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Vol. 8, No. 4 |
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NECOFA NEWSLETTER
Capacity Building International, Germany ( Established through the merger of CDG II and DSE ) InWEnt gGmbH Rural and Agricultural Development, Development Management Division Wielinger Str. 52 D-82340 Feldafing Germany Tel: ++49 8157 / 938 - 0 Fax: ++49 8157 / 938 - 777 email: feldafing@inwent.org
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International Centre North South Dialogue
P.O.Box 1361 D-37203 Witzenhausen Germany Tel: ++49 5542 / 502 - 9173 Fax: ++49 5542 / 502 - 9175 email: info@icnsd.org
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28th December 2006
Network for Ecofarming in Africa (NECOFA) IN Kenya is a community based non-governmental organization promoting Ecofarming: Ecologically and Socially Sustainable Land Management. During the year under review Necofa Kenya was active in the districts of Makueni (Eastern Province), Kilifi(Coast), Molo and Nakuru (Rift Valley).The year was quite hard for Kenyans with the first half marked with drought and food shortages that claimed human and animal life; and the latter half having floods that claimed lives and rendered many homeless. In the Rift Valley which is the country’s ‘grain basket’, the rains have made harvesting of major grains –maize and wheat very difficult resulting to high harvest and post harvest losses, This poses a serious danger and challenge to food security in the country.
Politics continued to dominate national agenda in public and government domain especially because Kenyans go to the polls the following year to elect national and civic leadership. Much development was achieved in widening the democratic space and participatory governance. The fight against graft gained momentum; freedom of expression, rights and the rule of law also gained more ground and ‘roots’ in our society.
Activities for Necofa grew especially those targeting rural communities and the capacity of the organization (scope, personnel and resources) grew and this enhanced its relevance and impact in the country and at community level. The organization participated with others in campaigns, advocacy and lobbying against GMO’s, gender bias, unfair trade, irresponsible management and utilization of natural resources and for food and human rights.
Necofa Kenya registered and continued membership in other networks and participated in these organizations added great value to Necofa initiatives in the country and beyond. It joined other organizations and Kenya Terra Madre food communities in establishing a common website www.sustainablekenya.info that is aimed at giving these communities/organizations visibility in the country and internationally.
In the region Necofa Kenya enjoyed collaboration and partnership with Necofa chapters of Uganda and Tanzania and collaboration with Slow Food International grew even further. Necofa was able to host one student from the University of Gastronomic sciences for his masters’ stage project in Kenya.
We take this opportunity to register our sincere gratitude to the following organizations and individuals for their continued support to the Necofa Kenya initiative. Our efforts to empower communities to enable them address poverty, food and nutrition insecurity would not have been effective without this vital support.
In a special way, we salute the millions of small-scale farmers in Kenya and the world over who toil endlessly to feed the ever growing population and at the same time nurturing the environment and enhancing biodiversity and whose efforts and contributions are rarely recognized or appreciated. They are the ‘backbone’ of our economy and livelihood.
Last but not least, we recognize the contributions and sacrifices of our staff in delivering services to our communities without minding the long hours and humble compensations for their work.
To all the above and the many others not mentioned, we wish you success and God’s blessings in everything you do and request for even more support and contributions in the coming year(s). Together we will certainly succeed in transforming and improving the lives of the community devoid of food and nutrition insecurity. We will together succeed in making sure that our people acquire knowledge and skill for responsible management and utilization of natural resources for present and future generations.
Necofa Kenya continued with its eleven member (6 women and 5 men) Board of directors and executive team of 5 members (3 men and 2 women). The national secretariate, community information centre, demonstration plot are at the Neema Plaza Building in Molo.
The number of community groups with which Necofa works grew as below:
| Type of group | 2005 | 2006 |
| Women groups | 20 | 28 |
| Self Help Groups | 27 | 41 |
| Youth groups | 5 | 11 |
Together with EM-Kenya and other partners the organization conducted 16 demonstrations on organic soil fertility management using Effective Microorganisms (EM) and Mijingu Rock Phosphate. All the demonstrations were conducted at community level and one at community information centre in Molo.
