Integrated Farm Management in Lari, Kenya

GENERAL INFORMATION
Sources of information of the practice
Interview performed during the 8 Symposium of the International Farming Systems Association (IFSA), entitled Farming Systems and Poverty: Making a Difference, Global Learning Opportunity (GLO 2005), Rome, 31/10 4/11 2005 www.ifsaglo2005.org/ Michael Ojiambo, SARD Kenya National Facilitator, Kenyan Freedom From Hunger Council. Email: kffhc@bidii.com th

Relevant contacts Useful links

INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAMME OR PROJECT PROMOTING THE PRACTICE (IF APPLICABLE)
Programme or project: Time frame Donor Implementer of the programme or project
Lari Community Initiatives Ongoing Educational Institution: University of Egertomn, Kenya Government Institution: Extension Service Department, Kenya, Ministry of Agriculture Africa Kenya Lari, Kenya Dry Semi-Arid -

LOCATION OF THE PRACTICE

Region Country Province, Districts, Villages Climatic zone
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Other descriptive information Practice category Practice type Sector Institutions fostering the practice Beneficiaries of the practice Users of the practice Natural resource used or accessed (if applicable) Background/problem statement

INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRACTICE

Managing natural resources sustainably Technology for improving farm productivity sustainably Sustainable natural resources management Educational Institution: University of Egertomn, Kenya Government Institutions: Extension Service Department, Kenya Ministry of Agriculture Poor farmers and local people of the dry area of Lari Farming communities of the area Rainwater, herbs, cattle, goats, chicken, crop residues, animal manure

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRACTICE

The people of Lari are extremely poor and have migrated there from other dry areas. Lands are arid and mostly communal. The amount of rainfall is minimal and people are dependent on rainwater harvesting and storage for their livelihoods. Collected rainwater is used for cultivating crops, vegetables and personal use. These communities have taken different measures to cope with climatic fluctuations and a fragile environment. Given the harsh and dry conditions of the area, the local people have developed an integrated farming system of growing a variety of crops, raising goats, cattle and poultry. Rainwater is harvested from the roofs and collected

Approach followed

from the run off, stored in tanks and used for irrigation once the rainwater has subsided. Apart from using water for farming, the water storage containers are always left with a quantity of water for personnel use throughout the year. Crops like maize, sorghum and vegetable are grown for marketing and domestic use. Cattle and goats are raised on zero grazing for milk and meat marketing. Soil productivity is maintained through active recycling of animal manure and crop residues.

Innovative elements

This integrated farm management system is new to the communities of the Lari. They carry out collection of water from roofs and run off and store it in tanks for irrigation and personnel use. The integrated farming system included raising poultry, cattle and goats and growing variety of crops. The communities have also developed methods of dealing with animal diseases, for example chickens are fed with aloevera and chilli water to maintain their health and the chicks are kept inside to increase their chances of survival. Actual: Rain water is more efficiently used through storage and irrigation of the crops. Integrated farming also ensures efficient use and recycling of soil nutrients. Expected: Effective use of water, land cultivation and zero grazing can protect the fragile dry land from further degradation and desertification. Actual: Integrated farm management resulted in food security Actual: All members of the community equally benefited from integrated farm management. Expected: Diverse income sources might lead to a stronger rural economy Great involvement of the community due to communal land structure Active participation of the members of the community Suitability of the practice to the dry conditions Easily accessible training and information from the University research group

Impacts on natural resource base

Impacts on livelihood of the practice users Other impacts

General success factors

Technology success factors Institutional success factors Problems remaining to be resolved Keywords

Address farmer needs, priorities and management Improve efficient utilization of scarce resources, increase the efficiency of input use Farmers capacity for adoption of the technology Institutional support and outreach Access to resources, agriculture, animal diseases, animal husbandry methods, animal products, arid climate, arid soils, biodiversity, common lands, conservation, crops, desertification, disease control, diversification, drought strategies, farm management, indigenous knowledge, pest control, poultry, rainfed farming, recycling, soil conservation, soil fertility, water conservation, water storage