East Africa Resources From Past Events

2021

2021 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

This collection contains presentations from the ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on 28-30 September 2021.

The ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies connects individuals and organizations who seek to share their knowledge and best practices in these areas:

to improve nutrition, reduce poverty, hunger, and physical hardship by engaging farmers more effectively to adapt their farming systems
to respond to climate change and declining yields in Africa with sustainable options which improve the environment, regenerate soils and water catchments, recycle resources and mitigate the effect of weather extremes
to combine a wide range of approaches holistically to enhance the resilience of the vulnerable and to care for the earth
to have a relevant response to the current COVID pandemic
to promote continued learning and sharing through networks

The ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium will provide a network and training opportunity for those involved in alleviating hunger and poverty in East Africa.

Conservative Agriculture Companion Farming - Fiona Barretto and William Kabelege

CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE ADOPTION IN KENYA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD AND A NETWORK - Stephan Lutz

PERENNIAL VEGETABLES: Plant once and eat for a decade! - Sophia Kasubi and Faith Juma

FOOD DRYING: Best practices for ensuring availability of nutrient food during scarcity. - Sophia Kasubi

Scaling up the adoption of Rocket Stoves in rural communities of East Africa - Harold Msanya

Promotion of Maresha direct seeder for small scale CA Mechanization - Harold Msanya

Transforming Masculinities: A gender transformative approach to SGBV Prevention - Sabine Nkusi and Uwezo Lele

Aggregated Marketing: Grain Crops - Lilian Zheke & John Mbae

Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania: Transforming Agriculture System in Tanzania - Janet Maro

Macho Sauti: ICT Platform for Agroecology - Gladness Martin Brush

2021 Videos - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

Scaling Up Conservation Agriculture in East Africa: How CA Programming and Advocacy Influenced Ethiopian Government Policy

Session: Mueni will present the major lessons learned from the recent CFGB evaluation and particularly the successes in promoting conservation agriculture through programming and advocacy in Ethiopia. Presenter: Adella Mueni Mutinda

Conservation Agriculture Adoption in Kenya: Lessons From the Field and a Network

Session: Stephan will present the importance of community involvement and participation for better and faster conservation agriculture adoption and learning. Gathering his experiences, even during the Covid pandemic, he will update the challenges and opportunities of a CA network. Stephan has had...

Scaling up CA Plus Among Smallholder Farmers

Session: Conservation Agriculture (CA) adoption has struggled to take off among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Combining CA principles with other good agronomic practices, which bring greater short-term returns in a "CA-Plus" approach, has been key to creating the economic incentives...

Lightning Talk - Adoption and Scaling Up of Tubular Bio Digesters

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 28, 2021 Presenter: Herry Charles

Lightning Talk - Remembering some Principles of Agroforestry, Soil, and Water Conservation

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 28, 2021 Presenter: Erwin Kinsey

2019

2019 Presentations - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

Best Practices in Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

12th – 14th February, 2019 Naura Spring Hotel Arusha, Tanzania

Panel Session Title: Cheers and tears of conservation agriculture in Kenya – examples from Eastern, Central, Rift Valley and Western Kenya - Stephen Lutz / Daniel N. Njunge

Session: The session will focus on highlighting and sharing with the participants the lessons learned from implementing two food security programs promoting CA principles in Eastern (Tharaka Nitii), Central (Muranga), Rift Valley (Nakuru) and Western Kenya (Busia) in the last 5-7 years. Even...

Addressing problems of soil fertility with emphasis on nitrogen fixation by legumes and the temporal and spatial dynamics of local resources - Ken Giller

Session: Ken’s research focuses on smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular problems of soil fertility with emphasis on nitrogen fixation by legumes and the temporal and spatial dynamics of resources within crop/livestock farming systems. Biographical information:...

The role of green manure/cover crops vis a vis Africa’s worsening droughts - Roland Bunch

Session: The major factor in the increase in droughts across Africa has been caused mostly by the gradual death of fallowing, and the resulting decrease in rainwater infiltration from about 60% down to 20% in most areas. GM/CCs are the only feasible way to save Africa from the rapidly increasing...

Sustainable agro ecological crops pest management using botanical pesticides & IPM - Angela Mkindi

Session: There exists a perfect synergy between research and community perceptions and expectations in agro-ecology. Farmer involvement provides evidence-based research questions and fosters in-depth research and constructive findings for the society. The presentation shares strategies for farmer...

Valuing landscapes through ecosystem services - REDD as a mechanism to reduce land use change - Marc Baker

Session: This presentation by Carbon Tanzania looks at valuing ecosystem services in Tanzania, how this is done by measuring carbon content, understanding land use change and how Carbon Tanzania links these landscapes to the carbon markets, providing significant income to communities in the Yaeda...

Impact of livestock: Dairy development in SW Tanzania – mediation and translation in innovation, & Sustainability assessments of low-input ruminant production systems - Ben Eyre

Session: There is a long history of dairy development in Rungwe District, Mbeya Region, Tanzania. Part of this presentation offers a case study of the introduction of dairy cows in one ward since the early 1980s. It suggests how ideas from science and technology studies (STS) about innovation...

Food Smart Cities and how to incentivize sustainable practices at farm and trader levels - Mark Blackett

Session: Cities host over half the world’s population and therefore have a strategic role to play in developing sustainable food systems and promoting healthy diets. The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact was therefore established to support cities to strengthen this role and Arusha City Council is a...

Legumes and soil health – participatory action research - Sieg Snapp

Session: Soil degradation and rapid change are faced across Africa, and require attention to both old and new technologies. Over two decades of action research with farmers in Malawi has shown that smallholder food production and nutrition can be improved through biological principles and...

Bridging the gap between farmers and extensionists with ICT & radio - Rex Chapota

Session: ICTs can bridge the distance between farmers and extension officers through radio combined with mobile phones. Agricultural extension officers are an invaluable resource for farmers looking to increase their yields. Extension officers can provide tips on combating a new disease, or...

Homegardens with traditional African vegetables to increase the consumption of nutrient dense vegetables and improve income generation for men and women - lessons from East Africa - Ralph Roothaert

Session: WorldVeg has implemented a project funded by USAID on scaling home gardens with traditional African vegetables to improve nutrition of young women and small children, and enhance incomes. The session will focus on the diversity of species being produced, the choices of adoption of good...

Conversion of the maresha plow to a direct seeder - Harold Msanya

Session: Modifications have been done to make a lowest-cost direct seeder for single and multi-row applications powered by animal draught power, prototypes which will be viewed and discussed seeking improvements for wider experimentation across the region. Biographical information: Harold...

Mitigation of Newcastle Disease for reducing food insecurity: A focus on family poultry production - Msafiri Kalloka

Session: This presentation will be co-presented through a combination of video and discussion. Village chickens play a vital role in the lives of rural poor, providing meat, eggs, and income from sales which meet family needs. They are generally owned by women and children and provide food...

Airtight underground grain stores among Dodoma farmers - Mussa Chilemu

Session: Grains, mainly maize, and pulses are staple foods for most African subsistence farmers. Post-harvest losses for these crops are estimated up to 40% in Africa. Efforts to reduce these losses include identification of post-harvest problems, how to manage the crops from field to storage....

Evidence-based best practices to impact food security – a collaboration of RECODA and World Vision - Dominic Ringo

Session: Evidenced-based practices are needed to build trust and to close the agricultural technology gap as a means of improving livelihoods and self-support among rural small-scale farmers. The approach is as well a documented step-by-step guide on how organizations working with small-scale...

Ecosystem adaptation - Stephen Ababo

Session: Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EBA) is the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people to adapt to the adverse effects of Climate Change. Ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation may include sustainable management, conservation and...

How can we support the extreme poor to facilitate their food security with CA? - Carl Wahl

Session: How can we support the extreme poor to be better enabled (with regards to having sufficient food security) to commit to learning and executing CA? It’s “addressing poverty before production” in parallel with CA training, as the extremely poor (yet capable) can choose not to work on...

