INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON WATERHOLE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR LIVESTOCK EARLY WARNING

March 6th 2012

Workshop Report

Hotel Sirikwa Eldoret, Kenya

Contents

Introduction

Programme and venue

Opening Remarks

Presentations

Convergence of evidence with other monitoring systems

Sentinel sites

Monitoring tools

Attributes to be monitored

Rangeland health

Water situation

Livestock condition

Market price

Other recommendation

Way forward

Closing remarks

Introduction

Water is recognized as one of the most constraining resource in pastoral production systems, avail water, you would have solved up to 50% the challenges facing pastoral production. In pastoral areas, small water bodies are the key sources of water especially in Kenya. Their wide spatial distribution makes them handy in the multiple provision of water to both livestock and human livelihood. In the recent two decades, severe water shortage orchestrated by droughts has hurt the productivity of the pastoral system and has led to a number of livelihood drop-outs with other persons being forced into non-traditional based livelihoods. Food insecurity, migration, livestock mortality and diseases are some of the extended impacts of water shortages and livelihood deprivation.

The centrality of water in sustaining pastoral livelihoods and the need for its continued and reliable provision requires timely, reliable and accurate drought monitoring system to forestall the threat posed to the survival of populations living in arid parts of Kenya. Strategic planning and appropriate development and management of the water sources can be strongly assisted by accurate and accessible information. In addition, the availability of reliable information has proved to be critical in identifying appropriate and timely drought responses. Despite the existence of several early warning systems in Kenya, few are focused towards water for livestock and natural resources. Various initiatives have been executed in the past to develop water MIS. However, the water MIS has suffered from a number of limitations among them very low ownership and commitment by Ministry of Water and Irrigation and other state water actors towards the maintenance of the water MIS; and non-functional mechanism for updating the databases rendering the data obsolete.

USGS/EROS and Texas A & M University with the support from NASA have been running water monitoring of waterholes in the Horn of Africa in parts of Kenya, Ethiopia and south eastern Sudan where two sentinel sites are located. This project provides near real-time data analysis of the variations in depth and status of a number of watering holes. This action was extended to other arid parts of Kenya with a focus on Turkana at a pilot phase. The overarching goal of expansion is intended to provide critical early warning information to other pastoralists who are adversely impacted with increasing frequency and severity of drought due to climate change. The waterhole monitoring system has great potential in filling the missing gaps in livestock based attributes monitoring by focusing on water sources that are widely used by pastoralists. In this project, FAO has teamed with the Texas A & M University and University of Nairobi as a service provider.

In a memorandum of understanding, FAO agreed to fund an expansion of waterhole monitoring in a project dubbed “Development of Waterhole Monitoring for Livestock Early Warning”. This project was to be executed by University of Nairobi and had the following expected outcomes:

  • Expand by 12 the current North East Kenya cluster water hole monitoring to cover districts focusing in the Turkana cluster
  • Acquire reliable ground truth information for validation and calibration of Hydrologic model for waterhole monitoring
  • Contribute towards national water and other natural resources monitoring capability
  • Provide early warning tool for water and other natural resources in the arid districts.

The project has been implemented by the service provider in coordination with FAO-Kenya. FAO thus saw it inevitable to convene a dissemination workshop. As such, this international workshop on waterhole monitoring system for livestock early warning was convened. The workshop bore three objectives including:

  • Stakeholder sensitization on waterhole monitoring system
  • Establish convergence evidence with other monitoring systems
  • Way forward for the waterhole monitoring system.

Programme and venue

The International Workshop on Waterhole Monitoring System for Livestock Early Warning was held on the 6th March, 2012 at Sirikwa Hotel, Eldoret Kenya. Eldoret is located in Rift Valley Province. It is an agricultural town and a bread basket of Kenya. The workshop started from 8:00-16:30 hours. Table 1 portrays programme of activities

