SCIENCE BEHIND CLIMATE CHANGE

LETS BE HUMMING BIRD IN EVERYTHING WE DO

INTERLOCKING BRICK MAKING MACHINES LOCK OUT CLIMATE CHANGE MENACE

Climate change continues mould pressure on rural communities whose livelihoods are dependent on natural resources. In arid and semi arid areas communities are becoming more vulnerable in their efforts to harness their livelihood from already degraded environmental resources. Climate change is attributed directly or indirectly to human activities that alter the composition of global attribution (IPCC, 2011). Some of the community adaptations have greatly affected the atmosphere and thereby increasing vulnerability

Due to decreasing water availability and dwindling harvests in communities who majorly depend on rain fed agriculture, maladaptation practices such as charcoal burning, sand harvesting and cultivation along the river banks have reduced natural environments ability to provide for its habitants. In global scale the release of green house gases of transport sector and industries have continued to increase the average temperature as the green house gases remain in the lower atmosphere. Some of the noticeable impacts of climate change have been floods which have resulted to devastating impacts on livelihoods by destroying agricultural crops, disrupting electricity supply and demolishing infrastructure. Although drought is naturally occurring phenomenon that exists when precipitation is significantly below normal, however climate change has led to more occurrences of drought which are severer characterized by high temperatures, low humidity and minimal rainfalls

Climate variability and change pose major threats to the Environment, to economic growth and to sustainable development. In Kenya, the negative effects of change variability and change include reduced agricultural production, reduced food security, increased instances of droughts, widespread disease epidemics and increased risk of conflict over scarce land and water resource.

Youth and Climate Change adaptations

Inades Formation Kenya has been on the forefront to build community resilience to climate change through enhancing their adaptation capacities. In Kasikeu, Mwala and Matiliku Inades Formation Kenya did identify three youth groups to work with them to adapt to threatening menaces of climate change. This decision to engage the youth groups was informed by the understanding that youth are coupled with myriad of challenges on earning income due to high unemployment levels within the counties and country in general. Land which is key factor of production has been elusive to the youth as they lack title deeds and right of use.

Upon the identification the groups were trained on various income generating activities which they have been able to raise income and lead more decent lives.

Interlocking brick making machine

 Interlocking brick making machine is a press heavy duty machine which is manually operated and makes durable bricks from mixture of cement and soil without having to go through baking process which is not eco friendly. Conventionally bricks are made using soil and water and later baked using wood fuel to make them durable. This process is water intensive and requires large mass of wood fuel for baking processes. This entire process leads to large loss of water resource and forest cover. Once the groups were identified and appraised they were trained and supported with interlocking brick making machine.

Upon the training the groups have been making brinks for own bricks and being contracted to make bricks for neighboring communities. These machines have proofed to be the solution the environmentally destructive construction industry   especially in the rural areas. With declining sources of incomes for the youth and changing climate, innovations such as interlocking machine continues to provide the much anticipated eco friendly solutions and ought to be promoted by all stakeholders.

Youths make over 55% of population in Kenya and efforts to avail job opportunities need to be availed. Through provision of capital to start small enterprises, provision of water both for domestic and agricultural uses and eco friendly interventions such as interlocking brick making machines need to be promoted. Boda boda sector which offers employment opportunity to the youth either offers great opportunity but with environmental pollution from Green house gases from the engine run motorbikes.

Advantages of interlocking brick making Machine

The production of high quality bricks, uniform in size and shape with defined edges and smooth surfaces, makes constructions easier

There is mobilization and empowerment of communities to create local infrastructure and amenities which are eco friendly

The machine provide long time income generation with minimal maintenance costs

Suitable for wide range of soil structure and requires minimal skills and knowhow to operate

Financial implications

Onsite manufacture of interlocking bricks dramatically reduces transportation costs and damages during transit

The construction cost of materials especially cement is significantly reduced

Unskilled people can be quickly trained to use the interlocking brick making machine

Cost analysis reveals that savings of upto 50% can be achieved in construction of water tanks, houses, septic tanks, classrooms, public amenities and well linings

Environmental implications

Interlocking bricks are cured and not baked through fire, this drastically reduces the environmental damages of construction when compared to soil fired bricks

