Download Sustainable Farming in Semi-arid Kenya

Excellent Development Approaches
to Climate Change Adaptation
Bongani Ncube (PhD)
International Parliamentary Conference on Climate Change
15 July 2010
Key Problems
• Threats
–
–
deforestation, over-grazing, high run-off, soil
erosion
evidence of reduced rainfall, increased
temperatures, more extreme weather
• Risks
–
drought, floods, migration, food and water
scarcity, conflict
• Lack of conservation measures
Lack of conservation in semi-arid regions means:
• 70% of water lost
• 250t/ha soil loss
no soil
conservation
no trees
• Trees - 95% of energy
use in rural Africa
• 1-2 hours collecting
firewood
no
dams
• 4-8 hours to collect
water in dry season
• 8-12 hours during
droughts
Our work in semi-arid Kenya
We have so far worked with 67 self-help groups across an area of 12,000 km2.
The Excellent Development
Approach
terraces
maintain water
and soil in the
farms
retain more
water and soil in
the terraces
trees
provide
water for
tree nurseries
sand dams
What is a sand dam?
Sand sinks until the dam is completely full of sand. Water is stored within and it
remains saturated with water, which is protected from evaporation and from
parasites. About 2-10 million litres of water made available. 262 sand dams built so
far
Sand dams enable trees to grow
Community tree nurseries established near
the dams
Reforestation, creating environmental and
economic benefits.
Tree survival rate is over 70%.
Over 700,000 trees planted so far
Sand dams transform the environment
1985
3 dams and 6 small barrages built in the valley
2002
Water for Agriculture
Year round water supply enables growth of
vegetables and fruit trees
Sale of vegetables generates extra income
for fees
How does development improve?
• 95% of water saved
• 97% lower soil loss
terraces
trees
•
•
•
•
Self-sufficient in fuel
Fruit & Medicines
Fodder & Compost
Increased Soil &
Water Conservation
sand
dams
• 2-10M litres of water
• 0.5-1 hour to collect
water in dry season
• 1-2 hours during
droughts
Community-Led Priorities
Appropriate Technology Solutions
Improve
Water
terraces
Supplies
Improve
Incomes
trees
sand
dams
&
Improve
Health
Food
Production
& Security
Community Self-Help Approach
sustainable
development model
What makes our model sustainable?
People do
 Community-led through
registered self help groups
 Share knowledge and skills
 Builds social capital
 Empowers most marginalised
and disadvantaged
 Appropriate to local needs
and context
Our Impacts
1.
2.
3.
4.
Contribute to climate change mitigation: carbon sinks,
micro-climates, sustainable forests
Mitigate the impacts of climate change: food security,
water security, sustainable livelihoods, micro-climates
Builds resilience and preparedness to crises: community
cohesion and capacity, seed and food banks, reduces
flood and drought risks, ecological diversity and
livelihoods
Suited to difficult environments: Minimal maintenance,
low cost, community cohesion and skills
Scaling up our work
•
•
•
•
•
•
Growing reputation and opportunities to expand
Retain tight focus on sand dams, trees and terracing
Build internal capacity in training, mentoring and support
2020 vision is to enable 3 million people per year to gain
access to clean water and have ability to grow enough
food and sell
Advocate and support wider adoption of Excellent
Development model by others (NGOs and state), work
has commenced
Other regions in Kenya, Mozambique, Swaziland, Sudan
and Zimbabwe
Our challenges
1. Weak capacity, performance and monitoring & evaluation of
agricultural extension and water services in rural communities
2. Funding bias in water towards urban communities
3. Perceived bias in agriculture policy and extension services in favour of
commercial farming for export; fails to meet needs of poor
subsistence farmers
4. Lack of civil society engagement in planning, monitoring & evaluation
5. Lack of transparency and accountability in budgets
6. Disconnection between rural communities and urban civil servants
and policy makers
7. Decades of neglect and under-funding of rural water programmes
What policy can do
More and better support for rural communities in arid and
semi-arid regions through
1. Better agricultural extension services, M&E by users
2. Better water services, M&E by users
3. Integrated approaches, strengthening rural livelihoods
4. Community led approaches
5. What is the cheapest, most appropriate way of providing
15 l/p/d of water?
6. What is the economic value of trees?
7. How much private / community / NGO resources are
leveraged by state programmes?
Conclusiosn
• Identify limits to wider policy adoption of sand
dams as a development and climate change
adaptation strategy and how we can address
these
• Assist in facilitating research into sand dams
and their socio-environmental impacts
• Advocate among NGOs and policy makers,
presenting verified proof of effects of sand
dams