Catchment planning in action: local farmers and extension workers discuss technical interventions based on a participatory map.

Catchment Approach (Kenia)

Descripción

A focused approach to integrated land and water management, including soil and water conservation, where the active participation of the villagers - often organised through common interest groups - is central.

The catchment approach promotes sustainable land management systems by conservation of a defined area (so-called micro-environments) through the active participation of the communities living there. It was launched in Kenya in 1988 to achieve greater technical and social impact - and at a more rapid pace - than the previous focus on individual farmers. This case focuses on a single catchment in a subhumid area of Central Kenya. The emphasis is on structural measures - especially fanya juu terraces - but vegetative systems are promoted also. Other activities are supported such as spring protection, improved crop and animal husbandry, agroforestry, fodder production, fish ponds and others. The specific objectives are to stimulate the implementation of a variety of SWC measures leading simultaneously to improved production. Each approach area is defined by cultural/administrative boundaries rather than strict hydrological watersheds or catchments (as its name confusingly implies).

A conservation committee is elected from amongst the focal community before problem identification begins. Technical staff from relevant government and non-government agencies (NGOs) are co-opted onto the committee. The approach then involves participatory methods of appraisal and planning of solutions. Land users, together with the co-opted subject matter specialists, pool their knowledge and resources. Common Interest Groups (CIGs) are formed, with the aim of self-help promotion of specific farm enterprises. Training is given to the members of the CIGs by the Ministry of Agriculture. The farmers carry out the majority of the work themselves: monetary or other tangible incentives are few. The end result is the micro-environment (catchment area) conserved for improved production, and left in the hands of the community to maintain and sustain.

The catchment approach was developed under the National Soil and Water Conservation Programme - supported by (Swedish) Sida - and continues to be promoted as the Focal Area Approach (FAA) under the National Agricultural and Livestock Extension Programme (NALEP), which is again supported by Sida. However, under NALEP there is less emphasis on soil and water conservation than the previous programme, and more focus on promotion of productive enterprises.

The catchment approach is linked to cultural or administrative boundaries, rather than to hydrological watersheds. This emphasis on social units and integrated land management is becoming more common worldwide. In Kenya the approach is constantly evolving and has recently been renamed the 'Focal Area Approach'.

Lugar

Lugar: Centre latitude:-0.721 Centre longitude:: 37.156, Central Province /Muranga District/Kangema divi, Kenia

Georreferencia de sitios seleccionados
  • 37.156, -0.721

Dato de inicio: 1987

Año de conclusión: 2000

Tipo de Enfoque
.
Catchment planning in action: local farmers and extension workers discuss technical interventions based on a participatory map.

Metas del Enfoque y entorno facilitador

Propósitos/ objetivos principales del Enfoque
The Approach focused mainly on SLM with other activities (The approach also included other activities like energy saving technologies and Agroforestry. It also involved collaboration with othe sectors like public health, fisheries, water. Also new technologies were introduced like water prospecting.) The main aims are to contribute to increased production among farmers and pastrolist through advise on sound land husbandry, conserve agricultural lands affected by erosion, create awareness on importance of soil conservation and introduce on-farm tree planting practices.
The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: lack of tangible and assessable impact of SWC activities, technically or socially, slow implementation of SWC, underlying problems of poverty, declining soil fertility, soil erosion and fuelwood shortage.
Condiciones que facilitan la implementación de la/s Tecnología/s aplicadas bajo el Enfoque
  • Marco de trabajo legal (tenencia de tierra, derechos de uso de tierra y agua): The existing land ownership, land use rights / water rights moderately helped the approach implementation: Most land is individually owned, so there is no problem in that situation. Where land is rented, land users need to be persuaded to co-operate.
Condiciones que impiden la implementación de la/s Tecnología/s aplicadas bajo el Enfoque
  • Disponibilidad/ acceso a recursos y servicios financieros : Lack of capital hinders farmers from investing in structures. Treatment through the SLM Approach: farmers to work in group so that they can pool resources.
  • Entorno institucional: There was no institutional linkages to provide synergy Treatment through the SLM Approach: collaboration forums through PRA were encouraged.
  • Conocimiento de MST, acceso a apoyo técnico: Lack of knowledge on better ways of conservation. Treatment through the SLM Approach: training was carried out through courses, fielddays and demonstration.

