PlantVillage’s Mitigation Strategies for Northern Kenya Explained

A section of DT members and casual laborers doing potting at a tree nursery in Maralal, Samburu county, in preparation for seedling planting. Photo credit Dorcas Kiprop.

 

Having established a tree nursery that can propagate over 40,000 seedlings in Maralal, Samburu County, the organization is now able to meet its expectations for the number of trees required by the counties in northern Kenya.

 

"We have partnered with the County Government of Samburu through KFS; we have leased an eighth of an acre that we use as a distribution center for the northern counties," added Saniwa.

Drip irrigation system in Narok north, Narok county. Photo credit Serah Lanoi.

 

Apart from distributing trees, PlantVillage provides training to those who benefit from tree seedlings, teaching them how to plant and care for them to ensure a 100 percent survival rate.

 

"Those who have water issues are encouraged to use irrigation, such as drip, to water their trees, we also teach them how to plant trees using biochar," Saniwa said.

 

The project has resulted in the employment of 45 people in the area as casual workers.

 

Moran Warrior View Project

For the past two months, PlantVillage has been recruiting community warriors, referred to as Morans, across the ASALs region as part of the Warrior View Project, geared towards helping communities leverage technology.

 

The Morans were trained on how to utilize PlantVillage Nuru’s artificial intelligence technology in devising modern climate change mitigation methods.

Field training of the Morans in Lokichar, Turkana County. Photo credit Dennis Avokoywa.

 

"We have recruited 40 morans from Isiolo, Samburu, Turkana, Marsabit, Narok, and Baringo counties tasked with taking landscape images. The images are meant to classify the vegetation and also to monitor/study the changes in soil moisture over time. Morans also gives advice on climate change adaptation and mitigation," said Melodine Jeptoo, the Warrior View Project manager.

Mercy Nyalik Naro, a moran in Turkana taking landscape images in Lokichar, Turkana County. Photo credit Dennis Avokoywa.

 

Apart from taking landscape images, the morans will also assist in the training and distribution of trees.

 

Soil Bunds

The PlantVillage team, in collaboration with the newly recruited Morans, is mobilizing locals to dig soil bunds across the hills and sloppy terrain to help reduce soil erosion.

 

Soil bunds are D-like structures dug on sloped terrain to help capture surface runoff water and allow it to seep into the soil, increasing soil moisture levels.

One of the soil bunds in Isiolo County  Photo credit Franklin Lemasulani, PlantVillage field officer in Isiolo County.

 

"Water collects itself at the circumference of the semi-circle; run-off water comes with nutrients from the top of the hill, and its settlement at the soil bund creates fertile soil necessary for crop planting," explained Francis Lekirimpto, who oversees the activity in Isiolo County.

Soil bunds prevent rainwater from washing away: this leaves more time for water to sink into the soil, within the bund and also in the surrounding area. This gives seeds located outside the bunds also the chance to sprout. 

 

The soil bunds are to be used as planting areas for grass and trees. Among the grass species proposed are Enteropogon macrostachyus and Cenchrus ciliaris, also known as African Foxtail Grass.

 

The water tank project

PlantVillage has successfully erected five 10,000-liter storage tanks to provide a sufficient water supply to the locals in parts of northern Kenya.

 

The organization has installed two storage tanks at Longopito and Rumate primary schools.

Learners delighted after a water tank was installed at their school, Rumate Primary School in Isiolo County. Photo credit Franckline Lemasulani. , PlantVillage field officer in Isiolo County. 

“Learners no longer spend much time looking for water. Instead, they are fully focused on learning, which has significantly improved their performance in class. Availability of water has also led to better sanitation for teachers and pupils,” said Frankline Lemasulani, PlantVillage field officer working in Isiolo County.

 

"In addition to the advantages for students, the locals depend on the water from these tanks for their domestic requirements, such as cooking and watering their cattle.”

A water tank installed at Longopito primary school in Isiolo County. Photo credit Frankline Lemasulani, PlantVillage field officer in Isiolo County.

 

Two other water tanks have been installed in Samburu, two in Isiolo and one in Turkana.

 

The Irrigation project

PlantVillage installed the organization’s first-ever underground capillary wick irrigation system at the Ririma borehole in Marsabit County. The project is meant for growing vegetables such as cabbages, kale, curly kale, Swiss chard, capsicum, beetroot, and sweet potato vines.

Installation of the wick irrigation system at the Ririma borehole in Marsabit County. Photo credit Mercy Achieng.

 

The vegetable project is a resilience revolution and a bold step towards regreening Marsabit and, in the process, combating drought and famine, contributing to the national goal of food security for its people, and empowering vulnerable families through income generation.