Terraces to control soil erosion and increase land availability for agriculture in the DRC - Filbert Leone Ahmat

Session: The presenter will describe the use of terraces to control soil erosion and increase land availability for agriculture in the DRC. Biographical information: Filbert Leone Ahmat works for FHI in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Invasive weeds and their control - Ahmed Mbugi

Session: The presenter will highlight serious, new invasive weeds and their control. Recent data shows more than 150 Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Tanzania, making it the most vulnerable country in East and Central Africa. The number of IAS is expected to increase due to increases in tourism...

Social contract on water, a pave for multiplier effects of biodiversity practices to industrial economic growth in Tanzania - Dr. Alliy Saidi Mbwana

Session: The principles informing the notion of a Social Contract on Water in Tanzania still needs to be more legally binding, democratically enforceable and widely accepted in interpreting the current Industrial Economic Growth Policy. IRTECO wants to share its experiences on how democratic...

Using Evidence-Based Agricultural Advice - Neil Rowe-Miller

Session: Agriculture Extension agents often need to respond to a wide range of questions from farmers and other stake holders. This session will discuss the importance of respecting locally-developed technologies, but verifying them with scientific research before promoting them widely. Methods...

Composting with biochar and urine - Christopher Kellner

Session: The productivity of garden land depends on soil fertility, water and climate. Compost is an excellent resource to increase water holding capacity in the first place and to provide nutrients to the soil. Recent trends have introduced other techniques and key words for organic farming...

Addressing conflict between farmers and pastoralists - Dr James Kahurananga

Session: Decreasing agricultural land in Shinyanga and neighboring regions has forced a large number of pastoralists to migrate to southern Tanzania especially Morogoro region. This has led to increasing conflict between pastoralists and farmers particularly in Kilosa. Land use planning offers an...

The imperative for Conservation Agricultural mechanization - Ann Adjei

Session: Mechanized farming is no longer an option but necessary to help meet the increasing demand of food in Africa. Today there are different types of mechanization that support Conservation Agriculture from land preparation through planting to harvesting. The idea of mechanization sounds...

Integrated approach to top bar beekeeping in Tanzania - Rachel Monger

Session: This workshop seeks to draw together people involved in or interested in top-bar beekeeping. Drawing from our experience of starting beekeeper groups in rural villages in the Mwanza region, we will discuss challenges faced, lessons learned and also the potential for the future of...

EMI- Designing a world of hope - Rex Barber

Session: Development projects are usually the largest capital investment a Christian ministry will make—it is so critical to plan them well and get professional advice. EMI (engineering ministries international) is a network of architects, engineers, land surveyors, and other design professionals...

CA scale-up through service providers - Hamis Dulla Mzoba

Session: His talk will cover definitions with some mention of basic CA principles and practices, the origin of CA technologies in reference to the US Dust Bowl of 1930’s and comparison between conservation and conventional agricultural technologies. It will highlight the main problems...

Climate variability and honey bee forage - Goodluck Malisa

Session: Pollinators are a key component of global biodiversity, providing vital ecosystem services to crops and wild plants. There is clear evidence of recent declines in both wild and domesticated pollinators, and parallel declines in the plants that rely upon them. Here we describe the nature...

Rice trading and information systems - Mark Blackett

Session: Rice is the daily staple food of 3.5 billion people. One out of 5 people on our planet derives a livelihood from rice. In 2050, the world will face a big production shortfall estimated at 40%. How can we address this global challenge while protecting the environment, adapting to and...

Basic seed and soil preparation for propagation - techniques used at ECHO Florida - Lydia Hofland

Session: Lydia will share on propagation techniques, in particular seed and soil bed preparation, methods which enhance success and are used at ECHO Florida in the nursery which provides thousands of fruit trees for sale to the community at large as well as refurbishing the 10 acres of food...

Basic vegetative propagation by air layers, cuttings and divisions, used at ECHO Florida - Lydia Hofland

Session: Lydia will join ECHO’s East Africa team to share practical propagation techniques, in particular, air layering, cuttings and divisions, methods which enhance success and are used at ECHO East Africa and ECHO Florida in the nurseries which provide thousands of fruit trees for sale to the...

Basic vegetative propagation by grafting and budding - Lydia Hofland

Session: Lydia will join ECHO’s East Africa team to share practical propagation techniques, in particular, grafting and budding, methods which enhance success and are used at ECHO East Africa and ECHO Florida in the nurseries which provide thousands of fruit trees for sale to the community at...

2019 Videos - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

12th – 14th February, 2019 Naura Spring Hotel Arusha, Tanzania

Promoting Conservation Agriculture in Kenya

Addressing problems of soil fertility with emphasis on nitrogen fixation by legumes and the temporal and spatial dynamics of local resources

The Role of Green Manure Cover Crops

Sustainable agro ecological crops pest management using botanical pesticides & IPM

Valuing landscapes through ecosystem services

Impact of livestock: Dairy development in SW Tanzania

Food Smart Cities and how to incentivize sustainable practices

Legumes and soil health – participatory action research

Bridging the gap between farmers and extensionists with ICT & radio

Homegardens with traditional African vegetables to increase the consumption of nutrient dense vegetables and improve income generation for men and women - lessons from East Africa

Conversion of the maresha plow to a direct seeder

Mitigation of Newcastle Disease for reducing food insecurity

Practical Learnings - Panel

Biographical information: Ken Giller, Professor of Plant Production Systems, Wageningen University - joined Wageningen in 2001 after holding professorships at Wye College, University of London, and the University of Zimbabwe. He currently heads up a multifaceted project, N2Africa, which puts...

PANEL: Scaling up of conservation agriculture through marketing inducements

Session: Scaling up of conservation agriculture can be enhanced through marketing inducements described in two different initiatives. You will hear of case studies of introducing farmers to contract farming & pre-financing and of partnerships which have resulted with research institutes,...

2019 Presentations - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Improved Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture in Highland Areas

Tropical Highlands

Tropical highland regions include multiple locations throughout Central and South America, East Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and many of the islands in the tropics. Highland regions are characterized by high altitudes and variable rainfall. One of the main agricultural concerns for highland regions is soil erosion.

2019 Videos - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Improved Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture in Highland Areas

East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Improved Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture in Highland Areas

Regenerative agriculture: why it is the only future for humanity - Tim LaSalle

Session: With increasing threat of climate crisis, soil loss, and continued economic challenges to farmers, building extremely robust and healthy soils provides the whole systems approach that is affordable and immediately available to all farmers. At its premise it is biologically based using...

Best Practices NGOs can adopt to improve human nutrition especially for vulnerable groups - Dr. Mukantwali Christine

Session: The Sustainable Development Goal number two is about Zero Hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. To respond to this goal, stakeholders can engage themselves into activities falling into the seven targets of this goal including promotion...

Soil biodiversity and productivity - Fredrick Ayuke

Session: Conservation agriculture (CA) (zero tillage + organic inputs as surface residue) is believed to improve soil nutrient status, soil structure, control soil erosion, and also enhance soil fauna diversity. Despite the widespread interest in CA, empirical evidence of the benefits of CA on...

Research on green manure cover crops in 6 districts of Rwanda - Dr. Karangwa Antoine

Session: Permanent ground cover is one of the fundamental principles of conservation agriculture. This coverage can be achieved by keeping crop residues on the ground, but if the time between harvest and installation of the next crop is large, it may be necessary to install other cover plants...

Green Manure/Cover Crops: the simplest and cheapest route to achieving adequate nutrition - Roland Bunch

Session: By using green manure/cover crops, rural families can make sure they have enough calories, with or without droughts. By growing edible gm/ccs (nearly all of which are leguminous, they can get enough proteins. By drying and storing the leaves of lablab beans or cowpeas, they can add to...

