Culture vs Reptile Farming in Nyanza Province

Surely some headlines can never hit the Nyanza's headlines as a matter of fact; this may be due to some cultural believes and notions developed by the people. Imagine of such a headline in Nyanza, 'A Kisumu man rears tortoise for cash' but in other regions it has and continues to. In Kitui and other areas in Eastern Kenya, farmers have diversified on their production as a result of the unreliable rain patterns that favor none of their crops and are now opting for tortoise farming; a production that highly relies on the export market to countries that are reptile consuming.

I got interested whether such kind of farming would see the light of the day in Nyanza if by any chance it was introduced. The Luo community is one of the communities in Kenya if not in the world that has the largest number of taboos and beliefs concerning reptiles rearing. Unless you posses a witchcraft history, one may not go it easy with such kind of farming, no matter how much it fetches in the market. Nyanza has one of the best climates in Kenya that can support all kinds of farming, be it snakes, hippo, crocodiles, mention it; can we the 'westernites' give room to such new productions? 

Innovative Pump Eases Burden for Farmers

Aside from using it as a means of transport, there is another reason why a farmer should buy a motorcycle – pumping water. A new water pump eases the burden of irrigation by relying on the engine of a motorcycle. The device has a capacity of pumping between 22,000 to 40,000 litres of water per hour, consuming a measly 0.2 litres of petrol in an hour.

This pump is mounted to a motorcycle Power Take Over, commonly known as the engine shaft that drives it as it pumps the water from its source. The device can also pump water from a well of up to 40 feet, but the speed and the amount of water is dependent on the slope. On a not so steep place, the water is pumped so fast as compared to pumping it from a well that is deep. The pump has the ability to pump water to as far as 50 meters uphill for a continuous operating time of 100 hours and is suitable for pumping water for irrigation, car washing, firefighting, spraying crops and for fumigating.

The advantage of this machine is that it uses a locomotive that can be used for other purposes as compared to the common diesel water pump that performs one purpose only and lies idle when you are not pumping water. The 1.6 Kg pump costs about Sh 12,000. I believe you will like it.

HOMA-BAY COUNTY FORUM FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS COME 2013

On the 13^th and 14^th August 2012, more 190 representatives from the  6 constituencies (Kasipul 
Kabondo,Karachuonyo, Rangwe, Ndhiwa, Mbita and Gwasi) that make up the Homa-Bay County converge at the Homa-Bay County Council hall to deliberate on matters that must be put in place before, during and after the elections to ensure that we, as Kenya, have a peaceful election come  March 4^th 2013.

In the two days workshop, members were able to identify the issues that usually cause problems before elections (campaign period), during elections (on the D-day) and after the elections (when the poll closes, the result are announced and reception of the results). We learnt that there is a lot that transpires during this period that calls upon each stakeholder to take it as his responsibility to ensure that we promote peace to avoid a repetition of what happened in the year 2007 and 2008.

I guess you are already wondering of who the responsible stakeholders are! My friend, it begins with me and you. The new constitution dispensation has changed so many things in the government institutions; the power is no longer with the leaders but it’s with us the people, we the voters. Let us ‘employ’ leaders with a clear vision and passion for the development of its people, let’s not look at clans, tribes, parties and other dividing frames that could collapse our stability as a people.

At the end of the workshop, we as the stakeholders took the responsibility to:

• Promote smooth transition into the new constitution dispensation;
• Build trust and confidence in the public institution (courts, IEBC) at the county and national government levels;
• We need to promote public awareness especially on peaceful elections and coexistence;
• We need to create hope among citizens, especially the marginalized groups e.g. the youth, the aged, women and the rest.
• We need to help our people appreciate the benefits of peaceful, fair, all inclusive society and identify strategies to create and sustain such a society.

I wish we could give you the entire details of the proceedings, but since each an every county has its own uniqueness both in terms of challenges and structure. Our major statement and plea to all Kenyans is that ‘let us move from a focus on divided past to a shared future.

Print or share this copy on your sites or notice boards to promote peace.

Ajuang Women Group and The Monkey Trap Innovation

Gardening Innovation

Kitchen Gardening in the Rurals of Kenya

ALIN Donates a Computer to a Partner Organization.

In appreciation to the good working relation that ALIN has had with the Institute for Rural Development Kenya (IRD-K) since the year 2007, we felt that it was time to support the organization that hosted us for more than four years, as Maarifa Centre, to have its systems computerized.

With the current era when everything is getting digital and the world is going it green, issues of paper works are rapidly diminishing with a culture of online storage and communication. 
ALIN presented the computer to the Executive Director of the Institute for Rural Development Kenya (IRD-K) Mr. Robert Osano. This was done in the presence of Mr. Anthony Mugo, Madam Esther Lung’ahi, Gerald Yongo and Isinya Maarifa Officer Ms Njeri Kinyagia both of Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN).