A grass strip and trees have productive and protective effects on the riparian area. (Manuel Fischer (123 Manyatta, Embu District))
On the south-eastern slopes of Mt. Kenya, the conditions are ideal for agricultural activities. There is plenty of rainfall (2100 mm/year) which is usually reliable. However in the year 2000, the river Kapingazi dried up for the first time since many decades during a dry spell. This led to community activities that finally came up with a system of vegetative interventions to strengthen the riparian zones. The intervention consists of tree planting and establishment of grass strips along the river. Napier grass is planted to stabilize steep slopes and to supply material for the construction of tea baskets.
Purpose of the Technology: The goals of this technology are manifold. Firstly, the vegetation prevents surface water and eroded soil flowing from the agricultural fields directly into the river. Therefore, sediments and chemicals used on the field are retained in the riparian soils and do not pollute the river. Surface water flow from runoff during heavy storms is slowed down and infiltration on soils covered by grass and trees is increased. As a result more groundwater is recharged during the wet seasons, which can be released during the dry season. Thus peak or flood flows are reduced and low flows are improved. Damage during flood flows on the riverbank (through erosion and destabilizing the riparian vegetation) as well as damages of floods downstream can be reduced or avoided.
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Before planting the indigenous trees, water guzzlers like eucalyptus trees were cut down. Indigenous seedlings were planted right along the river at a distance of 2m. Between the trees and the tea plantation a grass strip of up to 10m is established. Some trees were planted scattered on the grass strip. The young trees are surrounded by grasses which are cut regularly every 2 weeks. This reduces competition and enhances growth of the trees. As soon as the trees are big enough, they function as a source of firewood, they can be pruned every 5 months.
Natural / human environment: The studied plot is situated right below the natural mountain forest of Mt. Kenya at the south-eastern slope. The source of Kapingazi River can be found at 1.5 km of walking distance upslope of the plot. Agricultural circumstances are good because of the fertile, volcanic plots and the abundant precipitations. However, the terrain is quite steep.
The zone which is used for tea production reaches from an elevation of 1700 m.a.s.l to 2000 m.a.s.l. Most tea farmers own between 4 and 20 acres. The area of the riparian zone covers 6 m from the river edge and belongs to the government. Since the harvest of the tea leaves requires a high labour input, local workers are hired. Most of the harvest is done during the rainy season because the tea plants are growing fast in this period. For the tea production only the youngest leaves are used, transported in a basket on the worker’s back to the tea factory in the evening.
Байршил: Embu, Kenya/Eastern Province, Кени
Дүн шинжилгээнд хамрагдсан технологи нэвтрүүлсэн газрын тоо:
Технологийн тархалт: газар дээр жигд тархсан (approx. < 0.1 км2 (10 га))
Тусгай хамгаалалттай газар нутагт?:
Хэрэгжилтийн огноо: <10 жилийн өмнө (саяхны)
Нутагшууллын төрөл
| Зардлын нэр, төрөл | Хэмжих нэгж | Тоо хэмжээ | Нэгжийн үнэ (Ам.доллар) | Зардал бүрийн нийт өртөг (Ам.доллар) | Нийт дүнгээс газар ашиглагчийн төлсөн % |
| Хөдөлмөр эрхлэлт | |||||
| Tree planting during rain season | Persons/day | 6.0 | 3.3333333 | 20.0 | 100.0 |
| Replanting of seedlings | Persons/day | 2.0 | 3.333333 | 6.67 | 100.0 |
| Planting trees before rain season | Persons/day | 8.0 | 3.333333 | 26.67 | 100.0 |
| таримал материал | |||||
| Seedlings | pieces | 70.0 | 0.111 | 7.77 | |
| Seedlings for replanting | pieces | 20.0 | 0.111 | 2.22 | 100.0 |
| Riparian seedlings | pieces | 90.0 | 0.034555 | 3.11 | 100.0 |
| Технологи бий болгох нийт үнэ өртөг | 66.44 | ||||
| Технологи бий болгох нийт үнэ өртөг, ам.доллар | 66.44 | ||||
| Зардлын нэр, төрөл | Хэмжих нэгж | Тоо хэмжээ | Нэгжийн үнэ (Ам.доллар) | Зардал бүрийн нийт өртөг (Ам.доллар) | Нийт дүнгээс газар ашиглагчийн төлсөн % |
| Хөдөлмөр эрхлэлт | |||||
| Weeding the area around the trees | Persons/day | 16.0 | 3.33333 | 53.33 | 100.0 |
| Weeding the lawns | Persons/day | 64.0 | 3.33333 | 213.33 | 100.0 |
| Технологийн арчилгаа/урсгал үйл ажиллагаанд шаардагдах нийт үнэ өртөг | 266.66 | ||||
| Технологи арчилах ба урсгал ажлын нийт үнэ өртөг, ам.доллар | 266.66 | ||||
Pruning of trees
Pruning the trees
aesthetics
Through the increase of the water quality, the technology improves the access to clean water.
