Reversing Environmental and Agricultural Decline in the Nyando River Basin December 9 – 11, 2002 • Imperial Hotel, Kisumu, Kenya
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Proceedings of a Workshop on Reversing Environmental and Agricultural Decline in the Nyando River Basin December 9 – 11, 2002 • Imperial Hotel, Kisumu, Kenya Edited by David Mungai, Brent Swallow, Joseph Mburu, Leah Onyango and Annah Njui Co-hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), the National Environment Management Authority of Kenya (NEMA), the Water Quality Component of the Lake Victoria Environment Management Programme (LVEMP), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Cover Pictures: Picture by Leah Onyango Local community opening a drainage canal as part of flood control outside Ayweyo Secondary School, along Ahero -Katito Road Satelite image by Markus Wash A February 2000 satellite image showing the extent of the Nyando sediment plume in Winam Gulf, Lake Victoria. Increasing sediment concentrations are denoted by blue to red colour range (highest concentration in blue and lower concentration in red). Yellow denotes relatively clear water Cover Design: Ecomedia Limited ©2004 World Agroforestry Centre Workshop on Reversing Environmental and Agricultural Decline ................................................................ 2 in the Nyando River Basin.............................................................................................................................. 2 Workshop Summary -- Brent Swallow and David Mungai........................................................................ 2 Background................................................................................................................................................. 2 The Nature of Upstream-Downstream Linkages in the Nyando basin ....................................................... 3 Inter-Linakges between Environment, Poverty and Livelihoods in the Nyando basin.............................. 5 Options for Improving Livelihoods and Landscapes.................................................................................. 6 Elements of an Action Plan for the Nyando Basin ..................................................................................... 7 SESSION 1 -- Workshop Opening ................................................................................................................. 9 Perspectives on problems and possible solutions........................................................................................... 9 Empowering the local communities................................................................................................................ 9 Keys to developing relevance in Focus Areas .............................................................................................. 10 (i) Water management ....................................................................................................................... 10 (ii) Crop management......................................................................................................................... 10 (iii) Livestock management.................................................................................................................. 10 SESSION 2: The Mandate of the National Environmental Management Authority and Implementation of the Environmental Management and Co-Ordination Act (1999) -- K.S.A. Buigutt .................................... 16 Overview Of Environmental Management And Coordination Act No. 8 Of 1999.................................... 17 Implementation of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (1999) ................................ 19 SESSION 3: Review Of Information On The Nature And Extent Of The Problems In The Nyando Basin22 Identification of Sediment Sources and Sinks in the Nyando River Basin............................................... 27 Conclusions .............................................................................................................................................. 36 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................. 50 REVIEW INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS ..................................................................... 53 INSTITUTIONAL STATEMENTS OF PRIORITIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO ACTION PLANS .. 77 STATEMENTS BY REPRESENTATIVES OF PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEES ............................................................................................................................................ 82 CLOSING OF WORKSHOP ....................................................................................................................... 85 Annex 1. Field Trip To Nyando River - Katuk-Odeyo – Chebitet Area....................................................... 89 Annex 2. List Of Participant Workshop on Reversing Environmental and Agricultural Decline in the Nyando River Basin Workshop Summary -- Brent Swallow and David Mungai Background The Nyando River basin covers an area of 3517 square kilometers of Western Kenya and contains some of the most severe problems of agricultural stagnation, environmental degradation and deepening poverty found anywhere in Kenya. The Nyando River drains into the Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria and is a major contributor of sediment and phosphorus to Lake Victoria.1 About 750,000 persons reside within the Nyando basin, most of whom live in Nyando District in Nyanza Province and Nandi and Kericho districts in Rift Valley Province. Many other people in Kisumu district are affected by periodic flooding of the Nyando River. The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF),2 the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MOARD), the Water Department of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (WD-MENR)3 and a number of other research and development organizations have been involved in research on land and water management in the Nyando basin since the late 1990s. The focal area approach of the National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme (NALEP), implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has fostered innovation and collective action for improved resource management in many communities across the basin.4 The recent Environmental Management and Coordination Act (1999) and Water Act (2002) provide strong institutional support to watershed management. The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has been established since mid-2002, Provincial and District environment committees have been established in all provinces and districts. 1 The myriad problems of Lake Victoria – heavy loading of nutrients, loss of indigenous fish species, invasion by aquatic weeds, bans on fish exports to the European Union – have prompted a number of research, development and networking activities during the last decade. This report focuses on the Nyando, one of the eleven major sub-basins of Lake Victoria. 2 Research by the World Agroforestry Centre in the Nyando basin is primarily supported by funds provided by the Swedish International Development Agency through the National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme (NALEP) and the Rockefeller Foundation. 3 Research by the Water Department of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources is supported by the Government of Kenya and the Water Quality Component of the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Programme (LVEMP). At the time of this workshop, Water Development was a component of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, although at the time of publication, it was part of a new Ministry for Water Resource Development. 4 At the time of this workshop, the Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was responsible for agricultural development, livestock development, irrigation, cooperatives and agricultural research. At the time this proceedings document was published, these responsibilities had been separated, with agricultural extension remaining in the Ministry of Agriculture. 2 With this understanding of the problems and institutional basis for solutions, a cross- section of stakeholders came together in Kisumu, Kenya, in November 2002 to share information and develop action plans for future collaboration. Financial support for the workshop was provided by the European Union through restricted funding for policy research in Africa by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). The co-conveners of the workshop were the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MOARD), the Water Quality Component of the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Programme (LVEMP) – Kenya, and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). The workshop was attended by approximately 100 persons, including representatives of the co-convening agencies, provincial and district authorities responsible for administration, agriculture, environment, health and water, non-governmental organizations active in the basin, universities and research institutes, donor agencies and farmers. The workshop objectives were to: 1. Compile and exchange information with stakeholders about the nature of the inter- related problems of environmental degradation, low agricultural production and worsening poverty in the Nyando River Basin. 2. Compile and exchange information about alternative technical, institutional and policy options to address those problems. 3. Develop action plans for short, medium and long-term solution to the problems. 4. Identify priorities and plans for implementation. The workshop included a one-day field trip, approximately one day of presentations