Transcript Rachel Berger (Practical Action): Our work with

Our work with
communities for
adaptation to climate
change
Collecting rain water
 In western Zimbabwe, rainfall is only 200-300mm per year
 Often, this rain comes as a few heavy showers on maybe
10 days in the year
 Most of this water will run over the parched ground into
rivers, without percolating the soil, and thus will not
contribute to crop growth
 By constructing ridges along the contours, the water is
slowed down in its passage, and then soaks into the soil.
 Constructing the contours is labour intensive, but people
work together on each other’s land, using a simple A-frame
to ensure the ridges are absolutely level
 The community we were working with then found a way to
improve the effectiveness of the contour ridges: by
constructing underground tanks, about 10m long and 1.5m
deep, between the contours, further water could be
trapped.
Rachel Berger | 6 May 2007 | MacPlanet
Our work with communities for
adaptation to climate change :
Zimbabwe
Collecting rain water
Rachel Berger | 6 May 2007 | MacPlanet
With this technology the first
corn yield since 3 years!
(2003)
Rachel Berger | 6 May 2007 | MacPlanet
Exchange of seeds
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In most of sub-Saharan Africa and southern Africa, the staple food is maize.
This crop has been widely promoted over the last 40-50 years by
governments and agri-business, because agricultural research has
developed high-yielding varieties.
These varieties depend on inputs of fertiliser, and often chemicals to control
pests, as well as good rainfall during the growing season
Maize has displaced traditional staple crops like millet and sorghum, which
are drought resistant, and more nutritious, but require more work to
prepare as food.
As droughts have become more frequent and longer in these regions, maize
crops have declined, and it is vital to increase production of more drought
resistant crops
Practical Action’s research found that within most villages, there was at least
one ‘seed-keeper’, who continued to grow and conserve small quantities of
seed of a wide variety of crops
To insure that this local knowledge was shared, and strengthened, Practical
Action supported the organisation of annual seed fairs, or seed shows,
where farmers displayed the seeds of all the crops they grew, and
exchanged them with each other. Prizes for the best display were incentives
to enter the shows
These shows have continued to flourish after the project ended, with villages
successfully organising their own events, in Zimbabwe as well as in Kenya
In Kenya, the community-based organisation obtained funding from Practical
Action and others to design and build their own seed bank, in which to store
both a wide variety of seed, and surplus after good harvests to increase food
Rachel
Berger | when
6 May 2007
| MacPlanet
security
the
next drought happens
Fighting droughts in Kenya
Exchange of seeds
community seed
bank
Rachel Berger | 6 May 2007 | MacPlanet
Community based animal health
care
 In low rainfall areas of Africa, livestock-keeping is an
important source of food and income
 In remote areas, veterinary services are not available, yet
in tropical climates there are many common diseases that
need treating if livestock-keeping is to be viable
 Practical Action worked with communities to select suitable
people, women and men, to train as para-vets.
 Paravets can treat common diseases and give injections
 They charge for their services to cover costs of drugs and
to earn an income
 This work focused initially in northern Kenya among
farming and pastoralist communities
 The work is now being extended into Zimbabwe
Rachel Berger | 6 May 2007 | MacPlanet
Animal health worker with client, in Tharaka District of Kenya
Rachel Berger | 6 May 2007 | MacPlanet
For more information….
Visit out website
www.practicalaction.org.uk
Rachel Berger | 6 May 2007 | MacPlanet