With support from the Germany Embassy in Nairobi the organization worked with 3 community groups in raising seedlings of temperate fruits that included:
| Apples | 16,000 |
| Pears | 6,000 |
| Tree Tomato | 3,000 |
The project was implemented in Molo sub-district in Central Rift Valley and whose climate is cool and wet and ideal for temperate fruits farming. It is on the Mau highlands above 2500 meters above sea level.
After an exchange visit to Vihiga district organized by Necofa and the Ministry of Agriculture a group was formed in Molo, bringing together low income members of the community and even some that don’t own land, which established an Oyster mushroom growing unit. Necofa sensitized and organized the group members and has continued to support the group by sourcing for the expertise and materials and in linking them to the market. Because of the success achieved, they are expanding the project and other groups are replicating the project in Lare and Olenguruone.
Seed security is the foundation on which to build “food security and sovereignty”. Necofa continued to work with community groups in semi-arid Kibwezi on identifying, selecting, multiplying and ‘banking’ indigenous seed and other planting materials suitable and adaptable to semi arid climate that includes high temperatures and low and erratic rainfall. In the Central Rift Valley the project entails selecting and multiplication of potatoes. Potatoes and Garden peas are major crops in the Central Rift Valley from where over 2/3 of the country’s supply comes.
In the latter half of the year Necofa initiated a school garden project aimed at “Re-introducing Agriculture youth clubs in Kenyan schools”. The project has established very well in Michinda and Mukinyai primary schools and will include another 4 or more schools in 2007. It is founded on the 4-K club movement model initiated by the ministry of Agriculture but is currently not active. The goal of the project is to “inculcate responsibility and positive attitudes in the youth towards sustainable management of the environment; food and nutrition security” and the objectives include:-
To help the youth appreciate agriculture as a dignified occupation that contributes to Kenya’s economic growth thus removing the notion that farming is an inferior activity. Pupil’s interest in agriculture is often killed through use of school gardens as place of punishment. The garden should be looked upon as a place for learning, a laboratory to carry out experiments and resource for ideas.
To make deliberate effort to change the adult farmer attitude and practices. It has been observed that many times farmers learn from their children’s 4-K activities. The school gardens will become learning/demonstration centres for the community.
To boost/support the formal agricultural curriculum in schools by providing the technical advice and where possible demonstration materials. It will be bulking/multiplying centre for planting materials for the neighbouring communities thereby strengthening collaboration/partnership between the schools and the community.
To help the youth appreciate agriculture as a useful and honourable way of life by training them on simple farm planning and record keeping which will contribute towards higher standards of living. The project will provide hand-on practical experiences for the youth in food production and conservation of biodiversity.
To help the youth relate the crops grown on the farm to the ultimate family diet by incorporating nutrition education in the farm activities. The project will initiate and influence evolvement of positive food culture in the growing youth towards ‘good’, ‘fair’ and ‘clean’ food.
To develop leadership qualities among the youth through competitions and training that will help these future citizens assume their rightful place in agriculture business and national development. The project will provide the youth with a platform for information access and sharing locally and internationally.
To instill group/teamwork among the upcoming youth.
After an exchange visit organized by Necofa and Slow Food Central Rift Convivium to Kesses near Moi University, the 20 acres Residents SHG decided to venture into fish farming. Necofa sourced for them expertise and fingerlings for the project and now have a fish pond whose first crop is just about ready for harvesting.
Necofa continues to sensitize other community groups in the area to take up the venture especially in areas that are water logged and whose land use is limited. The project involves low cost and easy to learn skills and the result is availing quality fish at affordable prices at household and community levels.
