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Vol.2,No.1 |
Since the establishment of NECOFA for two years now, one of our main objectives was indeed to create a solid and sustainable self -reliance of our Organisation . I think and I am proud of it , that our Regional Organisation NECOFA Kenya has taken indeed a step in implementing the designed NECOFA objectives.
In my name the co-ordinating office and the whole NECOFA regional groups congratulate NECOFA Kenya for their success in creating and establishing a NECOFA office on a full -time basis. Again congratulation to you Mr. Odour , congratulation to you Mr Chairman George Omondi, the office co-ordinator Mrs. Margaret Omondi and the all members and supporters of NECOFA in particular.
The congratulation goes also to the Regional Organisation NECOFA Ethiopia for their successful implementation of the Workshop held in December. 1999 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
We welcome all new registered members and supporters which have taken a decision for NECOFA during the above mentioned Workshop and wish good start and active participation in the overall activities of the Organisation in order to meet the designed common objectives.
Sahle Tesfai
The Group of Cameroon reports about the formation of NECOFA-CAMEROON. A successful meeting was held already on June 30th '99, at the Provincial Phytosanitary Base Bamenda where the board of directors was elected and the constitution and by-laws were adapted. The national network coordinator Mr. Moki Princewill Ogen invited for the meeting which brought together 10 Cameroonians who participated in the workshop on Ecofarming in Ethiopia '98, including other development agents who share similar ideas.
The main purpose of the meeting was to review issues discussed during last year's workshop and to find ways and means to implement the plans developed for Cameroon at the workshop by the Cameroonian participants.
The first activity was to establish a national network for eco-farming in Cameroon for the exchange of experiences and research results among members.
The meeting agreed that the main objective of the Network is to increase the participation of small-scale resource-poor farmers in ecologically sound, socially acceptable, and sustainable land management practices, thereby improving the living standard of the local population.
The first priority of the CAMEROON-NETWORKGROUP was put on the establishment of an operational office in order to ease contact and communication.
For more information on the Cameroonian Networkgroup see: NECOFA Cameroon Network
Ministry of Agriculture,
Department of Studies and Project,
B.P.8 268 Yraoundé, Cameroon
As a staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, I participated in the DES/DISTL International Training course-workshop on ECOFARMING organised in Ethiopia from November 16 to 11 December 1998.
When I came back, while waiting for the set up of NECOFA-Cameroon, I undertook the following actions: creating awareness on ECOFARMING at the level of the authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture and secondly application of the knowledge acquired during the workshop to my day-to-day tasks:
The country has many fragile ecological zones:
In addition to the problems of overpopulate regions and fragile ecological zones, three other factors militate in the need of ECOFARMING approach in Cameroon:
Although these problems exist, the national agricultural policy does not consider ecofarming as a priority. The National Agricultural policy has five objectives:
The only reference to ECOFARMING appears only on one objective: food security where it is stated that in the above region with fragile ecosystems, it will be define with the actors concerned, a framework for regional land management in order to achieve a rational and sustainable use of rural land.
Furthermore very few governmental projects include ECOFARMING in their objectives. Of about 14 projects listed in the Ministry of Agriculture, only one ( Rural Development and Land Management ) include ECOFARMING among its main objectives.
In spite of that vacuum in government projects, many NGOs intervene in the domain with good knowledge of the technologies and the approach. But they always have limited resources and cannot cover large regions.
Much has to be done in the MOA in order to conceive and/or realise more projects integrating ECOFARMING.
Recently I participated in the formulation of a new project: Special Food Security Program initiated by the FAO. On behalf of the Ministry, I emphasised on the need for the project to use the participatory approach and as far as possible ECOFARMING technologies. The project is supposed to start in July and we hope that it will bear good fruits.
Presently, the terms of references have been prepared and I will soon carry a mission of identification of a project on rural development and sustainable land management of the western highlands.
I hope that NECOFA-Cameroon, through workshops and conferences will contribute to bring more awareness on the advantages of ECOFARMING, especially to the authorities in charge of rural development in the country.
