but is only used for ferrying water and farm produce to the market. The symbolic animals for wealth have been considered to be cattle, goats and sheep whereas donkeys reflect poverty and marginalization.  

Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project under the Ministry of livestock production in Kyuso led by Mr. John Chege Ndung’u has done a difficult work to convince the residents to use donkey for other activities such as land preparation through plowing.

The farmer have been sensitized to use donkey for plowing as well as how to make proper harness for donkey using locally available materials. 

Speaking with Mr. Chege at  a women plowing competition using donkeys at Kyandoo he said use of donkey for other chore except ferrying water in the area is alleged to lower the social status of the user.  

He informed the congregation that each family in Ukambani has a donkey but few have oxen for plowing. Family without oxen and especially woman led family are queued last when it comes to plowing services by those who have the oxen.

Due to the unreliable rain fall experience in the area, farmer can use donkey for plowing instead of waiting for those who have the oxen to come and offer the service at later date. It’s expected that if farmers adopt using of donkey for plowing they will do early planting and hence producing more leading to ensuring food security in the area.

Kyuso Maarifa centre Field officer Mr. John Njue also promised them of marketing linkages after harvesting through Sokopepe platform which he said can also be accessed on mobile phone. E.g. check agricultural commodity prices by sending a SMS Price#commodity name#Town to 20245. E.g. Price#maize#Nairobi.  For more info http://sokopepe.co.ke/

 

SMS 20245:SOKOPEPE Marketing portal Unveiled

A project that has been piloted for 2 years in Laikiapia county by an international NGO, the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) is now unveiled for use in the entire country - Kenya.

The project that aims to empower farmers to increase efficiency and access the best markets for maximum returns has been launched.

Dubbed Sokopepe — Kiswahili for virtual market — the initiative is an agricultural commodity trading platform that will link small-scale producers to final retailers or bulk purchasers.

Some of the services that are being provided include commodity prices, farm inputs, linkage with other service providers, and farming and livestock tips as well as secure mobile payment systems.

Speaking at its launch last week, the ALIN regional director, Mr James Nguo, encouraged farmers to join the platform by registering through a mobile short code.

“Sokopepe is accessible online and on mobile phone. Most transactions on Sokopepe can be completed on a basic mobile telephone handset, making it accessible to farmers in remote regions. We are, therefore, encouraging farmers and agro-pastoralists to register with Sokopepe,” said Mr Nguo.

He said the system enables farmers to earn more by connecting them directly to buyers, thus eliminating middlemen.

Joyce Mawia a champion farmer who represented kyuso community at the launch of Sokopepe projected said that from look of things Sokopepe will help many farmers  to access market information for a wise market decision.

"After sharing with other farmers representatives from other six Maarifa centres in Kenya, i realized that every region has commodities that does well in that area" said Mawia, "In Kyuso, sokopepe will enable us to market green grams and Gadam sorghum that does well in the area. Fodders such as acacia pods is also available."

 

She added that if farmers from the largest irrigation scheme in Tseikuru sub-county of Kitui district under Kalonzo Musyoka Faundation, Red Cross and other stakeholders can also benefit from sokopepe if at all they register.

 

More information : http://www.sokopepe.co.ke/

 

 

Traditional high value crops for better returns

Residents of kyuso have been advised to go back to growing of traditional high value crops for economic sustainability.

According to various research in agriculture conducted  in Ukambani, particularly in the larger Mwingi region, Traditional High Value Crops have been identified as the economic crops in the region. Research by KARI/FAO published under Corporate Document Repository (FOSA/WP/14) and through the assessment of the agricultural economic activities of Ukambani’s ASAL, the findings extended credence to the viability of Traditional High Value Crops.

 Traditional food crops such sorghum, millet, sweet potatoes, cassava, pigeon peas, cowpeas, green grams and dolichos have been pivotal in ensuring self-sufficiency in food despite being outside the bracket of other more recognized crops in the agricultural system.

These crops have been neglected for a long time with little support for their research and development. Other factor which have caused decline in production of these crops include ;low interest by Seed Companies to multiply the seeds due to low demand, low investment on research and extension to develop and promote superior varieties, emergence of pests and diseases, limited knowledge on utilization and agro-processing to add value and improve marketability.

The attitude towards these crops is changing rapidly with the realization that they have  enormous potential of ensuring food security to millions of Kenyans those living in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) that are characterized by recurrent droughts, poor soils and general lack of resources for meaningful agricultural production. These crops have also been recognized as important in adapting to climatic change.

Hence the Ministry of Agriculture together with other sector ministries held a field day on Traditional High Value Crops production, post harvest handling and marketing to educate, and promote the crops.

The theme of the field day was “Promotion of Traditional High Value Crops for Economic Sustainability in Kyuso District”.

The emphasis of growing such crops as cassava, sorghum,millet amongst were reinstated during Maseki field day where the guest of honour was the deputy county commissioner Mr. Peter Maina but represented by his assistant Mr. Shaaban.

Government worker Job Promotion through ICT Training

I Philip Munywoki Kitheka   of Ngomeni Division, Kyuso District. am  an adult  of  sound mind do  hereby  give a self  testimony concerning  the benefits that  I as an  individual  have acquired from Kyuso Maarifa Centre.

I do work with government of   Kenya   -ministry of state for provincial administration and internal security. I was employed by the government in January, 2008 as a clerical and deployed at the district commissioners HQs- Kyuso.          

On   25^th August, 2011 I sat for clerical proficiency test and passed. It is clearly stated in the circular that once a clerk has passed the proficiency, will be promoted to the next job group (From   clerical officer 2 to clerical officer1)

After passing the proficiency examination I had a very little knowledge about computers. I had no certificate as per the requirement for promotion. My certificate was only introduction to Ms-word’ 97. I was supposed to have sent my request for promotion with computer certificate covering.

·         Introduction to computer

·         Ms word                                                                                                                 

·         Ms excel 

-    Ms power point   

-    Internet                                                                                                                     

 These packages are mandatory for one to be considered for promotion.    

I had no other option apart from registering for evening classes with ALIN Kyuso under the free ICT training programme. After undergoing are two month training and issued with a certificates covering the required packages, I  forwarded the certificate to the authorized officer and as a result  I was promoted immediately to Clerical officer 1.Kudos ALIN for your concern to the community of Kyuso and other areas.

·         Free internet connection and browsing keeping me connected to my colleagues.

·         I am also taking my diploma in human resources management - University of Nairobi, Kyuso Maarifa centre has greatly assisted me in internet Research with unlimited research time.

I am also writing my research proposal for my team paper project; Kyuso Maarifa centre library has some of the best books assisting me in my research proposal writing.                                       

My thanks and prayer goes to:

1.      The ALIN administration.

2.      Mr. John ALIN –Field officer -Kyuso.

Mr. Julius Mwonga a tutor at Kyuso Maarifa Centre for their support and concern, they have the heart for people.

May God   bless ALIN!!