Although Kenya has several water masses from which fishing is done, the catch is mainly destined for export market with the local community providing labour. Few households can afford fish in the meals. The fish farming project provides food and nutrition intervention and at the same time creates employment.
“Knowledge is power!!!!” Necofa continued to build the capacity of local communities to address the challenges of poverty and food insecurity through acquisition of knowledge and skills. The approaches employed were many but key among them were:
(a) structured training
| Course | Venue | Participants | ||
| male | female | total | ||
| Farming as a Business (FaaB) | Molo | 8 | 9 | 17 |
| Traditional food in food & nutrition security | Molo | 19 | 16 | 35 |
| Traditional food in food & nutrition security | Kibwezi | 15 | 32 | 47 |
| Adding value to Stinging Nettle | Molo | 8 | 13 | 21 |
| Gender concerns in sustainable development | Makueni | 13 | 15 | 28 |
| Gender concerns in sustainable development | Mau Narok | 24 | 27 | 51 |
| Adding value to food products in semi-arid areas | Kibwezi | 6 | 34 | 40 |
| Seed security and food sovereignty | Mariakani | 21 | 37 | 58 |
| Seed security and food sovereignty | Njoro | 41 | 32 | 73 |
| Seed security and food sovereignty | Wote | 21 | 25 | 46 |
| Food and human rights | Molo | 63 | 44 | 107 |
| Food and human rights | Kibwezi | 26 | 22 | 48 |
| Food and human rights | Elburgon | 50 | 35 | 85 |
| Food and human rights | Kilifi | 31 | 27 | 58 |
| Food and human rights | Makueni | 19 | 22 | 41 |
| Sustainable management of natural resources | Molo | 94 | 78 | 172 |
| Sustainable management of natural resources | Kamara | 76 | 45 | 121 |
(b) Exchange visits
| Visit to | Visiting group from | Composition of group | Objective(s) for visit | ||
| male | female | total | |||
| Mr. Lawrence Njuguna’s Mafad dairy farm | Molo | 125 | 85 | 210 | To learn low cost, low external inputs animal husbandry |
| Londiani | 16 | 12 | 28 | To learn efficient animal breeding through A.I. | |
| Elburgon | 24 | 18 | 42 | ||
| Njoro | 5 | 9 | 14 | ||
| Burnt Forest | 15 | 13 | 28 | ||
| Olenguruone | 8 | 6 | 14 | ||
| Meru dry lanf farming | Kibwezi | 15 | 13 | 28 | To learn and share information and skills on seed bulking & banking |
| Makueni | 15 | 10 | 25 | To learn about dairy goats farming | |
| To learn and share about community groups’ management | |||||
| Vihiga mushroom project | Molo | 16 | 12 | 28 | To gain knowledge and skills on in-door mushroom production |
| Olenguruoene | 13 | 11 | 24 | ||
| Kesses fish farming community | Molo | 27 | 15 | 42 | To gain skills on fish farming |
| Kuresoi | 15 | 13 | 28 | ||
| Tenda Amani women group in Kibwezi | Kilifi | -- | 28 | 28 | To gain skills on adding value to dry land products especially Sorghum & Baobab |
| Mwarubaini SHG Kilifi | Kibwezi | 8 | 6 | 14 | To learn skills on adding value to Neem |
(c) Community information centre in Molo
The information center, which still being equipped, is at the Necofa Kenya secretariate in Molo. It includes demonstration on organic production of food in the courtyard, a training room (being developed to include library services) and an internet café (to have internet connection early in the year). The center received and trained a total of 287 farmers in the year under review that included men, women and youth.
Mr. Ugo Vallauri and Mr., Gary Mardell volunteered to assist in fund raising for the centre to acquire reliable Internet connectivity. go had visited Necofa while with Slow Food and later when working in Nairobi and had realized and appreciated the problems that Necofa and the community in Molo encounters when accessing or sharing information in the internet. Gary on the other hand experienced the problem first hand when he came for his Master’s stage project in Kenya and had to stay in Molo for a few weeks. The fundraising was successful and the centre will get connected any time early in the year. A lot more still needs to be done but this is quite some positive development in this rural setup.
