This resulted in a five-year programme whose Vision is to mainstream into National Agricultural Systems by the year 2020.  from October 2011 to December 2012, this programme will kick off on a pilot basis, with PELUM Kenya as the interim coordinating body.  There is need to raise funds for the support of this initiative and for more details, please see a presentation in summary as presented in a recent meeting in Brussels, Belgium

The Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Programme .pdf

From the 10^th – 12^th October 2011, OXFAM Novib and HIVOS (Netherlands) will hold a meeting for practictioners in agriculture and rural development in ACP Countries.  The meeting will bring together partner organizations that have previously participated in responses on mapping knowledge on sustainable agriculture, biodiversity management, climate change adaptation and mitigation.  The main purpose of this meeting is to share findings from this survey, and map intervention strategies as a way forward.

The participants will also get the opportunity to interact with local community members hosted by the Institute of Culture and Ecology (ICE), a member of the Africa Biodiversity Network (ABN); and INADES Formation a PELUM Kenya Member Organization.  The meeting is expected to bring together a total of 25 development practitioners from Africa, Asia and Europe. The meeting will be hosted by PELUM-Kenya in at the Sustainable Agriculture Community Development Programme (SACDEP) Training and Conference Centre in Thika.

OXFAM Novib envisions a world in which everybody can build an independent livelihood, thus supporting people in developing countries working on their own future as a matter of justice.  In the same breadth, HIVOS mission is to contribute to a world with equal opportunities for people to develop their talents by offering financial support as well as advising, networking, advocacy, providing education and exchanging knowledge.

Through NIA’s Motto of Promoting Dependable Neighbourliness, the service delivery NGO works addresses the needs of the poor and vulnerable groups among the Maasai people living in various neighbourhoods (former group ranches) in Kajiado district of Kenya.  NIA has a well-defined and functional structure, which empowers the neighbourhoods to participate in decision making and running of the organization such that at the neighbourhood level, are neighbourhood committees that address various developmental issues in the community. Under these committees are working groups which address natural resource management, social justice, leadership and governance, livestock development and development education (gender, HIV/AIDS, children rights). Programme design and coordination is facilitated by the Secretariat and Board of Advisory Management (BOAM), the latter’s role being mainly advisory.

PELUM Kenya’s focus for the CWG will be mainly Strengthening Partnerships and Institutional Development for improved service delivery.  The CWG targets CEOs and senior Programme managers of Member Organizations with guest speakers as thematic session facilitators. Invited Resource Persons will facilitate topics in Government Civil Societies Organizations collaboration (CSO), Fundraising, Organization Development and Sustainability, Sericulture, Local and International market Opportunities, herbal medicinal plants, networking and knowledge sharing

The members will visit NIA Communities to learn and exchange Ideas and this will be an opportunity to interact with the Maasai Community, and acquire knowledge from the projects they are implementing

News that commercial farming of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) could soon be a reality in the country will likely reignite debate on the role of biotechnology in ensuring food security. The National Biosafety Authority was recently quoted as promising that regulations governing production of GMOs were ready for adoption. These will guide implementation of the Biosafety Act, 2009 which sought to regulate GMOs farming.

Biosafety describes measures used for assessing, monitoring, and managing risks associated with GMOs. These are plants, animals or microorganisms that have had DNA inserted into their cells from another organism.

The direct in vitro transfer of DNA between or within species is referred to as genetic modification.

It is expected that embracing GMOs will promote increased food harvests and therefore, a natural mitigation for food shortage. Considering the below-average rains being experienced in many regions in the country and the looming famine, this should be good news.

Touting GMOs as the silver bullet for food scarcity is nothing new. Governments in Africa, including Kenya, that are exposed to recurrent food insufficiency are under increasing pressure to adopt GM technology.

The passing of the Biosafety Act was characterised by open lobbying by pro-biotechnology multinational giants against determined proponents of conservative, ecologically-sustainable agriculture practice. Eventually, the pro-GMO camp prevailed. However, it was apparent genuine debate on the merits and demerits of the GMOs had been subverted by powerful, vested interests.

