Rehabilitation Project
This project is being implemented by our partner, African Sand Dam Foundation, and includes the construction of a sand dam.
Below is unedited project information direct from our partner:
Introduction and Project Background
The Kyalimba Self Help group was formed in the year 2007 by an amalgamation of two villages: Kyalimba and Kandulyu. It has a membership of 38 of which 10 are men and 28 are women. The group is located in Miau sub-location, Kako location, Kako division, Mbooni East in Makueni County.
The district is characterized by extreme rainfall variability. Typically, good seasons are interspersed with extremely dry seasons and variations in the onset of rainy seasons add to the difficulty of ensuring adequate food production. The district has two rainy seasons which peak in March/April (long rains) and November/December (short rains).
Challenges that led to formation of the group
Water insecurity
The main water sources in the area are River Kyalimba, River Kyengau and Kyandulyu Earth dam. Their distances are 1km, 2km and 3km respectively. During the dry season the community gets water from River Kyalimba and Kandulyu Earth dam.
River Kyalimba only holds water during the rainy season. In order to access water from River Kyengau one has to dig a deep scoop hole of at least 6 feet deep. Also the water point turns saline during the dry period. During this dry period water at the earth dam is rationed and sold at KES 2 thus making most of the community opt to fetch water from River Kyengau. One spends more than 4 hours due to long queues. Children need to assist their parents after school making it difficult to study and finish necessary schoolwork. This negatively affects grades and attendance.
Due to lack of water in the area:
- Tree programs have been negatively affected; due to the lack of water, trees the farmers have planted have not been able to take root and have been drying up.
- Much time spent fetching water. This means the community members do not engage in casual labour, which is their alternative source of income after the rain fail.
- Due to lack of water the community members have reduced their herds of cattle which are there economic assets thus increasing their poverty levels.
- Poor farming methods. Due to spending much time in fetching, they do not have enough time for farm preparations before onset of rains.
CROP PRODUCTION
The main types of crops that the community grows are:
- Maize, Pigeon peas &sorghum
- Cowpeas& Green grams
Unreliable rainfalls have been a major setback to rain fed agriculture, which is the farmers’ source of livelihood. Food insecurity in the area also is attributed to other reasons, which include:
- Poor fertile soils. Long use of their farms without applying manure and soil erosion has decreased the soil fertility. This has led to poor harvest among the farmers.
- Communities continue to practice archaic planting methods that have led to decreased harvest. For example reliance of maize which needs more rainfall and in the recent years the rainfall has been unreliable making them to harvest less or not
- Lack of tools. Most community members cannot afford tools for terracing due to poverty thus not digging standard terraces in their farms. Terracing is one technique of conserving soil in farms and hence improving the harvest.
- Pre harvest and post harvest losses. Pests and diseases destroy the crops before harvest and the community members lack the skill on how to control them.
TREE PLANTING
Community plant the following tree varieties:
- Mango
- Paw paws
- Oranges
- Shade trees
Water problems in the area have led to low tree survival rates, as most trees dry up due to lack of enough water. Termite infestation poses a big challenge to tree planting. The community lacks the ability to control the termites from destroying their trees. Also they lack the termite chemicals, which are expensive.
Lack of knowledge and skills on tree management by farmers make unable to establish good nurseries and even caring of the trees. This has reduced the survival rate of trees.
GROUP PLANS
The group seeks to do the following:
- Sand dams-Through construction of sand dams the community will have improved access to clean water. Also they will establish tree nurseries and grow vegetables for sale, which can improve income.
- Goat project -The group will start a dairy goat project that will be used to improve the local breeds and also generate income for the farmers.
- Soil conservation - With the support of tools the community will embark on terracing on their farms, which will help to retain water in their farms thus improving harvest with minimal rainfall.
- Poultry keeping-The group want to rear the local chicken breeds for sale, which act as income generating activity.
Presently, The group main activities include merry go round, (which is a internal savings and lending scheme amongst villagers that allows them to save and lend money to each other for emergencies.) They had started terrace digging and tree planting as previously planned however, because of the water insecurity in the area, the tree planting projects have not been successful. Trees are dry up during the drought periods due to lack of water.
“We want to build dams along all the river channels in the village in order to have enough water to enable us to continue planting trees. The trees provide firewood and fruits.” – Village Elder, Mueni kithuka.
KYALIMBA SHALLOW WELL PROGRESS REPORT
Three days after the completion of their sand dam the community group started excavation of the shallow well. This was started on September 19, 2013 and completed on October 12 2013. As the community group carried out excavation they also collected the local materials, which were needed for the lining of the shallow well to enable hand pump installation. The lining of the shallow well started on October 16, 2013. The construction had to be delayed for sometime due to heavy rains in the area. Once construction resumed that shallow well was completed on the December 27th.
At the moment the community members draw water from the shallow well, which is used for drinking and other uses at home.