Mr. Simon Gathu of Gillan nursery has donated about ½ acre for use by Necofa and Slow Food Central Convivium to be used for demonstration of skills on “production of healthy food for healthy living”. Gain a great stride in the right direction attained.
(d) Participation in Terra Madre 2006
A few community groups that Necofa works with had the opportunity to participate in Terra Madre 2006-World meeting of food communities in Italy in the month of October. Necofa is reaching out to others within easy proximity to work with them as well.
Necofa continued to organize the small-scale producers and linking them with food outlets. The initiative is aimed at having efficient, clean and low cost production systems and at the same time have sufficient, regular volume of supply into the market. In this way the community is able to bargain better for prices and market directly without going through middlemen (and women). They are also able to add value to the products through simple processing. Towards this end, Necofa Kenya was able to handle on behalf of the groups the following quantities of Stinging Nettle, Prunus Africana and pyrethrum
| Product | Volume in Kgs | Gross income |
| Stinging Nettle | 16,200 | Ksh. 1,620,000 =Euro 18000 |
| Prunus africana | 80 | Ksh. 80,000 = Euro 889 |
| Pyrethrum | 18,000 | Ksh. 2,160,000 = Euro 24000 |
In the following year Necofa intends to include a few more products and communities in the initiative.
All activities were ‘tailored’ to include aspects of campaign against HIV/AIDS, gender bias, abuse of rights and freedoms and environmental pollution. The campaign against commercialization of GMO’s in food was taken a notch higher and the community educated on the eminent danger and potential threat of ‘slavery’ and ‘colonization’ through GMO by multinational corporations.
At the national level the organization was involved with other collaborators in several activities during the year.
| Date | Venue | Collaborator |
| 7/3/06 | Leshau- Nyandarua | COSDEP |
| 25/5/06 | Elburgon - Molo | Slow Food Central Rift Convivium |
| TOPIC | VENUE | COLLABORATOR |
| Gender in ecofarming | Nakuru | Min. of Culture & Gender |
| Seed in food security | Muhuroni | KEGCO |
| Use of EM in soil fertility | Meru | EM-Kenya |
| Governance | Karatina | PELUM |
Necofa Kenya is a registered member of
In 2006, Necofa collaborated with several organizations and institutions as below:-
| Collaborator | Level of collaboration | Main collaborative activity |
| Min. of Agriculture | ++++ | Community mobilization and training |
| Baraka Agric. Collage | +++ | training |
| PELUM | ++++ | Capacity building |
| COSDEP | ++++ | Partnership & exchange visits |
| SMART Initiatives | ++++ | Partnership & exchange visits |
| MACOFA | +++ | Capacity building in farm forestry |
| CERSI | +++ | Civic education |
| KEGCO | ++++ | Campaign against GMO |
| Min. of Culture & Gender | ++ | Community mobilization and training |
The little commissions generated from sale of products for community groups is proving to be sustainable means of financing activities for the organization especially recurrent expenditure. However, there is need to venture into other income generating activities and build more partnerships with donors as the organization endeavors to meet the ever growing demand for its services.
It is also important to include value addition to products for better storage and handling; reduced transport costs and eventually better returns for the community and improved commissions for Necofa.
For quite some time, Necofa and other civil society organizations involved in food production and the environment concentrated their efforts on the current generation of farmers. The school garden programme needs to grow and be expanded and hence the need to identify partner(s) for the same. It should also include out of school youth and those in secondary schools.
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Dear all Partners
You are cordially invited to NECOFA partner’s 2007 programmes planning meeting to be held as follows:
Date : 17-January-2007
Venue : Lemathari Offices - Polokwane
Starting time : 10H00
Purpose of the meeting
To agree on the 2007 operational framework, define roles, responsibilities and commitments for partnership with LDA on the Limpopo Market Lead Organic Farming.