From December 21st to 22nd the NECOFA Networkgroup ETHIOPIA held its first national workshop on "Retrospects and Prospects of Ecofarming in Ethiopia". The workshop was held at Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organisation (EARO) in Addis Ababa.
A total number of 46 participants representing relevant governmental and non-governmental and organisations engaged in similar activities attended the workshop.
The workshop discussed on main topics such as the Concept of Ecofarming, Ecofarming: linking farmers and scientists in technology development, global trends, policy Issues and techniques in the field of ecofarming. Also the strategy and action plan of the NECOFA Networkgroup ETHIOPIA was presented on the workshop.
Major objectives were to develop a common understanding on the concept, techniques and trends of ecofarming, to analyse ecofarming from the point of view of policy issues, to facilitate legal forum for the establishment of NECOFA-ETHIOPIA, to design a strategy that could facilitate the adoption and promotion of ecofarming at grassroots level and to sensitise the public about ecofarming.
The welcoming address of the workshop was made by Ato Asfaw Tihune chairman of the steering committee, key note address by Comissioner Asrat Bulbula of the Ethiopian science and Technology Commission and the closing address by Ato Frew Mekibib a member of the steering committee. Ato Betru Nedassa from MoA and Ato Frew Mekibib were the chair persons for the sessions alternatively.
In the process of the workshop, which proceeded through presentations, group discussions and plenary sessions participants have actively involved in raising questions giving comments and recommendations. However, so, ecofarming is not a novelty, its appearance on the forum as a trend in the rural development undertakings dictated hot discussion: and critical comments. The conclusion of the workshop was celebrated with a common memorandum of agreement among the various participants, with the achievement of clear mind on the feasibility of ecofarming as an optional basket for the country's agricultural activities. To this effect almost all the participants applied for new membership to the NECOFA-NETWORKGROUP ETHIOPIA
For more information on the Ethiopian workshop see: NECOFA-NETWORKGROUP ETHIOPIA
It is quite amazing that within a period of less than one year, NECOFA has been effectively established in Kenya. The original initiative was taken by Mr. Cornnel Ouma Oduor who is the organizations Secretary General early in 1999, but just before his departure for further studies in Holland.
The network which he was instrumental in establishing has since been thriving very visibly. Some of the remarkable achievements have also been the products of the Working Committee which he left behind to push the activities of NECOFA forward.
The network has deliberately tried to forge four types of linkages as follows:
As a policy of the organisation, the fourth linkage has been the most encouraged. For instance, one of the other Non-Governmental organisations involved in uplifting the standards of living of the local communities is the Inter Diocesan Christian Community Services (IDCCS).The beneficiaries of these efforts live in twelve districts i.e.Siaya, Bondo, Kisumu, Nyando, Rachuonyo, Homa-Bay, Migori, Kuria, Suba, Kisii, Gucha and Nyamira in Nyanza Province.The local communities benefit in a variety of ways, i.e.;
The network has enrolled several members whose activities cannot all be mentioned in this brief dispatch. However, the majority of them are engaged in similar activities the IDCCS.
NECOFA is one of the organisations in the country which has been concerned with the state of Lake Victoria, which is the second largest fresh water lake in the world. We all know that the lake has been invaded by an obnoxious weed called the water hyacinth. The weed has covered a very large mass of water hence, it has interfered both with marine life and navigational activities within the lake. This has caused a great environmental disaster which has affected the lives of millions of people who depend on the lake for their livelihood.
The controversy has centered on the methods which the government intended to use to fight the weed. The scheme to use chemicals was strongly resisted and the government had to give it up. The mechanical method of shredding the water hyacinth and dropping the residues at the bottom of the lake has also come under attack from various organisations .However ,biological methods of control have since been encouraged. NECOFA has been at the forefront of struggle through contribution of articles, attendance of meetings and general petitions.
There was an article which was contributed to NGO's WESTERN KENYA –Newsletter towards the end of last year.
The other advocacy work has been related to the threat to close down the British Council Library here in Kisumu by September of this year. The library is a very important reference and resource facility which is very useful to the development organisations in this region like NECOFA. It also serves the academic institutions in the region like Maseno University College. NECOFA was one of the first organisations to petition the British council officials in the country not to close down the Library. The reason sited by the Council officials lacked sustainability. Now, all the organisations concerned have embarked on an ambitious membership drive. This is actually a very laborious voluntary work which has been performed willingly by individual network members without any fatigue.