Table 1: Programme of activities

Time / Activity / Person in charge
08:00-8:30 / Registration / Chair: FAO
Opening remarks / FAOR: Mr. Dan Rugabira
UoN Dean: Prof. Shibairo
PDLP: Mr. Josiah Akoyo
8:30-0.9:30 / Project presentations
Project Background / FAO
Waterhole monitoring pilot in Turkana / UoN
09:30-10:30 / Technical aspects of waterhole monitoring (hydrological model) / TAMU
10:30-11:00 / Break
11:00-11:30 / The Role of NDMA in Livestock Early warning / NDMA
11:30-12:30 / Establish convergence of evidence with other monitoring systems (group discussions) / FAO
12:30-13:00 / Group presentations / UoN
13:00-14:00 / Lunch
14:00-15:00 / Technical Presentation of the waterhole pilot project / UoN
Android phone/Epi-collect data collection system / FAO
Watermon website / TAMU
15:00-16:00 / Way forward / Participants
16:00-16:30 / Closing remarks / FAO/UoN/TAMU

Opening Remarks

This workshop was graced by three dignitaries including: Food and Agriculture Organisation Representative in Kenya; Mr. Dan Rugabira (Chief Guest), CEO National Drought Management Authority; Mr. James Oduor and The Provincial Director of Livestock Production; Mr. Josiah Akoyo. Opening remarks were made by the three.

Mr. Josiah Akoyo expressed gratitude that such an important gathering of academics, scientists and practitioners was convened in his area of jurisdiction. He noted that this was an opportunity to address the real problem that face the grass root people and that his team is always grappling with. As a provincial director of livestock production in the Rift Valley Province that covers Turkana, he was optimistic that these efforts would bear fruit and pledged his continued support.

Mr. James Oduor; the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) CEO noted that NDMA is new organisation but its activities are not. Because, NDMA is taking over from the ASAL management Project that Government of Kenya wound. He noted that NDMA already has an early warning systems programme that focuses on food security. NDMA’s early warning system is based on monthly data collected. NDMA generates monthly food security bulletins as part and partial of its early warning system. Currently, NDMA is undergoing refinement and it is honest that it opens its boarders to work with other stakeholders to enhance its capacity.

FAOR in Kenya, Mr. Dan Rugabira noted that FAO has interest in livelihood issues and this waterhole monitoring project is one of the ways in which FAO seeks to contribute to livelihood improvement. He appreciated the fact that drought is one of the damaging disasters in Kenya with far reaching effects. FAOR appreciated that the project has had several successful outcomes worthwhile up-scaling including: ground truthed information for hydrologic modeling, provides early warning tool for water monitoring in arid lands, capacity development in community workers for data collection. He also appreciated the fact the project has received commendable coverage in various news and media channels as well as online bulletins. There are still lots of technical challenges ahead especially those associated with simulation modeling he noted. He expressed gratitude to the project implementers and observed that this action needs to be expanded to other arid and semi-lands of Kenya and pledged FAO’s continued support.

Presentations

There were a series of presentations conducted in this workshop. Mr. Joseph Matere (FAO), Mr. James Oduor (NDMA) and Dr. Jay Angerer (Texas A & M University) made the technical presentations. Mr. Matere presented on new technologies focusing on the Epi-collect. In this presentation, participants were exposed to the functionality of the Epi-collect data process from creation of web page to output developed. Participants were also made to appreciate why there is need to move to mobile technologies.

Mr. James Oduor’s presentation focused on community based early system. This presentation is based on the experience of NDMA. Participants were exposed to vulnerability and analysis, risk and hazard assessment. In this presentation, he noted that they collect data on 52 indicators on a monthly basis. This in itself he noted is challenging and bulky. There is need to synthesize on the range of indicators that can be utilised for early warning as well as review the sample size utilised he noted.

On the other hand, Dr. Jay Angerer’s presentations focused on modeling and monitoring waterholes using satellite data and hydrologic modeling and waterhole monitoring in East Africa with NASA Data. Both these discussions were rich in content and depth. They appreciated the centrality of timely early warning information and the need for credible approaches in its generation. These presentations demonstrated how complicated approaches can generate information that can be easily presented to decision makers in an easy to understand and utilise format. These presentations can be available on further information is available on for your reading.