Your present will be highly appreciated
Yours in Sustainable development
Peter Komane
Biowatch South Africa
Limpopo Outreach Co-ordinator
137, Fourie Street
Mokopane
0600
Tel (015) 491 3560
Fax 015) 491 3560
E-mail bwsapk@mweb.co.za
Website www.biowatch.org.za
Issue Situation Recommendation
1. Networking and co-ordination: The Mou is between LDA and NECOFA, which is a loose network with no formal status. Biowatch Supported the programmes/Partnership since 2004. It is currently difficult to sign the 2006/7 mou as there is no clear partnership strategy.
- It is also difficult for Biowatch to support the programme with lack of support form partners. - Each Partner organisation need to define their roles, responsibilities and commitment to the proposed 2006/7-mou and action plan, which I send to all partners. We need to agree on the framework of 2007 as the current framework is not viable for Biowatch to continue supporting
2. Organic farming and development - Six organic pilot projects selected, OD process initiated, production plan linked to LED, LDA organic programme managers (Provincial, District and Pilot sites) selected. About 20 LDA officers trained by OFG on Organic farming.
- OFG is not willing to work with OSA on training Monitoring.
- There is no clear organic mentorship/ support programmes for the pilots projects - Common understanding of partners roles, responsibilities and commitment is required for the successful 2006 review and 2007 planning (23 to 26 Jan 2007)
- We approached Rainman Landcare, Lindros and others with a request for a proposal to offer us an alternative for the organic training, mentoring, inputs supply required to support organic farming and development in Limpopo
2. Leadership and Organisational development LDA approved R30 000 for Lemathari to orientate officers on OD manuals for the six pilots. - Lemathari members have not submitted their manual and strategy to support the six projects to form local, districts and provincial organic associations/ forum Mabulane need to organise meeting with the members of Lemathari come up OD strategy and manuals within January as the Officers orientation programmes is in February
3. Provincial Steering Committee I was nominated together with Mabualane and Andrew to represent the NECOFA/ Networks in the committee. It become clear that the two organizations only presented their organizational interests and offers less support for the networking/ partnership. - We need to develop terms of reference for the partners nominated.
- We need to develop strategy to mobilize resources/ money for travels of the members of the steering committee
FROM 26 – 30 OCTOBER, 2006 IN TURIN ITALY.
Idd S. Mdanku (Secretary)
At Terra Madre meeting about 6,400 delegates from all over the world representing food communities, cooks and academia attended .Tanzania was represented by (25) participants drawn from (10) food communities. Among them, (2) were headed by members of Necofa – Tanzania namely Fruits and Vegetables producers of Morogoro under Idd Mdanku and The Masai Farmers of the Arusha Region under Zuhura Chitanda. (4) partipants were able to participate from these two food communities.
Opening plenary Assembly.
Opening key notes were made by local Authorities of Piedmont Region, the city of Turin and the government of Italy, the International Commission on the future of Food and Agriculture and representatives on selected activists from Africa, Oceania, Asia, America and Europe.
The President of Slow Food Mr. Carlo Petrin made key strong notes on the stand of Slow Food. Lastly Official opening was then followed by the speech of the Excellency, President of Italy.
The General Comment revealed the need for the International Food Communities to Co-operate and emphasize on the production and Consumption of Good, Clean and fair food.
Workshop Sessions.
Different workshops were Conducted focusing on the philosophy of Slow Food.
Participants were required to participate in at least (3) workshops including the one falling under own food Communities.
Fruits and vegetables Food Community from Morogoro Managed to attend a total of (11) workshops including the Regional meeting.
The workshops attended were mainly on market access, Agro-Ecology, Products and Producers, Resources and the Regional meeting. The Coordinator for the Fruits and Vegetable Food Community presented the paper under the category of Products and Producers which highlighted on the mode of production, marketing, main constraints/challenges and the strategies for Improvement of production.