Participación y roles de las partes interesadas involucradas

Partes interesadas involucradas en el Enfoque y sus roles
¿Qué partes interesadas/ entidades implementadoras estuvieron involucradas en el Enfoque? Especifique las partes interesadas Describa los roles de las partes interesadas
usuarios locales de tierras/ comunidades locales Working land users were work equally divided between men and women. Groups consist out of both. Many joint activities but men and women still stick to some traditional gender-related agricultural activities. For example women often concentrate on food crops, men on cash crops. The poor resource group has been involved by participating in trainings, in election of catchment committee and during committee meetings.
especialistas MST/consejeros agrícolas
profesores/ niños en edad escolar/ estudiantes
gobierno nacional (planificadores, autoridades) Ministry of Agriculture, politicians
Involucramiento de los usuarios locales de tierras/ comunidades locales en las distintas fases del Enfoque
ninguno
pasivo
apoyo externo
interactivo
auto-movilización
iniciación/ motivación
public meetings; they were involved in making decisions on boundaries.
planificación
rapid/participatory rural appraisal, public meetings, interviews/questionnaires; they were involved in providing information during the PRA and also the formulation of the community action plan
implementación
responsibility for major steps; they were invoved in the actual work in the farms. implemented by community members
monitoreo y evaluación
Mainly: interviews/questionnaires; partly: reporting;
Research
only during trainings
Flujograma

Activities and actors within the Catchment approach.

La toma de decisiones en la selección de Tecnología MST

Las decisiones fueron tomadas por

  • solamente usuarios de tierras (autoiniciativa)
  • principalmente usuarios de tierras con el apoyo de especialistas MST
  • todos los actores relevantes, como parte de un enfoque participativo
  • principalmente por especialistas MST en consulta con usuarios de tierras
  • solo por especialistas MST
  • por políticos/ líderes

La toma de decisiones se basa en

  • la evaluación de conocimiento MST bien documentado (la toma de decisiones se basa en evidencia)
  • hallazgos de investigaciones
  • la experiencia personal y opiniones (no documentadas)

Apoyo técnico, fortalecimiento institucional y gestión del conocimiento

Las siguientes actividades o servicios fueron parte del enfoque
Construcción de capacidades/ capacitación
Se proporcionó capacitación a las siguientes partes interesadas
  • usuarios de tierras
  • personal de campo/ consejeros
  • extensionists/trainers, school children/students (2), teachers (3)
Forma de capacitación
  • en el contexto de trabajo
  • de agricultor a agricultor
  • áreas de demostración
  • reuniones públicas
  • cursos
Temas avanzados

including layout of measures; agroforestry; soil erosion and measures to control it; energy conservation; food preservation - as well as for specific farm enterprises. Carried out mainly through farm visits by Ministry of Agriculture agents.

Servicio de asesoría
Se proporcionó servicio de asesoría
  • en los campos de los usuarios de tierras
  • en centros permanentes
Name of method used for advisory service: Catchment Approach: Formation of Conservation Committees. Implementation of techniques/technologies, Training on techniques/technologies, farm visits, field demonstrations, field days.
Advisory service was carried out through: Government's existing extension system (Both generalists and SWC specialists.) Extension staff: Mainly government employees.
Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; There are extension staff posted at locational level who are well trained.
Fortalecimiento institucional
Se fortalecieron/ establecieron instituciones
  • no
  • sí, un poco
  • sí, moderadamente
  • sí, mucho
en el siguiente nivel
  • local
  • regional
  • nacional
Describa la institución, los roles y las responsabilidades, miembros, etc.
Tipo de apoyo
  • financiero
  • construcción de capacidades/ entrenamiento
  • equipo
Detalles adicionales
Monitoreo y evaluación
bio-physical aspects were regular monitored through observations technical aspects were ad hoc monitored through measurements socio-cultural aspects were ad hoc monitored through observations area treated aspects were regular monitored through observations no. of land users involved aspects were regular monitored by 0 through measurements; indicators: None management of Approach aspects were ad hoc monitored by 0 through observations; indicators: None There were few changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: There have been few changes, but there is some enhanced collaboration between agencies, and - more income generating activities have been identified and implemented through common interest groups for crop production, marketing and livestock.
Investigación
La investigación trató los siguientes temas
  • sociología
  • economía/ marketing
  • ecología
  • tecnología

Specific problems are researched as they arise. A strong research-extension linkage is being built up. Monitoring of the progress of the overall programme also takes place.

