Soil and Water Conservation In Kenya
Published on by John Gathagu in Academic
Soil and Water Conservation in Thika-Chania catchment, Kenya
Gathagu John Ng’ang’a, Mainya Johnstone Isiaha, Oduor Brian Omondia, Khaldoon A. Mourad
Abstract
Soil and water conservation measures are widely practiced in Kenya to tackle the degradation of the ecosystems and to improve land productivity. Local government and NGOs have developed programs and campaigns about soil and water conservation measures.
The aim of this study is to assess the need for soil and water conservation measures in ThikaChania catchment by conducting a household survey using QuickTap Survey software. A total of 200 respondents were successfully interviewed and results analyzed in SPSS program.
GIS tools were also used to do a classification of slopes in the study area. Results indicate that more than 90% of the people in the catchment area are farmers. In the recent years, 50% of the respondents have noted a decline in the vegetation.
During the rain seasons, the intensity of color in the local rivers due to sediments have been observed to increase by 75% of the respondent while 9% said there was no change. More than 70% of the respondents indicated that the water levels have been on the declining trend especially during the low flows.
Terraces and grass strips were the common soil and water conservation measures although some of them were severely degraded. We concluded that there is an immediate need to implement soil and water conservation measures in the catchment to enhance and restore the optimum functioning of the ecosystems.
Capacity building and frequent extension services are needed to increase awareness on the impacts of the respective conservation methods. Incentives programs need to be established to encourage more farmers to participate in conserving and protecting their lands from degradation.
Keywords: Baseline survey, soil and water conservation, capacity building, degradation
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Media
Taxonomy
- Agriculture
- Soil
- Irrigation
- Water Access
- Agricultural
- Conservation
- Consumption
- Soil Management
- Soil Conservation
- Agriculture
- Micro Irrigation
- Conservation
5 Comments
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An interesting story from Kenya, where soil and water conservation has such a long history, with beautiful and impressing stories about Fanya Juu terraces as the most widely known methods practised by farmers. In my view direct capacity building or awareness raising of farmers is not the most likely measure. Do the authors understand why the farmers no longer maintained their terraces? Was it indeed lack of awareness or knowledge how to maintain? Did farmers no longer maintain the terraces because the crops they produced lacked a remunerative market? Did farmers loose access to their land in terms of user rights? Or other reasons? Unless the authors have a clear understanding of the underlying reasons for neglecting their terraces, it will be difficult to identify the best solution. Curious to learn more about this issue.
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May be the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies which is an established global network which supports innovation and decision-making processes in Sustainable Land Management could be of interest.
On the one side to make your study known to a broader network of practitioners, on the other hand to find solutions for the catchment.
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If we want our future generation not to strive for water and food, then we should not leave any stone unturned to conserve water and soil.
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Soil conservation must be based on a soil survey and a map of the watershed. The best way to proceed is to start from the highest area, then to construct terraces with minimum slope to carry runoff to a stream or channel/ a second terrace diversion ditch should be built between 30-50 meters below the first. If possible it should be parallel to the upper terrace if tractors are used.
If the area above the upper terrace is not cultivated, the upper terrace must be able to divert flow from the upper area to an existing waterway. Terraces that are too small will overflow and a concentrated flow will cause more erosion.
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