For poor nations, whether or not to adopt genetically modified products is hardly ever an objective decision for governments and farmers. Rather, it is presented as take-it-or-perish doctor’s prescription! The argument goes that, by planting high-yield GMOs contrasted to the traditional variety, food sufficiency would be guaranteed.

This would lead to attendant benefits such as a healthy citizenry and improved quality of living. Besides, governments would find profitable alternative use for the huge amounts spent in importing food.

The real truth is less charitable. Rather, it is rooted in a pernicious and often secretive marriage of big business to government. Peering through debates in media and other forums promoting adoption of GMOs, it is apparent multinational companies under the protection of home governments are spending fortunes to market GMOs in Africa.

But why would the US government, for instance, spend so much resources promoting GMOs? The official answer is painted in generosity: that it is championing science and technology to boost food production and, therefore, food sufficiency in a hungry Third World. GMOs are portrayed as the miracle cure to hunger.

Who owns this technology? Who has the control rights for GMOs? A few companies nicknamed the “Gene Giants” dominate global sales of seeds.

Take-it-or-perish

Seed trade is big business valued at Sh1.9 trillion. The aggressive pursuit of seed business by gene giants poses important moral issues. It is evidently prompted by a realisation of the power of the seed. Farming exclusively depends on seeds. Majority of the local farmers own and control their seeds.

They grow their own crops from seeds they have saved from previous harvests. They make decisions concerning seed storage, sharing, replanting as well as redistribution.

By contrast, GMO seeds are patented. Rushed embrace of GM technology could disenfranchise farmers through patenting of naturally-occurring genes. It could lead to licensing and therefore controlling seeds that would normally be freely retained and sown the following season. This “patenting of life” could lead to an unacceptable control and commercialisation of natural resources.

Sole dependency on GM seeds has the potential to create a private monopoly over plants and seeds that would likely be priced way above ordinary farmer purchasing power.

Considering the cost of GMOs inputs against the purchasing power of ordinary farmers, it makes sense to promote credible alternatives. In the interests of sustainable farming, farmers should be encouraged to continue using seeds of known source with proven yields.

Government should seriously consider subsidising seeds, not as an episodic bout of generosity, but as a sustained agricultural policy. Whether GMOs are the solution to food scarcity is debatable.

With introduction of GM seeds aimed for sale, the cost of farming will certainly rise and leave local farmers poorer. Farmers should be advised to retain/revert to alternative agro-ecological agriculture, which is sustainable, less costly and environmental friendly.

The writer is a member of the Kenya Biodiversity Coalition (KBioC).

Adapted from Standard Media website

The AGM tree planting exercise is the climax of the environmental conservation efforts in tree planting by PELUM Kenya in May 2011.  The AGM event will be preceded by tree planting exercises on 25thMay 2011in Londiani forest where it is expected that 1,500 trees will be planted; 17th May 2011 in Kakamega forest in collaboration with WRCCS where 2,000 seedlings will be planted; and on 9th May 2011 in at Kibaoni Secondary School, Machakos  in collaboration with UCCS where 2,000 seedlings  will be planted.

Manor House is an agricultural college that advances training in sustainable community development by training, research and testing. Graduates from Manor House are equipped with knowledge and skills in educational courses in Bio-Intensive Agriculture at a certificate level; agricultural training and extension work; as well as community development.

PELUM Kenya will focus the attention of this year’s CWG on learning techniques and technologies in Grow Bio-Intensive Agriculture.

The event will be hosted by INADES Formation in collaboration with Ukamba Christian Community Services (UCCS) and Benevolent Institute of Development Initiatives (BIDII).

PELUM Kenya will be launching their 5-year Strategic Plan and the HIV and AIDS workplace Policy.  Discussion on “Making Ecological Agriculture Work in Africa through water harvesting and Management” will sorround the two day event”