Oval and Salone International del Gusto exhibitions.
Participants were given chance to display their cultural items of their origin and slow food products.
Likewise the International Salone del Gusto Fair which was run a few metres opposite Terra Madre Complex was very fascinating with displays of food revolving around the key Concepts of Good, Clean and Fair, a Synthesis of the pleasures of the table, nature conservation and Fair trade.
A total of 300 Slow Food presidia participated in the fair with a variety of Slow Food products. The Terra Madre delegates were also given chance to freely visit the fair where an extra exposure of physical products were seen, tasted and even make quality culinary purchases. It was the place where the ark of the Taste, the presidia and slow food’s commitment to protect the Food biodiversity is visible in real terms.
What was learnt and the Future Plans.
Closing Plenary Assembly.
President Lula of Brazil closed the Assembly on 30th October, 2006.
Comment.
Terra Madre meeting was a successful event and its worth for Necofa to emunulate and incorporate some of the Key Organizational approaches in the future Necofa Meeting.
Dr. Abdalla elhagwa
NECOFA Sudan is an practical action initiated by active concerned scientists of Agricultural Research Corporation and NECOFA International. It was found in 2003 as NGO association. NECOFA Sudan is a community refers to international NECOFA and is found in Wad Medani, Gezira, Sudan.
The membership nature is mainly agriproducers of different food crops, namely sorghum, wheat and vegetable crops. NECOFA Sudan is a national plan action to campaign for natural agriproduction aiming at sustainable, environmentally oriented, secured and healthy food production.
With support of NECOFA International NECOFA Sudan had stepped up by holding two national workshops. In those workshops more than 200 members and interested stakeholders were actively participated.
The main objective of NECOFA Sudan that we are trying to be on ground, is to realize a natural food production by gathering the whole agriproducers and co-agriproducers at the same table to end out with a common understanding and work plan leading to our final target which is to produce and eat healthy food from uncontaminated environment.
Activities of NECOFA Sudan 2006:
Future planning:
Training program for farmers to raise their awareness and knowledge about ecological farming.
Scaling up of ecological farming to be part of the national agricultural policy.
Professional training and exchange experiences with German institutes that known to be deeply adopted ecological farming in their research programs.
Une Maison assure une fonction Nourricière, quand elle peut offrir spontanément à ses résidents, quel que soit leur statut, des compléments alimentaires essentiels variables, sains et nutritifs toute l’année, à partir seulement des fruitiers, légumes qui y sont plantés et bien entretenus.
Au Bénin, il existe une certaine tradition de reconnaissance chez le voisin des « bons plants nourriciers » dont les graines, rejets et plantules sont échangées gratuitement entre familles et mis en terre pour leurs fruits, leurs feuilles, leurs racines, leur écorce, leur parfum et même pour leur vertu religieuse ou spirituelle.
Ainsi, la plupart des arbres et plants dans chaque maison au Bénin ont connu un processus d’échanges volontaires et gratuits, malgré l’émergence aujourd’hui des pépiniéristes de plantules et des vendeurs de semences. On échange entre chefs de maison des plantules, des rejets, des graines de plantes médicinales, de légumes, de fruitiers et même des plantes pour lutter contre les Sorciers, le mauvais sort, des plantes pour attirer aussi le bonheur.
C’est,
(i) au cours d’une visite dans une famille amie ou chez des parents,
(ii) en passant à côté d’une maison dans un village ou un quartier de ville,
qu’un enfant, une femme ou un homme perçoit les jolis fruits ou légumes qui y sont produits. Alors le désir d’en posséder autant chez soi naît. L’envie de faire comme dans cette maison amène le chef du ménage, les enfants ou la femme à demander une plantule, une graine pour aussi les planter à la maison. Et la fonction nourricière naît à nouveau, se perpétue de génération en génération.
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