Scaling up new drought-proof livelihood options for Kenya?s arid lands
commercialising value-added products from invasive Prosopis trees and fodder banks
Prosopis juliflora tree (locally known as ?Mathenge?) is native to South America and has been introduced across the world over the last 200 years as useful and drought resistant species (Felker et al., 1981; Harris et al., 1996; Pasiecznik et al. 2001). They grow in very dry and harsh conditions where virtually no other trees can grow hence ensuring self-sufficiency in fodder for livestock and food for humans, charcoal, fuel wood and timber. In addition, they make the fragile arid and semi-arid environments more habitable, thus mitigating against the impacts of drought and famine, climate change as well as safeguarding the existing natural vegetation from decimation arising from social pressures. It was widely cultivated in Kenya in 1970s and 1980s to rehabilitate the Arid and Semi-Arid Areas (ASALs). Unfortunately, they were unmanaged and therefore escaped from cultivation and become invasive, causing ecological, economic and social impacts that include reduced pasture production on grazing lands and rangelands and loss of biodiversity among others. Lake Bogoria is a hub of tourist attraction and an increasing number of community conservancies have been established. This has had a negative impact by reducing the grazing areas for livestock and wild game. The project will therefore establish grass pasture banks for production of hay. These will be combined with Prosopis pods and a wide range of crop residues sourced from irrigation schemes widely dispersed across Lake Bogoria catchment. The nutrient rich Prosopis based meal will meet a large proportion hence contribute significantly to local self sufficiency in livestock feed as well as for trading as a source of sustainable income. LOKASACHA/LOSA group has already invested in milling machines and only require minimal facilitative support and training on feed formulation to hit the local market with their product. The project will therefore fill the few gaps in the process. However, the project will assist to purchase a commercial milling machine where large quantities of raw materials will be processed by members and other community members.
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Project Snapshot
Grantee:
LOKASACHA/LOSA
Country:
Kenya
Area Of Work:
Land Degradation
Grant Amount:
US$ 30,000.00
Co-Financing Cash:
Co-Financing in-Kind:
US$ 9,000.00
Project Number:
KEN/SGP/OP6/Y2/STAR/LD/2019/33
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
SGP Country office contact
Ms. Nancy Chege
Phone:
(254-20) 7624473
Fax:
(254-20) 621076
Email:
Ms. Eunice Mwaura
Email:
Address
UNDP, P.O. Box 30218
Nairobi, 00100
Nairobi, 00100
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