Initiatives by IITA and Partners to Mitigate Banana Diseases in the Great Lakes region - Emmanuel Njukwe

Session: Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. Musacearum (Xcm) and Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) caused by banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) (genus Babuvirus, family Nanoviridae) are two most important banana diseases threatening food security in the...

Farmer Field Schools (FFS) approach to food security - Brian Neza

Session: The Farmer Field School approach has been used all over the world to transfer technologies to farmers in a sustainable, participatory and experiential way. As communities are increasingly faced with food insecurity and climate change, there’s a need to involve farmers in validating...

Best practices in agroforestry and nutrition - A. Mukuralinda

Good news for farmers: Development of CBSD and CMD tolerant cassava varieties to alleviate hunger in Southern Province - Gervais Gashaka

Session: Cassava production is faced with increased pressure from pests and diseases (CMD and CBSD). The management of these virus diseases requires the development or breeding for resistant/tolerant cassava varieties with high yield and preferred by farmers. Cassava research program in...

Crop Improvement with Endophyte Symbiosis - Steve Clark

Session: This presentation will focus on a review of research and development with endophyte symbiosis and the potential for plant improvement in East Africa. Steve Clark is a Pasture agronomy research scientist with the Victorian Department of Agriculture, Australia from 1982-2018 where he...

Processing of high Iron Beans into Convenient Products - Dr. George Nyombaire

Session: Iron is considered a very important nutrient in the human body because it plays a vital role in oxygen transport as well as other several physiological functions. Iron deficiency is a serious health concern especially during childhood and adolescence at it impairs mental development and...

Approaches of SRI - Espour Musafiri

Orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) production and its added nutritional value - Jean Claude Nshimiyimana

Session: Potatoes and sweet potatoes play a big role as a staple and nutritious food, as well as a source of farmer incomes in the densely populated highlands of sub-Saharan Africa. They are grown by small family farms mainly intercropped with beans and maize. Per capita, potato annual...

Long Miles Coffee’s approach to making markets to work for farmers - Matthew Gates, Athanas Nikumana

Session: Coffee farmers in Burundi have been dogged in recent years by low prices and poor input availability. Can best practices in coffee farming realistically lead to profitable farms, given the small land size and capital constraints of small-scale coffee farmers? We will look at empirical...

Food security initiatives to improve nutrition - Laurence Mukamana, CNFA/Feed the Future USAID

Approaches and interventions to make Sustainable intensification function in the Ethiopian highlands: Africa RISING experience - Dr. Kindu Mekonnen

Session : Sustainable intensification (SI) has received much attention in order to ensure future food-feed-energy security and meet current needs of communities in developing countries. Proper identification of smallholder farmers’ needs and priorities, development of target oriented and...

Perennial Vegetables, Indigenous Nutrient-Dense Greens and Simple Ways to Preserve Them - Sophia Kasubi

Session: The presentation will discuss perennial vegetables, traditional nutrient dense vegetables, and their important role in improving nutrition at the household level. This presentation will focus on multiplication and distribution of plants that are very nutritious for human...

The importance of follow up to achieve high adoption- experiences from Kiramutse and Bugesera in improving food security - Innocent Sibomana

Session: Farmer to farmer follow up is playing a complementary role to formal extension services in facilitating the spread of agriculture technologies and the improvement of food security across rural village, Kiramutse, Southern Province of Rwanda. This session will discuss the importance of...

Highland food security options - Leonidas Niyongabo

Leonidas Niyongabo is the Provincial Development Officer for the Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi. It coordinates a broad food security and environmental program in the province and at the national level. Prior to that, he worked with Concern Worldwide Burundi on their livelihoods...

Community seed banks to improve plant-based nutrition - Sophia Kasubi & Faith Juma ECHO

Tailoring rural advisory services for family farms - Gabriel and Ernestine Kamarora

Session: The presentation contains the impact of integrating rural farmers and creation of awareness of group lead farmers in food security. Gabriel and Ernestine Kamarora, is a Food security project manager at AEBR-CFGB and has a five years in food security project and community development

Population growth and implications for sustainable food security - Erwin Kinsey

Biofortified beans contribution to improved nutrition - GEORGE NYOMBAIRE

Improving nutrition among the food insecure - Dorice Munisi

Session: Activities will be shared which have impacted the marginalized in Kondoa town by improving nutrition for the most insecure. A multi-sectoral approach was used involving staff from agriculture, health and community development departments. Dorice Munisi has a BSc in Home Economics and...

2019 Videos - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Improved Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture in Highland Areas

East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Improved Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture in Highland Areas

Tropical Highlands

2019 Presentations - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Improved Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture in Highland Areas

Best Practices NGOs can adopt to improve human Nutrition especially for vulnerable groups

Green Manure/Cover Crops: the simplest and cheapest route to achieving adequate nutrition

Regenerative agriculture: why it is the only future for humanity

GMCCs for Highlands Agriculture

A group conversation with Roland Bunch about GMCCs that might be used in highland areas. For other presentations during the ECHO East Africa Highlands Symposium: http://edn.link/t4wnhf

Soil biodiversity and productivity

2018

2018 Presentations - East Africa Symposium on Improving Nutrition in Dryland Areas

The Amaranth Institute, ECHO East Africa, and World Vision Tanzania jointly organized this symposium with a great anticipation of the molding together of the topics discussed, as well as the networking which significantly impacts our future work together. A wide array of speakers with different objectives, approaches and skills were called together, whose converging mission has surprising uniformity:

to improve nutrition of people living particularly in drylands
to engage smallholder farmers more effectively to adapt their dryland farming systems so as to reduce malnutrition, poverty and physical hardship to respond to climate change and declining yields in Africa with sustainable options which regenerate soils and water catchments, recycle resources and mitigate the effect of weather extremes
to combine a wide range of approaches holistically to enhance resilience of the vulnerable and to care for the earth
to promote continued learning and sharing through networks

The role of Amaranth in reducing malnutrition - John Kabuge

Session: Africa has the capacity to feed its children affordably and cost effectively if its vast resources are well harnessed and developed bringing and end to the continents constant food shortages and the shameful food handouts from other continents which do not enjoy the same kind of...

PANEL: Multisectoral involvement in nutrition with particular focus on the realization of sustainable development goals (SDGs) - Dr Irene W. Mbugua

Session: The panel will speak to the need for multi stakeholder engagement in an endeavour to reduce malnutrition. In particular, we will look at nutrition from the perspective of SDGs. The team will add a special note on government efforts to reduce malnutrition in Tanzania with particular focus...

Long-term results of Amaranth Promotion in East Africa with W. Kenya Case Study - Thomas Post

Session: World Renew began promoting amaranth as a drought resistant, nutritious crop in 1999. It has been adopted by farmers in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, but has found highest adoption in Western Kenya. There it has had both a nutritional and commercial impact. Presenter : Thomas Post is an...

Conservation Agriculture: Improving soil health and human nutrition in uncertain environments - Neil Rowe Miller

Session: Climate uncertainty and environmental degradation cause deterioration in nutritional status of rural farm families throughout the tropics. Conservation Agriculture methods allow farmers to adapt to these challenges by building soil quality, lowering the risks of uncertain rainfall, and...

The importance of traditional vegetables in drylands - Thomas Dubois

Session: The session will first provide an overview of WorldVeg’s efforts in using traditional African vegetables in the region, based on its collection in Arusha, Tanzania, the largest in Africa. The overview will single out amaranth as well as traditional vegetables useful in drylands. Second,...

Kitchen gardens which reuse waste water - Charles Bonaventure

Session: The presentation will elaborate on how useful these kitchen gardens in ensuring nutrition at household level Biographical Information: Charles Bonaventure (called "Bonny”) is a Technical Advisor for ECHO East Africa. Bonny worked with the Tanzanian government since 1986 before joining...

Appreciative Inquiry for successful drylands development /from reliance to resilience - Dr. Serone Ole Sena Sarone

Session: A best practice to improve nutrition in drylands is to focus on what is working, what is right, what gifts, methods and resources exist that have in the past worked in favor of good nutrition for humans and also for livestock in these dry areas. Focusing on people’s assets instead of...