Contacts

Interlocking machine can be obtained from

Making Engineering servies ltd

Email: Makiga@wananchi.com/ www.makiga-engineering.com

Article by Andrew Nyamu

Project officer

Agriculture Innovations and Climate Change

Inades Formation Kenya

Email: andrew.muendo@inadefo.net/ www.andrewnyamuconservationcentre.org

SHAIRI: SULUHISHO NI MITI

Ujumbe umeenea kote, Hali ya anga yambandilika,

Magazetini twasoma, Radio zinatangaza,                                              

Utafiti wa wanasayansi, Dhibitisho imara

Tupande miti jameni, Suluhisho dhabiti

Gesi zitokasho Kwa makampuni, Zaloa anga yetu,

Ukataji wa miti, Jangwa nalo laenea,

Taka likitupwa ovyo, maji yachafuka pote,

Tupande miti jameni, Suluhisho dhabiti

Msitu asili yandindimia, Binadamu kachangia

Wanyama pori wauwawa, Kitowea kipatikane

Madawa asili hayapo, Magonjwa sugu sambaa,

Tupande miti jameni, Suluhisho dhabiti

Wakasi wa Ukambani nasi, Jukumu ni letu sasa,

Maarifa tumepata, hali ya anga kukambili,

Hapa na pale tupande, Miti bila kuchoka

Tupande miti jameni, Shuluhisho dhabiti

Andrew Nyamu

Project Officer

Climate Change and Agriculture Innovation

www.andrewnyamuconservationcentre.blogspot.org

REUSE OF PLASTIC CONTAINERS, SIMPLE KITCHEN GARDENS FOR WATER OPTIMIZATION

Water jericans are commonly used in most rural and urban households for fetching and storing water. This jericans are available in wide varieties in size, shape, durability and portability. Most of the jericans range from 3 litres to 25 litres but with externalities of half litre to 10,000 litres.

Most household especially in rural areas use them to draw water either manually or using animals of burden such as donkey, camels and oxen. Once this jericans are broken and can no longer hold water they become hard to dispose because of their non biodegradability. However this jericans can be reused to provided vegetable at household levels with minimal resource requirement

Jericans reuse process

Step 1

The broken jericans are cut in convenient size depending on the size and nature of brokenness to provide wide open from which different material will be filled. Few holes are then made on the bottom end of the container to filter out excess water and avoid water logging.

Step 2

The open jerican is then filled with different columns of materials to facilitate the growth of the crops. The columns include the bottom most layer which is filled with mixture of ballast and sand. This column is followed by column of dry organic matter such as dry leaves or grass. This form a barrier for crop roots system from reaching the infertile bottom column

Step 3

The remaining part of the open space of the jerican is filled with mixture of fertile topsoil and manure leaving a small portion on top for mulching and irrigation. The ratio of the top soil and manure depends on the fertility existing fertility level of the soil. Once the manure and soil have been mixed, the crops are planted. The spacing of the crops is determined by the crop variety being planted. Mulching is then done to reduce water lose through evaporation

NB: To ensure that the kitchen garden is protected from attacks by pests and diseases it is places on elevated ground and free from vegetated areas.

Advantages of jerican kitchen garden

1.     Provides a convenient disposal option for the non biodegradable jericans which would otherwise provided environmental pollution

2.     The jericans are easily available because they are household items available in local market and affordable

3.     Minimal maintenance once the kitchen garden has been established

4.     Optimises the use of household water, the irrigation water is easily available from other household chores such as laundry, washing utensils, bathing etc

Conclusion

With increasing effects of Climate Change there is dire need of adoption to practices that enhance production with minimal water requirement. Some innovations such as using waste jericans to plant household vegetable and cut the cost of buying from market need to promoted. Inades Formation Kenya has trained community groups and members are reaping the benefits of such training. Sussane Kakae from Kaluluku women group in Matinyani Kitui says she has been able to produce sufficient vegetable for her household and local market. This article is intended to provide information to increase resilience to climate change and maximise the use of locally available materials

Article by

Andrew  Nyamu

Project Coordinator

National Church Council of Kenya (NCCK)

www.andrewnyamuconservationcentre.blogspot.org