BFN Project - Kenya component

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Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable

Use for Improved Human Nutrition and Wellbeing

Country Presentation for Kenya

1st ISC Meeting Rio de Janeiro 25th April 2012

Maureen Miruka & Festus Murithi Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org

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Introduction –KARI • Established through an Act of Parliament (Cap 250, revised

1979) and became operational in 1986.

• Accounts for more than half of the total research and development (R&D) expenditure in Kenya

• Is responsible for research on crops (except research on coffee, tea and sugarcane), livestock, and land and water resources.

• Has a network of national, commodity factor & regional research centres responsible for applied and adaptive research in respective regions.

• It currently has a staff capacity of 2,930 with 543 being researchers and the rest support staff.


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KARI goals and thematic areas• Institutional goals: i) generating and promoting

technologies and innovations; ii) developing and promoting markets and marketing strategies; iii) facilitating and advocating policy options; iv) strengthening capacity for value chain research; and v) enhancing availability of knowledge, information and technologies.

• Thematic research areas: crops; livestock; integrated natural resource management; biotechnology and genetic resources management; socio-economic and applied statistics; and adaptive research, outreach and partnerships.


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KARI Centres Mandate Districts

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Background-problem statement

• About a third (10 million) of an estimated 38 million people in Kenya suffer from chronic food insecurity

• An estimated 1.8 million children (30%) are classified as chronically undernourished

• 35 and 14 percent of children under five are stunted and severely stunted respectively (KDHS 2008/9)-Even in years of self sufficiency

• The national per capita calorie supply per day is less than the FAO recommended rates


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Background-Scope of project

• Will seek to contribute to on-going efforts to improve dietary diversification using local foods

• Dietary Diversity 1 and 2 -understanding the potential of local agrobiodiversity in contributing to dietary diversity for nutrition and health

• This project-informing and influencing policy and thus mainstreaming


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Site Description -Busia County

• Total population: 488,075 Male: 232,075 Female: 256,000

• The County falls within the Lake Victoria basin.• Altitude : 1130m to 1375 masl• Agro-ecological Zones: LM1-LM4 (medium to

low potential)• There are two rain and cropping seasons; The

long rains: March to May/June ; Short rain season starts in August and ends in October/November.

• The are moderately deep, generally rocky and stony and of low natural fertility


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Indicator Value

Mean HH income

5,142

Absolute poverty

66%

Food poverty 61.4%

Socio-economic indicators

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Kenya Poverty Map


Busia

Targeted Biodiversity• Traditional Vegetables

– Spider plant- Cleome gynandra– Cowpea –Vigna unguiculata– African nightshade –Solanum villosum,

Solanum scabrum– Slenderplant – Crotolaria ochroleuca,

Clotolaria brevidens– Jute mallow –Corchorus olitorius– Pumpkin leaves- Cucurbita moschata, C.

maxima– Vegetable amaranths – Amaranthus spp.

(A. blitum (A. lividus etc.)– Vine spinach – Basella alba– African/Ethiopian kale – Brassica carinata – Mushrooms 10


Targeted Biodiversity… • Sorghums • Millets (Finger millets) • Nuts and oil crops– Groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea), simsim

(Sesamum orientale (S. indicum)),

– Bambara groundnuts (Vigna subterranea)

• Indigenous fruits:– Purple (Carissa spinarum (C. edulis)) – black fruits (Vitex doniana) – Guava

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Targeted Biodiversity: Livestock

• Indigenous chicken• Dried meats• Termites • Quails

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Activities: Knowledge base 1.1 Assessments in Pilot Sites – Baseline studies – Nutritional value of select biodiversity – Nutritional status of target population – Training in participatory food, nutrition

and health assessment methodology

1.2 Information Management – Production information on species – Food composition of target species – Comparative studies


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Knowledge base • Baseline Studies – KAP Agricultural/Farming

systemsMarket systemsHousehold

• Socio-cultural/economic

• Food consumption (Dietary diversity/ Diversity scores from 24 hr and 7 day recalls)


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Activities: Knowledge base

• Production– Seeds selection and

bulking-esp. vegetables

– Soil preparation– Spacing–Weeding– Pest control– Harvesting – Post harvest handling


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Activities: Knowledge base •Inventory and analysis of IK, development of guidelines – Document IK on crops/animals in the

study site– Amalgamate IK into a county database

which can be queried (think of ownership, IPR, updating)

– Promote and use IK– Raise awareness in the community

about the value of IK – Help communities record and

document their local practices – Make IK available: disseminate IK back

to the community through newsletters, videos, books and other media


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Activities: Policy & Regulatory Framework

• 2.1 Developing policies and strategies to mainstream– Analysis and synthesis of sector policies

• 2.2 Establishing cross sectoral platforms – Creation of local, regional and national fora

• 2.3 Drafting policy guidance – Development of evidence-backed policy recommendations

& guidelines

• 2.4 Improving marketing options – Value chain analysis of target species – Identification and analysis of input and output markets– Value addition of the species– Capacity building of target groups -market linkages,

collective marketing


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Participatory Market Systems Dvpt

• DEMAND and SUPPLY

• SERVICES & INFRASTRUCTURE

• INSTITUTIONS Laws, Codes & Practices


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Activities: Awareness & Outscaling

• 3.1 Best Practices for mobilising agrobiodiversity – Packaging & dissemination of best practices for mobilizing

biodiversity

• 3.2 Improving capacity of relevant actors – Development of guidelines and training modules

• 3.3 National information campaigns – Development of awareness materials– Publicity fora- seed fairs, print and electronic media,

exhibitions

• Guidelines for improved use of nutritionally rich foods – Development of training modules

• Documentation of tools & methods for mainstreaming – Development and sharing of information using policy

briefs, journal articles and project reports


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Awareness raising strategy • Local NGOs to reach communities • Flagship crops & livestock • Diversity of markets • Institutional markets • Key selling points – Good sources of

micro-nutrients• Stakeholder participation in

promotion


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Promotion techniques • School gardens and meals

programs • Education and awareness

material (T-shirt, brochures, banners, posters)

• Use of the media (FM radios, TV stations)

• Fairs -Food and seed fairs involving famer groups, restaurants and manufacturers

• Cultural events hosted by large hotels and serving local foods

• Publications and resources


Integrating Gender and Gender Analysis

Integrating gender in project implementation approaches

Integrating gender into each research component

Specific research and interventions on gender


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Country Partners

• Kenya Agricultural Research Institute • Kenyatta University

• National Museums of Kenya • Ministries of Agriculture, Health & Education • NGOs -Rural Outreach Program & market

linkages• National Environmental Management

Authority

*Role of Private Sector *Role of ASCU & MoA Policy Division


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Capacity Building –strengths • Socio-economics, policy and marketing research• Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation• Nutrition, public health & epidemiology• Documentation of indigenous knowledge• Seed science and biodiversity conservation• Ethno-botany and agro-biodiversity promotion • Food nutrition and dietetics• Public health nutrition• Policy Analysis • Gender mainstreaming and analysis


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Capacity Building-Needs • Market development and linkages • Policy Engagement • Nutrient and phytochemical analysis• Product development• Climate change • Participatory Monitoring and

Evaluation• Public awareness • Partnerships


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Opportunities • Public awareness on health foods • Political good will –e.g. ASDS, FSNP• Studentships • International partners • Outreach and partnerships focus in

KARI and CGIAR


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Immediate Next Steps

• National Steering Committee Meeting • Administrative issues • Specific site selection (Village level) • Reconnaissance visits • Baseline studies planning and execution

Studentships


AHSANTE SANA


Technology

BFN Project - Kenya component