Agricultural Processing Technologies - Stephano Yahanes Leyan

Session: He will present on the status of the small food processing sector in rural of Tanzania, a case of Arusha Region, and the role of SIDO in establishment and growth of small food processing units. He will describe challenges faced in rural areas and some available players in the...

Production of Amaranth – a case study of Zimbabwe - Lillian Machivenyika

Session: CADS and its partners have adopted approaches such as Demonstration Platform for Agricultural Research and Technology and mainstreaming nutrition for amaranth production. To date, CADS expanded amaranth production to a total of 13 districts. Promotional activities such as product fairs,...

Nutrition-based advocacy for children under 5 years - Esther Mongi

Session: The session will focus on how Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) approach will improve nutrition and health system strengthening at the community level. Biographical information: Esther Mongi has Masters degree in Business Administration, currently working as a Gender and Advocacy Manager...

Community seed banks to maximize plant-based nutrition - Sophia Kasubi

Session: The presentation will alert participants how community seed banks helps in ensuring maximization of various plants with high nutrition.This presentation will focus on seeds savings, multiplication and distribution of plants that are very nutritious for human consumption. Biographical...

Managing striga weed and other parasitic weeds - Lytton John Musselman

Session: African Witchweeds and Their Relatives—Biology, Sanitation, and Control Biographical Information: Lytton John Musselman is Mary Payne Hogan Distinguished Professor of Botany at Old Dominion University and has researched Striga as a Fulbright Professor at the University of Khartoum; as...

Improving nutrition through gender inclusivity - Eileen Nchanji

Session: We have for decades focused on food security with little emphasis on nutrition. But increase in the triple burden of malnutrition has forced us to relook at nutrition and its effect on human health. Achieving good nutrition in a household, community and nation is only possible if it is...

Positive attitudes and behaviors that promote nutrition - Mwivano Mwilimbwii,

Session: Mwivano will speak on how advocacy intervention can promote nutrition. Biographical data: Mwivano Mwilimbwii, Clinician and Nutritionist, More than 15 years of working in MNCH and Nutrition sectors, Expert in Facility and community based intervention which includes Project planning,...

Improving nutritional status of dry land areas from a sustainable beekeeping model - Christopher Nzuki

Session: Sustainable bee farming models have proven to contribute in improving nutritional status in dry land areas through enhanced pollination by bees and consumption of bee products in communities. With the fact that 65% of all food crops consumed by human being are pollinated by bees,...

Waste diversions to improve soil nutrient density and amaranth seed yield - Walt Sumner, Amaranth International

Session: Dr. Sumner shares on experiments conducted on a small hay farm in Missouri, where he is conducting various experiments to restore soil fertility, and learning about crops suited to hot and dry climates. Rainwater leaching and row crop farming steadily deplete top soils of nutrients,...

Harnessing local resources to improve community well-being through enhanced food and nutritional security - Mrs. Rose M Opeli

Session: Malnutrition is a major contributor to poor health and poverty among rural communities. Therefore, to improve the wellbeing of local communities, identification of signs and symptoms of malnutrition, poor health and the intersection between the two is critical. It is also important that...

Water harvesting technologies - Mesewet Teweldibrihan

Session: The presentation will elaborate on best practices of harvesting rain water in water scarcity areas. Water harvesting from various surface conditions as a main source of irrigation water for small scale irrigation development at farmer's level. While ponds, dams, and in-situ water...

Sharing about the Enrich Projects - Mwivano Malimbwi

Session: Mwivano will talk on how different practices has been used to improve nutrition in dry lands Biographical information: Mwivano Malimbwi, Clinician and Nutritionist, More than 15 years of working in MNCH and Nutrition sectors, Expert in Facility and community based intervention which...

Dryland biogas technologies - Christopher Kellner

Session: The Tanzania Domestic Biogas Programme began in 2007 following a positive feasibility study by GTZ. Tanzanian stakeholders established a taskforce and selected the Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation and Rural Technology (CAMARTEC) as the national agency to coordinate the programme....

Food security in the arid and semi-arid lands – livestock vs agriculture, where is the balance? - Dr. Beppe DiGiullio / Dr. Lieve Lynen

Session: Pastoralist livestock convert low quality feed into high quality proteins with essential amino acids that cannot be sourced from plants. Large parts of the world are not arable as they are too dry or steep or too cold or too hot for successful cultivation. However, they can still used...

Amaranth Farming for Community Empowerment - Mark Leveri

Session: In the Tanzanian population occupational context, the majority (80%) experience food insecurity and poverty, and malnutrition is a phenomenon that has for a long time remained the main cause of child mortality, stunting and the most important impediment to further economic growth of the...

Bridging the gap between farmers and extensionists with ICT & radio - Rex Chapota

Transforming Africa Village by Village: A Case Study of Olepolos, Narok-Kenya - Dr. Serone Ole Sena

Abstract, The focus of this paper is on community empowerment for sustainable development. The data is based on empirical/primary research carried out during the process of sustainable (community) development implemented between 1998 and 2018. The paper shares the experience of one rural...

Bible Plants - Plants of the Bible and Qur’an - Lytton John Musselman

Biographical Information: Lytton John Musselman is Mary Payne Hogan Distinguished Professor of Botany at Old Dominion University and has researched Striga as a Fulbright Professor at the University of Khartoum; as a consultant to the Striga program at the International Institute of Agriculture in...

Symposium on Improving Nutrition in Dryland Areas

The Amaranth Institute, ECHO East Africa, and World Vision Tanzania, welcome you to Arusha, Tanzania for this jointly organized symposium. With a great anticipation we hope that the molding together of the topics discussed, as well as the networking which will occur this week will significantly...

Let's Restore Our Land: Church and Community Leaders Working Together to Restore the Land - Dan Fountain

Let’s Restore Our Land describes how church and community leaders came to realize that the soil that produces our food is becoming weak, and the forests that provide us with many resources are disappearing. They recognized that God has given us the responsibility to care for and protect these...

Symposium on Improving Nutrition in Dryland Areas 2018 Videos

to improve nutrition of people living particularly in drylands
to engage smallholder farmers more effectively to adapt their dryland farming systems so as to reduce malnutrition, poverty and physical hardship to respond to climate change and declining yields in Africa with sustainable options which regenerate soils and water catchments, recycle resources and mitigate the effect of weather extremes
to combine a wide range of approaches holistically to enhance resilience of the vulnerable and to care for the earth
to promote continued learning and sharing through networks

The role of Amaranth in reducing malnutrition

Positive attitudes and behaviors that promote nutrition

Managing striga weed and other parasitic weeds

Best bets green manure /cover crops for drylands

Session: Cover crops play a key role in sustainable agriculture by providing sustainable sources of nutrients as well as protective soil cover to minimize erosion and reduce moisture stresses. Examples of successful cover cropping systems in East Africa will be illustrated as well as constraints...

Kitchen gardens which reuse waste water

Improving nutrition through gender inclusivity

Community seed banks to maximize plant-based nutrition

PANEL: Multisectoral involvement in nutrition with particular focus on the realization of sustainable development goals (SDGs)

Long-term results of Amaranth Promotion in East Africa with W. Kenya Case Study

Conservation Agriculture: Improving soil health and human nutrition in uncertain environments

The importance of traditional vegetables in drylands

Kitchen Gardens to Improve Nutrition in Dry Areas

Appreciative Inquiry for successful drylands development /from reliance to resilience

Agricultural Processing Technologies

Production of Amaranth – a case study of Zimbabwe

Nutrition-based advocacy for children under 5 years

2018 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Pastoralist Symposium

Presentation slides and resources from the Third ECHO East Africa Pastorlist Symposium

6-8 March, 2018 - Nanyuki, Kenya

Sustained Rangeland Improvement with Special Reference to the Laikipia Controversies

I have spent over fifty years working in East African Rangelands studying wildlife in National Parks and ranches or helping pastoralists in northern Kenya and consulting in Tanzania. The situation has changed unpredictably and dramatically since my original research in the Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda. The main change has been rapid and near exponential human population growth with accompanying degradation of the rangelands especially those classified as ASALs (Arid or Semi-Arid Lands). It is not unique to the Greater Horn of Africa, but an example of what has been...