NECOFA will certainly continue to be involved in advocacy work on matters that affect the ordinary people ,particularly the farmers.
In January,1999 all non-governmental and community based organisations in the country embarked on an ambitious programme to tackle policy issues related to development and human rights. Although NECOFA joined this programme late, it has become one of the most active participants. In recognition of this dynamism NECOFA was chosen to host a district collaboration and information centre in Nyando District. This programme is being funded by a consortium of donors in Kenya and is likely to take off either in the middle of April,2000 or early in May.
It should recognised that only reputed Non-Governmental and Community based organisations were selected to host these centres.
Apart from networking at national level, NECOFA is an active member of Western Kenya NGOs network. The implication of this development is that we at NECOFA are also involved in other issues apart from farming and food security. In the western NGO's network there are several issues of concern, the main ones being:
However, despite the fact that we sometimes involve in other activities,NECOFA has strictly adhered to her mandate,including eco-farming and engagement with grassroots farming communities. For the time beeing basic activities are mainly concentrated in Nyanza Province.This is essentially a pilot execise, but there are efforts in place to expand to the rest of the country when funds and other resourses become available.
NECOFA has established a fully functional secretariat in Kisumu Town. The offices are situated on the 5th. Floor of Kenya National Assurance House, along the Jomo Kenyatta Highway. The co-ordinator who works on a fulltime basis is Mrs.Margaret Omondi. The telephone number is (035) 43444. E-Mail address is: idccs@swiftkisumu.com
NECOFA has already initiated the process of registration as a fully fledged NGO. However as we have already been registered as Community Based Organisation in Nyanza Province, NECOFA is legally allowed to operate in the country.
There are several plans in the offing, some of which are:
Finally, although NECOFA is already moving forward with some of the planned activities, there is a need to organise a strategic planning workshop for long term objectives. The secretariat needs to be strengthened in terms of office equipment to enable us have better and modern communication facilities like own E-Mail address and Internet connection.
THE TRADE FAIR FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING INTERSCHUL/DIDACTA2000
The education market - dynamism for the new millennium
The exhibition held in Cologne, Germany, on the 14th February 2000 and in which NECOFA exhibited was aimed at showing the opportunities still existing with regards to the use of computers in facilitating development. NECOFA national network groups was represented by National network co-ordinator of Kenya, Oduor Cornel
During this exhibition which was opened by the Vice Minister for German economic and development Ministry, Network for ecofarming in Africa (NECOFA) demonstrated it's strategies in the use of computers in facilitating and setting up a platform for sharing/ communication on ecofarming Issues not only among it's members but also setting a Platform for information exchange with the researchers, policy makers, the civil society and all those responsible in executing ecofarming activities.
This grassroots based approach for networking is opening up new avenues for the provision private extension services to the resource poor farmers at relatively low costs.
It is time for all NECOFA national network groups to integrate these vital and cheap communication technologies within their national programmes inorder to bridge the ever existing gap between research, extension and farmers.
During the exhibition, NECOFA demonstrated the use of ICQ in realising her objectives. In line with the purpose for holding the exhibition, NECOFA is in the center stage of using internet networks to realize her objectives on promoting use of ecological agriculture by the resource poor small scale farmers if they have to attain food security.
The use of ICQ will particularly be emphasized by the network groups since it is efficient interms of time and finance to enhance information transfer /sharing Knowledge on ecofarming.
Thanks to German Economic Ministry and more so DSE and DITSL for the tremendous effort they have put in place to ensure that the gap between research and extension and farmers is bridged through the activities of NECOFA at National network level.
