Kenya RAPID (Resilient Arid Lands Partnership for Integrated Development) is a five-year development program bringing together public and private organisations and communities, to increase access to water and sanitation for people and water for livestock, and to rebuild a healthy rangeland-management ecosystem.
Kenya RAPID strongly supports the goals of the Ending Drought Emergencies Common Program Framework launched by the Government of Kenya in November 2015. The “Sustainable management of rangelands, water, crops, and increasing the contribution of livestock to the pastoral economy are critical to resilient livelihoods in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).”
Aqua for All is the lead partner in the Kenya RAPID program to enhance private sector engagement for improved (water and sanitation) service delivery. Aqua for All stimulates and coordinates the contribution of private sector parties that are investing in the program, whether from a CSR or business perspective. Why? Because we believe that business plays a key role in sustainable solutions.
The film shows how the traditional practice of using malaria bed nets to protect their crop from sun and insects could be scaled up to larger structures of shade nets. This practice demonstrates a water reservoir-drip irrigation technique or a so called hand watering, creating a fourfold increase in crop yield /m2, while largely improving the quality of the production.
Dilemma? Malaria bed nets are locally available at urban centres in Wajir, Kenya, suitable for the traditional plots, at a cheap price (K$5/net). The film shows the same technique, but highly improved industrialised, using a type of greenhouse- structure with technical pre-paid metering and solar powered irrigation. Yes, this resulted in higher crop yields and improved organization (bundled forces joining 17 women into a group).
Good or bad development? However, in the case of the advanced greenhouse structure, the infrastructural investment was fully granted, which questions from our perspective. Is this approach scalable and replicable? We believe that reflection is needed to build a real business case to ensure sustainability. Aqua for All welcomes your reactions to this subject.
More info: www.mwawater.org/programs/kenya-program-background/
Produced by: Kenya RAPID program
Year: 2016
Language: English
Region: Kenya