Financiamiento y apoyo material externo

Presupuesto anual en dólares americanos para el componente MST
  • < 2,000
  • 2,000-10,000
  • 10,000-100,000
  • 100,000-1,000,000
  • > 1,000,000
Precise annual budget: n.d.
Approach costs were met by the following donors: international (SIDA/trainnig, transport allowances etc): 70.0%; government (national - Office, personell): 20.0%; local community / land user(s) (Labour, materials): 10.0%
Los siguientes servicios o incentivos fueron proporcionados a los usuarios de las tierras
  • Apoyo financiero/material proporcionado a los usuarios de tierras
  • Subsidios para insumos específicos
  • Crédito
  • Otros incentivos o instrumentos

El trabajo de los usuarios de las tierras fue

Crédito

Análisis de impacto y comentarios de conclusión

Impactos del Enfoque
No
Sí, un poco
Sí, moderadamente
Sí, mucho
¿El Enfoque ayudó a los usuarios de tierras a implementar y mantener Tecnologías MST?

Intensified use of manures. The land user also adopted the construction of retention ditches. The improvements to SWC are moderate: these have been mainly through fanya juu and level bench terraces

¿El Enfoque mejoró cuestiones de tenencia de tierra/ derechos de usuarios que obstaculizaron la implementación de la Tecnologías MST?

The approach through catchment committee was able to persuade the prople leasing land to undertake conservation measures.

Did other land users / projects adopt the Approach?

Spread has been limited to one Non-Governmental Organisation in this particular case study area.

Motivación principal del usuario de la tierra para implementar MST
  • n.d.
Sostenibilidad de las actividades del Enfoque
¿Pueden los usuarios de tierras sostener lo que se implementó mediante el Enfoque (sin apoyo externo)?
  • no
  • sí
  • incierto

Conclusiones y lecciones aprendidas

Fortalezas: perspectiva del usuario de tierras
  • Much improved extension/training - research linkages have been forged (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Continue focussed training/strengthen research-extension linkage.)
  • New and productive farm enterprises have been promoted under the catchment approach alongside better SWC (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Continue to introduce/support where appropriate through Common Interest Groups.)
Fortalezas: punto de vista del compilador o de otra persona recurso clave
  • Genuine community participation has been achieved under this approach (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Continue with participatory training.)
  • There is evidence of 'ownership' by the community which implies a feeling that what has been achieved is due to communal efforts and belongs to them (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Further training is more effective when benefits are appreciated in this way.)
Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos: perspectiva del usuario de tierrascómo sobreponerse
  • Lack of material incentives like seeds and fertilizers Assist the farmers with the credit.
Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos: punto de vista del compilador o de otra persona recurso clavecómo sobreponerse
  • In many places there is a lack of availability of inputs Provide better credit facilities for CIGs/farmers generally.
  • Technologies tend to be implemented uniformly, not site-specifically SWC practices should be matched to each particular situation, eg structural measures such as fanya juu terraces should be promoted only where necessary, that is where agronomic and vegetative measures do not provide sufficient protection.
  • As yet uncertainty about continuation in specific areas if direct support stops after only one year Don't abruptly terminate this support after one year: continue approach for at least two or three years in each catchment (approach area).
  • inadequate funding Increase the funding.
  • Too small an area (of the country) is currently covered by NALEP More staff required: more effective use of staff.

Referencias

Compilador
  • James Gatero Njuki
Editors
Revisado por
  • Fabian Ottiger
  • Deborah Niggli
Fecha de la implementación: 20 de enero de 2009
Últimas actualización: 4 de abril de 2018
Personas de referencia
Descripción completa en la base de datos de WOCAT
Datos MST vinculados
La documentación fue facilitada por
Institución Proyecto
Referencias claves
  • The catchment approach is linked to cultural or administrative boundaries, rather than to hydrological watersheds. This emphasis on social units and integrated land management is becoming more common worldwide. In Kenya the approach is constantly evolving and has recently been renamed the 'Focal Area Approach'.:
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