Details:
Programme Description
Programme Number: NK 731-306-00ex
Title: Ecofarming in Africa
Programme Type: Follow-up event
Region: Sub Saharan Africa
Country of implementation: Cameroon
Location of implementation: Bamenda
Date: October 30 to November 10, 2000
Language: English
Number of participants: 25
Previous programme: TK 731-950-98ex
Superior objective is the improved implementation of concepts and programmes of an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable land management in rural development projects and programmes, extension, applied research and education of employing organizations of former participants from Africa. This will be achieved through:
Qualified former participants of previous DSE events in leadership and multiplication functions in governmental and non-governmental organizations of rural development, agriculture and agroforestry engaged in research, education, planning and extension. It is expected from all participants that they are actively engaged in ecofarming promotion and have initiated relevant programmes and ( small) projects in their own areas of action and have good command of the working language English
Details of contents of the follow-up workshop will be defined after written consultations with former African participants of previous courses. In general contents comprise:
This is quite an open frame. It is also possible to include up to 5 persons as participants which have not been participants of former DSE courses, but which are important for the further development of NECOFA. More are not possible, otherwise I might get troubles with our ministry, as this event is funded out of a specific budget for follow-up activities.
I kindly ask you to stay in close contact with me. Once we have established a contract with DITSL with regard to this programme, I will inform you setting the rules of communication during the period of preparations.
Thank you for all your efforts.
With kind regards
Hartmut Gast
DSE/ZEL
As a new category in our Newsletter we add an overview of interesting articles recently published in the Journal of Agriculture in the Tropics and Subtropics. This Journal is published in Germany by the German Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture (Witzenhausen), Institute for Tropical Agriculture (Dresden), University of Kassel - Faculty of Agriculture, International Rural Development and Ecological Environmental Protection.
For more information please contact DITSL or Mr Hans Hemann, Chief Editor at Tropical Centre at the University of Kassel.
e-mail : tropen@wiz.uni-kassel.de
fax ++49 5542 981313 / tel ++ 49 5542 981216
A.W. Drescher*, J. Hagmann** and E. Chuma***
Home gardening plays an important role within the overall farming and livelihood system in Southern Zimbabwe in terms of household food security and income generation. Homegardening is an ideal complement to crop production which is mainly concentrated in the off-season.
The paper describes homegardening systems in the semi-arid areas. Major differences between individual gardens and gardens promoted by development agents revealed in terms of species diversity. Whereas ‘supported gardens’ are geared towards optimal production, multiple and diverse goals are pursued in individual gardens which due to their rich species diversity are a stronghold of biodiversity conservation. This raised the question whether development efforts should not learn from individual gardens and choose different approaches.
The highest potential to improve crop management gardens which were identified were effective water management, biological pest control and intercropping. Promising methods for water harvesting are being tested and practised, but little research on the use of natural biological antagonists for pest control has been done so far. Soil fertility management in gardens was revealed as highly effective. In contrast to the main fields, organic matter is relatively high in the gardens.
The paper concludes that the support of home gardens would be an important contribution to strengthening food security and biodiversity for ecological stability. Areas needing extension support include: methods of improving water use efficiency, storage and marketing of home garden products. With respect to its contribution to sustainable land use, food security and ecological stability, home gardens should not be addressed in isolation. An integrated approach to improve the security of livelihood making use of the positive complementarity of the field crop production, livestock and gathering of fruits etc. should be aimed for. However, an attitudinal problem needs to be overcome: fruit gathering and many other ‘traditional’ practices which offer a lot of potential to improve gardening are perceived as ‘uncivilised’ and ‘backward’ compared to modern technology like fertiliser and pesticides. These, however, are expensive and few farmers only utilise them in gardens.
* A.W. Drescher, Section of Applied Physiogeography of the Tropics and Subtropics (APT), Universität Freiburg, Hebelstr. 27, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
** J. Hagmann, Natural Resource Management Consultant, Talstr. 129, D-79194 Gundelfingen, Germany
***E. Chuma, Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), University of Zimbabwe, P.O.Box MP167, Harare, Zimbabwe
Maingi, J.M.*, Shisanya, C.A.**, Gitonga, N.M.* and Hornetz, B.***
Approximately 506,000 km2 or 88 % of Kenya’s total area is comprised of both arid and semi-arid rangelands (Darkoh, 1990). The people living in these areas are faced with a myriad of problems, for example shortage of fuelwood, inadequate fodder for animals, and decreased soil fertility. Currently, food production in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) has lagged behind population growth and therefore there is an urgent need to increase food production for the ever increasing population (Bohlool et al., 1992). Recently, an influx of settlers (agropastoralists) from the overpopulated more humid highlands of central and western Kenya into the semi-arid fringe of the ASALs has been observed (Hornetz, 1997).