Convergence of evidence with other monitoring systems

The outcome in this area is dependent on a synthesis submission from group discussions that were conducted during the workshop. This area touched on four aspects namely: sentinel sites, monitoring indicators, monitoring tools and any other recommendation. The suggestions participants generated are reflected below:

Sentinel sites

  • It was noted that there are 50 new suggested sentinel sites proposed for expansion
  • It was observed that the 12 sentinel sites in Turkana are adequate for that area and these should continue to function in addition to the 50 that will be established.
  • Participants noted that priority in establishing sentinel sites should be given to arid lands, followed by semi-arid lands and then to high production areas of Kenya. A further appreciation was made with regard to the coastal areas as needing attention.
  • Participants observed that it is also important to observe conditions in the high production zones. In the high rainfall areas, milk shades could be a good indicator for monitoring.
  • Suggestions the three groups in regard to the distribution of sentinel sites. Participants noted that the spatial distribution of sentinel sites can take on a geographical spread, and/or production dimension. The suggested distribution should be based on clusters such as: Turkana, Marsabit/Moyale, Garissa/Ijara/Tana River, Wajir/Mandera, Baringo/Samburu/Isiolo/Laikipia for arid lands; Mwingi/Kitui/Makueni and Kajiado/Narok/Trans-Mara for semi arid lands.

Monitoring tools

Participants observed that there is no rule of the thumb tools for early warning but rather a combination of tools. They however noted that the use of electronic tools and mobile the technologies that allow the use of open source software be prioritized so as to minimize the costs. Participants also noted that during data collection, both soft copy data and hard copy need be collected. Participants recommended the use of:

  • Android phones for mobile technology early warning
  • Questionnaires for extended data collection and
  • Digital pens

Attributes to be monitored

Participants discussed four broad areas that need to be monitored (rangeland health, water levels, livestock body condition, and market price data) for early warning. In a bid to reduce on the number of indicators to be monitored, participants suggested what they perceived can provide leads during early warning. Participants observed that indicators should be quantitative as much as possible. These have been summarised below:

Rangeland health

  • Forage situation (quality, composition, quantity)
  • Clearance/bare ground appearance
  • Soil erosion (soil cover)
  • Selective migration of livestock
  • Accessibility to pasture
  • Conflicts in grazing lands

Water situation

  • Water availability
  • Distance moved
  • Water access e.g. camels given after 4 days, 7 days (livestock water rationing/regimes
  • Water use conflicts/clashes
  • Human livestock concentration at watering points
  • Number of scoop wells at river beds

Livestock condition

  • Disease outbreak
  • Body condition
  • Disease situation
  • Mortality
  • Number of births/calving rates

Market price

  • Price of cereals
  • Price live animals
  • Volumes sold
  • Market access
  • Prices of feeds

Other recommendation

  • Monitoring of other water sources in the area e.g. boreholes, rivers, hand dug out wells
  • There are other early warning systems in the region e.g. FEWS-NET. It is vital therefore not to re-invent the wheel
  • Sustainability of the system over time that is the business plan of the system
  • Dissemination of the information
  • Government should step e.g. by releasing some of its officers into project activity since they are already earning salary
  • Impacts on households should be covered
  • Coping strategies used at any given time be captured
  • There is need to work with the community to draw the contingency plan (utilizing the DRR approach)
  • There is need to critically re-think on the approaches and strategies to best tap the great community information
  • There is need to move from project based monitors to non-project based monitors for sustainability of the project.

Way forward

  • Target a systematic geographic expansion
  • Collaboration and convergence with other partners especially closer working cooperation with NDMA
  • Strive to bring more partners on board to ease the work e.g. develop a distribution map of partners; this could be used to assign responsibility for data collection
  • Capacity building through bringing a number of graduate students from University on board.
  • Design, develop and utilise simple and effective dissemination of the information
  • Develop a sustainability programme by embedding this process within the existing government system

Closing remarks

The workshop was closed by Prof. R. N. Kinuthia the Chairman of the Department of Land Resources and Agriculture Technology (LARMAT), University of Nairobi. He observed that a lot of work has been done in this field but there is still limited impact as disasters still wreck havoc on the livelihoods of the pastoralists and other people in Kenya and the region. Further, technologies are available but only a few people have knowledge of their existence and use. Therefore, there is need for continued sharing of this information and technical capacity. It was further observed that, focus should lie on how to cause real impact on the ground rather than just ‘burning’ the donor funds. As such, there should be consideration on livelihoods.

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