Livestock to Markets (L2M) - Action Plan

This is an ACTION PLAN based on participation of representatives from three East Africa countries in the L2M Working Group. The group developed a common framework to guide their discussion and understanding of all the elements that influence the development of a Livestock to Markets Business among pastoralist communities. They will use this as a benchmark for their commitment and actions in their respective countries over the next two years.

Rangelands Group Framework Worksheet

This worksheet was used at the 3rd ECHO East Africa Pastoralist Symposium by a group generating a joint voluntary plan of action including policy and legislation inhibiting or needed, social and cultural approaches that inhibit or could add value, economic tools, and natural resources governance.

Kitchen Gardens to Improve Nutrition in Dry Areas - Ralph Roothaert

Climate change and population growth in pastoral communities - Sef Slootweg – GIZ – NRM – Loliondo

Towards middle and high income for the people in the Ngorongoro District, Tanzania

Pastoralism: Our Ideas, Our Future - Maasai Emergency Association Tanzania and Kenya

Karamoja Land: What are the Issues? - Topoth Charles Angella

Community Land Act – threats and potential of protecting pastoralist lands & livelihoods - Jarso Mokku, Pastoralist Parliamentary Group

Contextualizing the African Union Pastoralist Framework - John Letai, Pastoralist Researcher & Consultant, Laikipia County

Controlling Invasive Species in Pastoralist Areas - Arne Witt, CABI Kenya

Development of a Livestock Identification and Traceability System to Enhance Livestock Trade in Northern Kenya - Dr Chris Daborn & Patrick Njema Njai

Easement and Integrated Approaches in Pastoralist Areas - Makko Sinandei - Ujamaa-CRT

Gender Issues in Pastoralist Societies - Paine Makko, UCRT

The Laikipia Land Question: A Bombshell or a Case of Historical Exclusion - John Letai

Land Use Planning and Integrated Approaches in Pastoralist Areas - Jamboi Baramayegu Prog. Coordinator - UCRT

Livestock to Market Programme - Borana Conservancy, Laikipia Kenya - Abdi Sora, Ochen Maiyani

Mara Beef and community marketing in Mara & Laikipia - Tarquin Wood, MD, Enonkishu Conservancy

NRT Livestock to Market - Patrick Ekodere – NRT

Policy Framework for Pastoralism in Africa - Mr. A. Khecha - Division of the African Union Rural Economy

Rangeland Rehablitation using Holistic Planned Grazing - Richard Hatfield

Practice and principles from ten years on the ground in southern, central and northern Kenya

Rehabilitation of Arid Environments - Diana Githu

Research and development among pastoralists – the Laikipia rangelands controversies - Chris Field - Consultant in ASAL’s and Wildlife

2017

2017 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Symposium

ECHO East Africa 4th Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture Best Practices

2017 Videos - ECHO East Africa Symposium

ECHO East Africa 4th Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture Best Practices - Videos

Conservation and Food Security Issues - Dr. James Kahurananga, Former Director, African Wildlife Foundation

Conflicts abound with conservation and food security issues. Solutions and best practices will be shared. Presenter : Dr. James Kahurananga was the past director of the Africa Wildlife Foundation, and has 50 years experience in the field of conservation of biodiversity within Tanzania, Kenya,...

Improving Farm-based Seed Selection and Storage - Dr. Tsvetelina Stoilova, AVRDC

Smallholder farmers in rural African villages rely on their home-grown seeds for more than 85% of their needs. Due to various reasons, small holder farmers are enticed or forced to use seeds from commercial companies which create dependency. Seed saving has challenges. For farmers to produce...

Mainstreaming Gender in Food Security Programs - Julita Manda, PWSD, Malawi

The presentation discusses gender in food security programs. The presentation shall focus issues of access and control and impact on food security. The break out session will conduct an analysis of gender in agriculture program and how to address gender gaps that promote continuous women...

How to Work Livestock into a Conservation Agriculture System - Shinan Kassam, ICARDA (International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas) Cairo, Egypt

In marginal environments where strong crop-livestock interactions exist, inclusive and equitable access to finance, well-functioning land rental markets, and efficient provision of extension advisory services contribute significantly towards the shift to more sustainable land use management and...

RIPAT – A Menu Approach in Rural Food Security Promotion - Dominic Ringo, RECODA Tanzania

RIPAT (Rural Initiatives for Participatory Agricultural Transformation) is a participatory extension approach aims to close the agricultural technology gap as a means of improving livelihoods and self-support among rural small-scale farmers. The approach is as well a documented step-by-step guide...

Navigating the Pigeon Pea Value Chain - Daniel Charles, Kilimo Markets Ltd

Pigeon pea is an important green manure/cover crop with multiple agronomic and market impacts for small farmers, and fits ideally in a conservation agriculture system. Kilimo Markets integrates value chains through enhancing production, inputs supply chains especially seed for which it is...

The Rise of Pigeon Peas in Importance - Said Silim

Pigeon pea is an important green manure/cover crop with multiple agronomic and market impacts for small farmers, and fits ideally in a conservation agriculture system. Presenter : Said Silim has recently retired from a distinguished career in international development from ICRISAT, and helped...

Best Practices in Soil Testing – Practical Session - Neil Rowe MIller, CFGB/MCC East Africa

Neil Rowe Miller serves with Mennonite Central Committee as a technical advisor to conservation agriculture projects funded by the Canadian Food Grains Bank in eastern Africa. His career spans 33 years working with small-scale farmers in the developing world as well as consulting for...

Diversity of Approaches in Conservation Agriculture in Africa - Leonard Rusinamhodzi, CIMMYT

The desire to transform smallholder farming to feed the increasing hungry people, burgeoning population, and adaptation and mitigation to climate change is high. There is an obvious realization that it is smallholder farming and rain-fed for that matter that holds the promise to feed the hungry...

Donkey Welfare and Donkey Friendly Harnessing - 2008 Animal Welfare Act - Livingstone Masija, Arusha Society for Protection of Animals

Donkey welfare in Tanzania is not given much consideration given all that animals offer to the economy of its people. Currently a more supportive environment for the promotion of animal welfare and rights has been established legislation, especially the Animal Welfare Act (2008). However,...

Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) - Mtama Nangu, WV Tanzania and David Ndwiga, ADRA Mandera

This session will demonstrate Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) as a low-cost, sustainable land-restoration technique used to combat poverty and hunger amongst poor subsistence farmers in developing countries by increasing food, fodder and livelihood production, while enhancing...

Integrated Soil Fertility Management & Conservation Agriculture - Neil Rowe Miller, CFGB/MCC East Africa

Cover crops play a key role in sustainable agriculture by providing sustainable sources of nutrients as well as protective soil cover to minimize erosion and reduce moisture stresses. Examples of successful cover cropping systems in East Africa will be illustrated as well as constraints and...

Population and Food Security Challenges in Ngorongoro District - Jozef Slootweg, GIZ, Ngorongoro

Ngorongoro District, part of the Serengeti Ecosystem witnessed a human population growth from approximately 25,000 in the early sixties to 200,000 people in 2016, predominantly pastoralist Maasai. Pastoralism as we know it today can be combined with photo tourism and game hunting activities for...

Using Farmer Motivators Sustainably - Chrispin Mirambo, MCC

The presentation will elaborate how to identify farmer motivators, preparations before and after selecting them, what is their expectations, how to work with them, building their capacity and confidence. Presenter : Chrispin Mirambo Is the Agronomist and community development professional with...

Updates on Management of Outbreaks on Plant Diseases in East Africa - Banana Xanthomonas Wilt BXW - Dr. Alliy Said Mbwana, Consultant

Updates on recognition and management of Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW) in East Africa shared. Presenter : Dr. Alliy Saidi Mbwana is a Veteran Principal Agricultural Research Officer who worked with the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries on bananas for over 36 years initially as a...

The Connection Between Agriculture & Poverty Alleviation - Sara Sytsma, World Renew Kenya

This presentation will look at the differences between relief, rehabilitation, and development. We will see some of the challenges involved in determining which one of those three interventions is needed in different situations and we will talk about what to consider when transitioning from...

Lablab, An Under-estimated Crop Finds its Niche - Wilfred L Mariki, Researcher Consultant

Dolichos lablab is an under estimated crop which recently is finding its niche Presenter : Wilfred L Mariki is a retired Principal Agricultural Research Officer, from Selian Agricultural Research Institute who pioneered a country program to introduce CA in Tanzania 1999 – 2011, under FAO-UN....

Pastoralist Managed Natural Regeneration - Mkama Nangu

Cheers and Challenges of Conservation Agriculture in Kenya - Stephen Lutz, World Renew, Kenya

The session will focus on highlighting and sharing with the participants the lessons learned from implementing two food security programs promoting CA principles in Central Kenya in the last 4-5 years. Even though we are starting to see positive results and identifying future potential of farmers...

Green Manure Cover Crops in Conservation Agriculture - Neil Miller, CFGB/MCC East Africa

Greener Food Production in Africa Resilient Crops and Zonal Management - Sieg Snapp, Assoc. Director Center for Global Change, Michigan State University

Soil degradation and rapid change are faced across Africa, and require attention to both old and new technologies. Over two decades of action research with farmers in Malawi has shown that smallholder food production and nutrition can be improved through biological principles and targeted use of...

Root Crops Using Conservation Agriculture - Stephen Lutz, World Renew, Kenya

Root crops are not often used in conservation agriculture. This session describes their use and best practices. Presenter : Stephen Lutz is Program Consultant for World Renew in Kenya for the past 12 years, and advises three local established church partners throughout Kenya, managing...

Transformational Development - Thinking About Community - Joshua Ramatlali Growing Nations Trust – Lesotho

Most of us are doing Community Development work whereby we want to see life-change to the people we serve and we also want to see the sustainability of our work...but the challenge is the approach and the attitudes we use towards Communities which at the end hinder success to our Community...

Why Reach One Farmer When You Can Reach One Million - Karen Hampson, Farm Radio International

Farm Radio International (FRI), is a Canadian not-for-profit organization at the forefront of using radio combined with other ICTs to increase reach, participation and to give African farming families a voice. We work with local radio stations to develop interactive programs which respond to the...

Integrating a Biblical Worldview into our Agricultural Work - Brett Harrison, Church of Christ, Tanzania

Worldview is our set of assumptions about how the world functions, and serves to guide our decision-making processes. This session addresses challenges which arise when cultures mix and focuses on the integration of a Biblical worldview into our agriculture work as a solution. Our worldview and...

2017 Videos - ECHO East Africa Symposium

ECHO East Africa 4th Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture Best Practices - Videos

Panel : Scaling Up Conservation Agriculture

This session introduces the scaling up CA programs and features the various aspects of the CFGB program, namely training, policy and marketing. The panel session provides sharing by one CA Technical Specialist, a Policy and Advocacy Advisor and a Marketing Coordinator. Moderator : Mueni...

Panel: Competition for Mulch and Fodder

Competition for mulch and fodder is one of the key issues constraining successful conservation agriculture in areas where livestock are a part of the agricultural system. Convenor: Putso Nyathi is a Conservation Agriculture Technical Officer for Southern Africa with MCC supporting CFGB funded...

Using Farmer Motivators Sustainably

Green Manure Cover Crops in Conservation Agriculture

Diversity of Approaches in Conservation Agriculture in Africa

Greener Food Production in Africa Resilient Crops and Zonal Management

The Rise of Pigeon Peas in Importance - Navigating the Value Chain

Pigeon pea is an important green manure-cover crop with multiple agronomic and market impacts for small farmers, and fits ideally in a conservation agriculture system. Presenter : Said Silim has recently retired from a distinguished career in international development from ICRISAT, and helped...

Welcome to the 2017 ECHO East Africa Symposium

Official Welcome to the 2017 ECHO East Africa Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture Best Practices (Feb 7-9) from Bruce Wilson, ECHO Director of Strategic Initiatives. Bruce will describe the ECHOcommunity.org resources, and then give a vision for a consensus on symposia in the future. ECHO has...

Transformational Development - Thinking About Community

Why Reach One Farmer When You Can Reach One Million

Mainstreaming Gender in Food Security Programs

Best Practices in Soil Testing – Practical Session

Population and Food Security Challenges in Ngorongoro District

Integrating a Biblical Worldview into our Agricultural Work

2016

2016 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Highlands Symposium

ECHO East Africa Symposium II on Best Practices in Highland Areas
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 1st - 3rd November, 2016

Tropical Highlands

Analysis of Land Restoration Projects - Zewdie Kassa - Zewdie Kassa

The roles of restoration projects as among best practices contributing to sustainable agriculture in the Ethiopian Highlands Ecosystems. He will. speak on how species diversity of the area together with the associated ethnobotanical knowledge contributes to conservation agriculture in the...

Factors Affecting Adoption of Conservation Agriculture - Frew Beriso

The study in Borichaworeda, Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia examines socio-economic, household related, technological and institutional factors affecting conservation agriculture in the study area. The overall finding of the study emphasizes the high importance of economic support in providing...

Integrating Soil & Water Conservation in CA - Neil Miller

The session will discuss integrating conservation agriculture with soil and water conservation measures as well as other farming systems. Presenter: Neil Rowe Miller serves with Mennonite Central Committee as a technical advisor to conservation agriculture projects funded by the Canadian Food...

Mobilizing to Combat Parthenium - Charles Bonaventure

ECHO has become aware of an invasive weed in many areas in Africa. Parthenium hysterophorus, a noxious weed, has spread from its native region in Mexico and South America to more than twenty countries globally, arriving in Ethiopia in the 1980s in contaminated famine-relief food supplies. Since...

Technology Adoption in Smallholder Dairy Systems - Kebebe Ergano

This presentation analyzes factors affecting technology adoption in smallholder dairy production systems using a combination of frameworks and mixed methods: agricultural household models and agricultural innovation systems approach and a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. Findings...

Transition to AgroEcology - Jelleke de Nooy

Our global agricultural and food system is broken and needs to transition to one that is more sustainable and beneficial to the world's population. This seems hard in the face of the linked challenges of climate change, natural resource depletion, and worldwide economic and social upheaval. At...

Using Remote Sensing - Seth Morgan

The presentation will cover available geospatial datasets and open-source analysis tools including weather and soil data, and basic applications of QGIS and R for spatial data. Examples will be drawn from the presenter's involvement in the ICRAF impact evaluation "Assessing the Downstream...

Mixed Crop-Livestock Systems - Peter Thorne

Africa Rising was a five-year project, funded by USAID, that sought to identify and promote solutions for for sustainable intenslfication of the mixed farming systems in the Ethiopian Highlands. The project worked closely with both research and development partner to develop and validate...

Backyard Farming Improves Family and Productivity - Akililu Dogisso

Send a Cow works with smallholder highland farmers helping them to improve their farming system by promoting sustainable organic agriculture with improved backyard farming alongside gender and social development activities. Our low input, holistic approach builds resilience by empowering farmers,...

Challenges and Opportunities in Dairying - A Farmer’s View - Wondirad Abraham

In Ethiopia, more attention is being given to crossbreeding to answer the questions of food security in the near future as the selection in local cattle is very slow to bring progress. In contrast, improving the genetic potential of local cattle is not given equivalent emphasis though it is...

Conservation Agriculture in Ethiopian Highlands - Tesfay Araya

On average, crop yields under DER+ and TER+ increased by 30% and 16%, respectively, as compared to CT. Our study demonstrates that field water conservation tillage practices that incorporate CA principles are effectively increasing green water in the root zone available for crops. RCA systems...

Cover Crops for Highland Areas - Neil R Miller

Disseminating Technologies to Improve Livestock Productivity - Dr Girma Abebe

Field days focusing on livestock production have been successfully used as a means to introduce and disseminate technologies. Training producers about improved management practices is greatly aided by supporting trainees to visit better off farmers. However, selection of farmers or producers to...

Excel in the Grace of Giving - David Erickson

Presenter: David Erickson, ECHO Chief Executive Officer, earned a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University and undergraduate concentrations in economics, political science and history. He founded the Samaritan Inns, refuges for people living on inner city streets. He has promoted...

Practical Case Studies with Women Groups - Takele Teshome

Traditional natural resources management in Ethiopia has been unsustainable, owing to various reasons including poverty and lack of knowledge, which has resulted in rampant deforestation. Historical estimates suggest that approximately 40% of Ethiopian landmass was once covered with forest and...

2015

2016 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Pastoralist Symposium

From March 1-3, 2016 ECHO East Africa hosted a sumposium in Nanyuki, Kenya on Best Practices in Pastoralist Areas. This meeting's aims were to disscuss ways in whicht to reduce poverty, hunger and physical hardship by engaging pastoralists more effectively to adapt their pastoralist systems:

to respond to climate change and declining yields in Africa with sustainable options which improve the environment, regenerate rangelands and water catchments, recycle resources and mitigate the effect of weather extremes
to combine a wide range of approaches holistically to enhance resilience of the vulnerable and to care for the earth
to promote continued learning and sharing through networks Holistic approaches

Featured in the Symposium: livestock-based alternatives; holistic management, conservation agriculture, gender and reproductive issues, peace-building, climate smart approaches, changing human hearts and mindsets, and water related innovations.

Sustainable Bee Farming Business Model - Kelvin Odoobo

Session: The presentation details how African Beekeepers can use The Hive Business Model to build and sustain profitable beekeeping businesses using The Hive Beekeepers Starter Kit comprising of the CAB Hive uniquely made to meet the demands of the African bee and how this model completes the...

THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S AND EVERYTHING IN IT - Raphael Magambo

Theme: “The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." Psalms 24. Holistic community development uses biblical perspectives to answer development questions which could not be answerable in any other way. , a veterinarian by training with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from the...

Health education empowers vulnerable women and girls - Fatuma Wako and Martha Bone

Session: Sauti Moja Marsabit provides livestock to vulnerable female-headed households (widows and single pastoralist mothers) which contribute to food security. We also provide young mothers who have been chased from school due to pregnancy with an opportunity to pursue an education that will...

ECHO involvement with pastoralists? - ECHO staff

ECHO engaging in pastoralist initiatives When I joined ECHO in 2012 I had just worked in a project disseminating food security initiatives in 48 villages in northern Tanzania. We discovered some stark realities facing pastoralist communities; they were by far less food secure than...

Sustainable Livestock Service Delivery - Diba D. Wako

Session: The pastoral areas of Kenya are characterised by poor access to quality livestock services. Consequently the pastoralists are forced to purchase sub-standard and/or counterfeit veterinary drugs - often from unqualified people - to meet their animal health needs. They also treat their...

How to avoid fraudulent vaccinations - Beppe DiGiullio and Lieve Lynen

Session: ECF-ITM vaccine has been shown to be a highly effective product, with a 95 per cent success rate in pastoral herds - one of the highest rates of protection offered by any livestock vaccine. However, up till now, governments in East, Central and Southern Africa have rejected widespread...

Animal welfare and human moral responsibility - Solomon Onyango

The main theme for this is to highlight good animal production and reproduction systems that are greatly dependent on good animal welfare practices. It is also to inform that for trade in livestock production in the international markets are concerned to meet international animal standards....

Community Natural Resource Planning in Karamoja - Robert Okumu

Session: The presentation addresses key community approaches towards a balanced use of resources in the semi-arid district of Karamoja, Uganda.Natural resource conflict management can be realized by working towards a green economy, poverty eradication, and a sustainable food system. The strength...

Policy and the future of pastoralism - Richard Hatfield

Session: This talk presents policies which may give hope for pastoralism. It bases upon a holistic approach to rangeland management and decision-making, using examples from work in Samburu, Marsabit and Laikipia counties of Kenya and the experience of Northern Rangelands Trust. It shares the...

PERMACULTURE IN PASTORALIST AREAS - Joseph Lentunyoi

Session: The session will share knowledge and practices which some pastoralist communities have chosen as alternative livelihoods in pastoralist areas. The ideas come from the local people, and demonstrate ‘people- care’, ‘earth-care’ and ‘fair-share’. Use of natural resources sustainably are...

Water purification using bio-sand filters and microfilament filters - JOHN M. NYAGWENCHA

Session: Water filtration methods including use of Biosand Filters and Hollow Fiber Membrane filters Aqua Clara's entrepreneurial approach to providing safe water for all communities Training for other organization's to replicate the BSF and HF filters for their organization. Aqua Clara...

Potential of Conservation Agriculture in Pastoralist Region - John Kimathi Mbae

Session: World Renew supports innovative ways to combat climate change. The presentation will dwell on lessons learnt from Conservation Agriculture promotion in pastoralist areas which will encompass adaptation, scaling up and extension methodologies based upon lessons learned from the field....

Livestock markets as incentives in conservancy development and rangelands in the landscape - Patrick Ekodere

Session: The Livestock to Markets Program(LTM) is a social enterprise owned by NRT through its business company called -NRT Trading company. LTM aims to commercialize livestock marketing among pastoralists by providing an assured, equitable and reliable market for good quality cattle in order to...

The Lewa Conservancy - Tim Roberts

Session: Tim will give a personal account of his experience with Lewa & the Ngare Ndare forest for over half a century. This will entail the transition from farming in conflict with wildlife to settled coexistence and optimizing the use of the existing ecosystem Biographical data: Tim...

The challenges of differences of worldview between agricultural and pastoralist societies for sensitive transformation - Roger Sharland

Session: Western societies used schools, and culturally blind policies to absorb the native American and Australian aborigine populations into mainstream society. Since colonial times until today most governments use schools and district offices to implement policies with agricultural biases with...

Some community strategies to combat climate change - Silvia Ceppi

Session: Strategies will be shared to test increase of resilience, for example, a vegetable leather tanning program. The rangelands bordering the western slopes of the Mount Meru are a key ecological corridor and provide for a range of ecosystem services that entirely support the livelihoods of...

Securing community land rights through Certificates of Customary Right of Occupancy - Edward Lekaita

Session: Edward will discuss the UCRT experience in advocacy for communities to secure their land rights. He will share an analysis and insights into the legal frame work, discuss the opportunities, gaps and challenges on pastoral communities in Northern Tanzania, based upon UCRT's 12 years of...

Diversification in Pastoral areas for food security and improved livelihoods - Josephine N. Ng’ang’a

Session: RIPAT- Diversification in Pastoral areas for food security and improved livelihoods Some of the work currently being done in the area of peace-building suggests that economic development and people’s livelihoods are important pieces of the ‘peace puzzle’. Poverty and competition for...

Holistic Management (HM) Planned Grazing in Laikipia - Mathew Chana

Session: Thisl talk will be about the history of Holistic Management in Laikipia since its start in 2010. It will describe the approach used, the tools, the preliminary results and the challenges that remain. The session shares the experience from Northern Kenya Conservancies and speaks of...

Managing Conflicts using GALS Approach. Case Study Of Pastoralists community of Sokodu Kaabong District, Karamoja Region - Loupa Pius

Session: The session will describe misconceptions about pastoralists and their capacity to survive in harsh climates. Pastoralists need not be victims of development initiatives. Biographical data: Loupa Pius was born in a pastoralist s community and recalls times rehabilitating from previous...