One of the major steps towards increasing food production is by use of modern agricultural technologies. Their use in the ASALs has been restricted because of socio-economic constraints (Shisanya, 1996; Graham, 1981). Most farmers in the ASALs are resource poor and can hardly afford the required inputs mainly in form of chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizers. Legume-Rhizobium technology which involves Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) has been exploited elsewhere as a substitute for N fertilizers. It should be pointed out that besides the work of Pilbeam et al. (1995), no systematic research work on BNF in the asals of Kenya, particularly SE-Kenya has been undertaken. It has been estimated that the annual contribution of dinitrogen fixation to agricultural production worldwide exceeds four to five fold all the N fertilizers produced by fertilizer industries in a given year (Brill, 1977).
Given the aforementioned problems facing the resource poor farmers of the ASALs and the gap in research, the primary objective of this study was to investigate BNF in two major legumes, i.e. green gram (Vigna radiata) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris/kathika variety) grown in semi-arid Makueni District. Secondary ojectives included assessment of nodulation of green gram and common bean with resident rhizobia in the soils of the study area; estimate the population of rhizobia specific to both legumes and finally, isolate, authenticate and assess the effectiveness of the indigenous rhizobia in nitrogen fixation compared with commercial strains using dry weight.
The major objective of this study was to investigate biological nitrogen fixation in two main legumes (green gram and common bean) grown in semi-arid southeast Kenya. Nodulation experiments on the two legumes were carried out in the greenhouse of the Botany Department, Kenyatta University with soil samples that had been obtained from Kiboko. Indigenous rhizobia were isolated from the two legumes and screened for the ability to fix nitrogen in comparison with commercially available strains from MIRCEN, University of Nairobi. The population of indigenous rhizobia specific to the two legumes was determined using the Most Probable Number (MPN) plant infection technique.
Results showed that infectivity in common bean was better (80 nodules/plant) than in green gram (18 nodules/plant). Bisection of the nodules showed that 32 % and 77 % of them had an inner pink colour in common bean and green gram, respectively. This is an indication that a majority of the nodules in green gram were effective nitrogen fixers compared to those in common bean. The results of the MPN counts indicated that the number of indigenous rhizobia resident in Kiboko soils, and specific to green gram and common bean were 519-3,780 and 2,037-14,850 rhizobia cells per gram of soil, respectively. Two different isolates of rhizobia for common bean (C1S and C2L) and one for green gram (GG-T), were isolated. Presumptive and authentication tests confirmed these isolates as rhizobia. Greenhouse trials showed that isolate C1S and C2L was not as effective in nitrogen fixation, as C2L, and Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli strain 446 from MIRCEN although no significant difference in Shoot dry weight was recorded for C2L and 446. Further, isolate GG-T from green gram was not as effective in nitrogen fixation as the commercial strain Bradyrhizobium sp. strain CB-1015.
* Department of Botany, Kenyatta University, P. O. Box 43844, Nairobi, Kenya
** Department of Geography, Kenyatta University, P. O. Box 43844, Nairobi, Kenya
*** Department of Geosciences, University of Trier, D-54286, Trier, Germany (Corresponding author)
F. J. Zeller*
Keywords: Cassava, production, processing, cassava mosaic virus, biotechnology
The tuberous root of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a major food crop for over 500 million people. Annual production of cassava in 1998 was more than 160 million metric tonnes. The epidemic occurrence of very damaging viruses causing the Cassava Mosaic Disease threatens cassava production and leads to serious food shortages, mainly in Eastern Africa. Attempts are underway to combat the further spread of this disease by means of phytosanitary means, plant breeding and biotechnological methods
* Prof. Dr. F.J. Zeller, Technische Universität München, Institut für Pflanzenbau und Pflanzenzüchtung, D-85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany