Theme: Use of Sustainable Natural Resource Management Strategies to Enhance Water and Food security for Sustainable Livelihoods of Smallholder Farmers
Component Lead: Prof Mary Mburu

Activity One

Activity Title: Capacity Building in Forage Conservation Techniques: Silage and HayProduction

Activity Rationale

Forages can be conserved to feed livestock in normal and periods of shortage caused by limited pasture growth or inadequate pasture conditions or, fed as a supplement. Conserved forages can take the form of hay and silage. Although several methods have been proven as efficient ways to store and preserve forages, it is found important to keep this fact in mind that at best, conserved forages can rarely match the nutritive value of fresh forage because some losses of highly digestible nutrients (sugar, protein, and fat) are unavoidable during conservation and storage. The goal in forage conservation is to focus on minimizing losses, which start immediately after cutting. When selecting a conservation method, a producer should consider the suitability of the forage for a given method, storage capability, weather conditions, and the intended use of the conserved forage. The selected conservation technique should maximize nutrient conservation efficiency and minimize production costs. On the other hand, preservation as haylage depends more on achieving adequate packing (high density) to maintain anaerobic conditions. Achieving high density at packing is more difficult in drier forage. Nevertheless, high density is critical in haylage to maintain anaerobic conditions because microbes are less active and fermentation is lower in haylage than in higher moisture silage.

Objectives

The main objective of the activity is to empower farmers with skills to conserve forage to sustain their livestock livelihood in normal and drought times;

Sub-Objectives

1. To assess capacity needs in the area of biodiversity in-situ conservation and sustainable use
2. To identify priorities for improving biodiversity in-situ conservation and sustainable use
3. To develop recommendations on capacity building and improving in-situ conservation and,
4. To actualize the recommendations on silage and hay along the transect;

Sub-Activities

1. assess capacity needs in the area of biodiversity in-situ conservation and sustainable use
2. identify priorities for improving biodiversity in-situ conservation and sustainable use
3. develop recommendations on capacity building and improving in-situ conservation and, actualize the recommendations along the transect;
4. actualize the recommendations on silage and hay along the transect;

Dissemination

The dissemination of findings will follow the ASALI propagation strategy that has been intentionally developed to broadcast knowledge accrued from the component activities researches. In efforts to communicate knowledge to target audiences so that it may be used to lead to change, the activity will continuously identify recipients of potential adopters through an assessment of climate of readiness for change and, enabling transfer of activity outcomes. This will take care of the challenge to improve the accessibility of desired knowledge products by those they are intended to reach. Dissemination will overall take the following forms:

1. Scientific Papers
2. Exposure to Field experiments
3. Outreach Activities
4. Stakeholder Participation
5. Workshops and Seminars
6. Radio and Television
7. Print Media
8. News Releases
9. Blogs.
10. Mass Emails
11. Text messages.
12. Social Networking Websites.
13. Government Websites
14. Community Websites
15. Public Announcements.
16. Newsletter
17. Pamphlets
18. Brochures
19. Video Recording and Circulation
20. Field days

Activity Two

Activity Title: Establishment of Extent of Invasive Species and the Dangers Posed to the Livestock Environment

Activity Rationale

Invasion of the rangelands along the SEKU ASALI transect by undesirable plant species is one of the challenges facing the rangeland productivity and to an extension livestock production. The spread is currently at an unprecedented rate, affecting communities in different ways in areas where they grow. Unfortunately nothing much is being done to build an understanding on the extent, trend and effect to the livestock industry. The project finds it prudent to focus on some group discussions and interviews in Kitui and Kajiado counties that have been invaded by the ipomea (Oltinetei in the Maa language) and the CascutaDodder (thina in the Kamba language) in pastoral and agro-pastoral regions of Kajiado Counties and Kitui Counties to get perceptions of farmers, livestock keepers and other stakeholders concerning the invasive plant species will be involved. Key informants are an important source of information and knowledge. The focus of this study was to better understand perceptions from farmers, pastoralists and key informants on the invasive weeds mainly in pasturelands and croplands in Elangatawuas (Kajiado West) and Kwa Mona and Kitui Town (Kitui Central) of the semi-arid Kajiado Counties. This will be accompanied by visits and field excursions to areas heavily infested by the invader species. The information obtained is envisaged to provide information on the way the plant has affected the environment, ecologically and to the economy of the region and, the need for interventions involving all stakeholders to curb the spread of the species. These are anticipated to include efforts by relevant institutions such as the Government, Non-Governmental institutions through mobilization, training and capacity building and demonstrations in order to reverse the trend. The envisaged trainings will include aspects of recovery of invaded and degraded land primarily through pasture improvement and other interventions as this will enhance the utilization of these areas for increased livestock productivity and reverse degradation.