Managing land, water and animals for a sustainable future - Ben and Denise Bartlett

Session: This session shares about soil health and grazing based on some recent research done on our farm. While the Michigan environment is very different than East Africa, like comparing oceans and deserts, the idea that plants get energy from the sun, share that bounty with the microbes in the...

Pastoralist Managed Natural Regeneration - Mkama Nangu

Session: This session will demonstrate Pastoralist Managed Natural Regeneration, a new reforestation practice which is successfully reversing the rapid deforestation and desertification in dryland Africa. Pastoralist Managed Natural Regeneration (PMNR) has been shown to be a simple, income...

A Brief Dialogue on the Gender Dimension in Pastoralist Development - Beth A. Miller, DVM

Approximately 30 of the ECHO Symposium attendees participated in this dialogue. First, we established some basic definitions, and noted that poverty and political marginalization has affected men and women differently. While all pastoralists suffer discrimination, loss of land, degraded natural...

Establishing Livestock Markets and Linkages to Financial Services for Pastoralists - Diida Karayu

Session: Livestock is the main source of livelihoods for pastoralist in Marsabit County with 80% of the population directly depending on them. Food for the hungry supported and established 13 livestock markets in Marsabit. The markets provided great platform where herders, traders, government and...

Pastoralist Knowledge Hub - Badi Besbes and Piers Simpkin

Session: The FAOs Pastoralist Hub and FAO experiences on radio communication / extension in pastoral areas have overcome common extension hurdles. Come to hear about it. Biographical data: Badi Besbes has worked with FAO-Kenya livestock sector. Pastoralist Knowledge Hub

NOMADIC PASTORALISM, DEVOLUTION AND CONFLICT IN NORTHERN KENYA - Mohamud S Adan

The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy – 50 years in the Making - Tim Roberts

2015 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Best Practices in Areas of Conflict

2014 ECHO East Africa Highlands Symposium

2013 ECHO East Africa Symposium

2011 ECHO East Africa Symposium

East Africa Resources From Past Events

2021

2021 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

Conservative Agriculture Companion Farming - Fiona Barretto and William Kabelege

CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE ADOPTION IN KENYA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD AND A NETWORK - Stephan Lutz

PERENNIAL VEGETABLES: Plant once and eat for a decade! - Sophia Kasubi and Faith Juma

FOOD DRYING: Best practices for ensuring availability of nutrient food during scarcity. - Sophia Kasubi

Scaling up the adoption of Rocket Stoves in rural communities of East Africa - Harold Msanya

Promotion of Maresha direct seeder for small scale CA Mechanization - Harold Msanya

Transforming Masculinities: A gender transformative approach to SGBV Prevention - Sabine Nkusi and Uwezo Lele

Aggregated Marketing: Grain Crops - Lilian Zheke & John Mbae

Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania: Transforming Agriculture System in Tanzania - Janet Maro

Macho Sauti: ICT Platform for Agroecology - Gladness Martin Brush

2021 Videos - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

Scaling Up Conservation Agriculture in East Africa: How CA Programming and Advocacy Influenced Ethiopian Government Policy

Conservation Agriculture Adoption in Kenya: Lessons From the Field and a Network

Scaling up CA Plus Among Smallholder Farmers

Lightning Talk - Adoption and Scaling Up of Tubular Bio Digesters

Lightning Talk - Remembering some Principles of Agroforestry, Soil, and Water Conservation

Lightning Talk - Maresha Direct Seeder for Small-scale CA Mechanization

Lightning Talk - ICT Platform for Agroecology

Promoting Nutrition with Perennial Vegetables

Transforming Masculinity: A Gender Transformative Approach to SGBV Prevention

Transforming the Farming System in Tanzania

Lightning Talk - Organic Pest Management on Arabica Coffee

Lightning Talk - Weather Forecasting Tools for Northern Tanzania

Lightning Talk - Reducing Contamination of Foods in Arusha Value Chain

Lightning Talk - Food Drying Best Practices

Lightning Talk - Scaling up the Adoption of Rocket Stoves

Empowering Voices From Every Discipline: ECHOcommunity

Lightning Talk - Stingless Bees

Lightning Talk - Circular Compost Making

Lightning Talks - Focused Simple Solutions that Last

Lightning Talk - Aggregated Marketing of Grain Crops

Lightning Talk - Revitalization of the Farmer Managed Seed System

2019

2019 Presentations - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

Panel Session Title: Cheers and tears of conservation agriculture in Kenya – examples from Eastern, Central, Rift Valley and Western Kenya - Stephen Lutz / Daniel N. Njunge

Addressing problems of soil fertility with emphasis on nitrogen fixation by legumes and the temporal and spatial dynamics of local resources - Ken Giller

The role of green manure/cover crops vis a vis Africa’s worsening droughts - Roland Bunch

Sustainable agro ecological crops pest management using botanical pesticides & IPM - Angela Mkindi

Valuing landscapes through ecosystem services - REDD as a mechanism to reduce land use change - Marc Baker

Impact of livestock: Dairy development in SW Tanzania – mediation and translation in innovation, & Sustainability assessments of low-input ruminant production systems - Ben Eyre

Food Smart Cities and how to incentivize sustainable practices at farm and trader levels - Mark Blackett

Legumes and soil health – participatory action research - Sieg Snapp

Bridging the gap between farmers and extensionists with ICT & radio - Rex Chapota

Homegardens with traditional African vegetables to increase the consumption of nutrient dense vegetables and improve income generation for men and women - lessons from East Africa - Ralph Roothaert

Conversion of the maresha plow to a direct seeder - Harold Msanya

Mitigation of Newcastle Disease for reducing food insecurity: A focus on family poultry production - Msafiri Kalloka

Airtight underground grain stores among Dodoma farmers - Mussa Chilemu

Evidence-based best practices to impact food security – a collaboration of RECODA and World Vision - Dominic Ringo

Ecosystem adaptation - Stephen Ababo

How can we support the extreme poor to facilitate their food security with CA? - Carl Wahl

Terraces to control soil erosion and increase land availability for agriculture in the DRC - Filbert Leone Ahmat

Invasive weeds and their control - Ahmed Mbugi

Social contract on water, a pave for multiplier effects of biodiversity practices to industrial economic growth in Tanzania - Dr. Alliy Saidi Mbwana

Using Evidence-Based Agricultural Advice - Neil Rowe-Miller

Composting with biochar and urine - Christopher Kellner

Addressing conflict between farmers and pastoralists - Dr James Kahurananga

The imperative for Conservation Agricultural mechanization - Ann Adjei

Integrated approach to top bar beekeeping in Tanzania - Rachel Monger

EMI- Designing a world of hope - Rex Barber

CA scale-up through service providers - Hamis Dulla Mzoba

Climate variability and honey bee forage - Goodluck Malisa

Rice trading and information systems - Mark Blackett

Basic seed and soil preparation for propagation - techniques used at ECHO Florida - Lydia Hofland

Basic vegetative propagation by air layers, cuttings and divisions, used at ECHO Florida - Lydia Hofland

Basic vegetative propagation by grafting and budding - Lydia Hofland

2019 Videos - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

Promoting Conservation Agriculture in Kenya

Addressing problems of soil fertility with emphasis on nitrogen fixation by legumes and the temporal and spatial dynamics of local resources

The Role of Green Manure Cover Crops

Sustainable agro ecological crops pest management using botanical pesticides & IPM

Valuing landscapes through ecosystem services

Impact of livestock: Dairy development in SW Tanzania

Food Smart Cities and how to incentivize sustainable practices

Legumes and soil health – participatory action research

Bridging the gap between farmers and extensionists with ICT & radio

Homegardens with traditional African vegetables to increase the consumption of nutrient dense vegetables and improve income generation for men and women - lessons from East Africa

Conversion of the maresha plow to a direct seeder