Objective

The overall objective is toestablish the characteristics in the blowout of invader plant species detrimental to plants species in the arid and semi-arid areas

Sub-objectives

1. To assess extent of spread of Ipomea and Cascuta Dodder invader plants among farmers land
2. To identify priorities for eradicating the menaces of the of Ipomeaand Cascuta Dodder invader plants among farmers
3. To develop recommendations on capacity building to manage the spread of IpomeaandCascuta Dodder invader plants among farmers
4. To develop strategies to participatory take action on the best way forward in action on Ipomeaand Cascuta Dodder invader plants

Sub Activities

1. To assess extent of spread of Ipomea and Cascuta Dodder invader plants among farmers land
2. To identify priorities for eradicating the menaces of the of Ipomeaand Cascuta Dodder invader plants among farmers
3. To develop recommendations on capacity building to manage the spread of IpomeaandCascuta Dodder invader plants among farmers
4. To develop strategies to participatorily take action on the best way forward in action on Ipomeaand Cascuta Dodder invader plants

Dissemination

The dissemination of findings will follow the ASALI dissemination strategy that has been intentionally developed to broadcast knowledge accrued from the component activities researches. In efforts to communicate knowledge to target audiences so that it may be used to lead to change, the activity will continuously identify recipients of potential adopters through an assessment of climate of readiness for change and, enabling transfer of activity outcomes. This will take care of the challenge to improve the accessibility of desired knowledge products by those they are intended to reach. Dissemination will overall take the following forms:

1. Scientific Papers
2. Exposure to Field experiments
3. Outreach Activities
4. Stakeholder Participation
5. Workshops and Seminars
6. Radio and Television
7. Print Media
8. News Releases
9. Blogs
10. Mass Emails
11. Text messages
12. Social Networking Websites.
13. Government Websites
14. Community Websites
15. Public Announcements.
16. Newsletter
17. Pamphlets
18. Brochures
19. Video Recording and Circulation
20. Field days

Activity Three

Activity Title: Research on Disappearing Livestock Pastures and Herbs

Rationale

Grazing allows livestock to eat the growing forage; grasses, legumes, and forbs, in a pasture or range. The harvesting by animal instead of by machines has various values derived from the practice. Grazing provides more nutrition and other benefits to livestock and actually produces better and more productive forage growth. Grazing is the easiest way to feed livestock for most of the year and, allows the animals to pick important minerals and herbs in a natural way. It is also the best way to have healthy plants. The exchange of nutrients between the animals and plants is a unique and easy way to sustain the ecosystem. Loss of the plants is thus a loss in the replenishment of the ecology. Track has to be made of the sources of the plant species losses and discover ways of alleviating the problem. Research offers a best starting point to be able to advice.

Objective

The main objective of the activity is to build an inventory of the existing and disappearing forage species and, directly and indirectly empower stakeholders in relevant conservation measures

Sub-Objectives

1. To establish the types of livestock pasture and herbs sources in existence and those disappearing and record the various uses
2. To identify priorities for improving biodiversity preservation and conservation for livestock sustenance;
3. To participatorily discern and develop best practices in controlling pasture disappearance
4. To capacity build on best ways to control pasture species disappearance;

Sub-Activities

1. To establish the types of livestock pasture and herbs in existence and those disappearing and record the various uses
2. To identify priorities for improving biodiversity preservation and conservation for livestock sustenance;
3. To participatorily discern and develop best practices in controlling pasture disappearance;
4. To capacity build on best ways to control pasture species disappearance;

Disseminations

The dissemination of findings will follow the ASALI dissemination strategy that has been intentionally developed to broadcast knowledge accrued from the component activities researches. In efforts to communicate knowledge to target audiences so that it may be used to lead to change, the activity will continuously identify recipients of potential adopters through an assessment of climate of readiness for change and, enabling transfer of activity outcomes. This will take care of the challenge to improve the accessibility of desired knowledge products by those they are intended to reach. Dissemination will overall take the following forms:

1. Scientific Papers
2. Exposure to Field experiments
3. Outreach Activities
4. Stakeholder Participation
5. Workshops and Seminars
6. Radio and Television
7. Print Media
8. News Releases
9. Blogs
10. Mass Emails
11. Text messages
12. Social Networking Websites.
13. Government Websites
14. Community Websites
15. Public Announcements.
16. Newsletter
17. Pamphlets
18. Brochures
19. Video Recording and Circulation
20. Field days