ICCAMNET

Global climate changes (CC) evidently have an impact on the weather patterns caused by a marked increase in atmospheric temperatures. Subsequently, erratic weather patterns making weather prediction a problem. This in turn has impacted negatively on rain fed agriculture. Of all the climatic factors, the daily and inter-annual variation in precipitation is most crucial for rain fed agriculture and the runoff for irrigated production. The day-to-day variability of rainfall associated with weather is the major risk factor for most forms of agriculture. Soil moisture deficits, crop damage and crop diseases are all driven by rainfall and associated humidity. Variability in rainfall intensity and duration makes the performance of agricultural systems in relation to long-term climate trends very difficult to anticipate.

Closing Speech by Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Extension

The Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Extension Prof J. Mathooko mentioned that he was honored to be invited to close the ceremony. He mentioned that his office was aware of the conference proceedings and apologized for not attending and attributed this to the busy schedule at the university. The university was launching the strategic plan and service charter. However he mentioned that he was impressed with the debate the conference had elicited during the plenary session. He admired the diversity in thinking from the participants and said that it offered a good forum for collecting good take home points. He dared the forum to the statement that Climate Change can not be seen coming. To support his argument he posed the question to the audience: “When did climate change start?” He mentioned that this is a philosophical question and that it is important to talk about adaptation and mitigation. He asked the audience each ones’ role in Climate Change mitigation and adaptation. He also pointed at evidence that humans use resources without thinking about tomorrow. He wished that humans should think like some animals that use resources and leave others for the dry season. He attributed problems in the African context to the ‘’Tragedy of the commons’’ which are more common in the African countries. He said that to them the common resources were to be used without control and regulation. However he stated that time had come to control consumption and think of creating more for future region. He also mentioned the importance of early warning systems and the need to strengthen them. However he emphasized that traditional knowledge should be incorporated as part of the early warning systems. This will make it easy to detect the effects of Climate Change. Finally he mentioned that our thinking should be broad and should be able to use the information to detect changes in the environment and also use the knowledge in management. He mentioned he was sure audience have obtained good information but should use the information to mitigate effects of Climate Change . With this remarks he officially closed the conference.

Assessing Usage of Web 2.0 Tools in Disseminating Climate Information and Services in National Agricultural Systems of Eastern Africa

Presented by O.G Opile

The main objective of the study is to enhance the use of Web 2.0 Tools for accessing and disseminating climate information and services by the Eastern Africa NAS in order to improve adaptation to climate change impact.

The expected outputs are:

• The extent to which the NAS use Web 2.0 tools to disseminate climate change information and services are determined and the user in NAS are identified.
• The feedback mechanisms adopted by the NAS to enhance usage of their Web 2.0 Tools to disseminate climate information and services are identified and their efficiency in responding to specific user needs determined

Climate effects and goat adaptation in arid and semi-arid lands

Presented by Prof. I. S. Kosgey – Egerton University

Prof Kosgey quoted U.S President Barrack Obama when he said “We must choose action over inaction; the future over the past – with courage and faith, let us meet our responsibility to our people, and to the future of our planet”, in the 2009 COP 15 Copenhagen, President Barack Obama of USA

And Kenya P.M Raila when he said “…climate crisis is on our hands. People are dying needlessly, and the prospects of worse scenarios (climate surprises) are high and grave indeed for the vulnerable states”, during the 2009 climate vulnerable forum, Maldives, Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga of Kenya

The link to goat production

• Increase in surface air temperature can lead to heat stress leading to decrease in appetite, some cases of increased gut fill arising from reduced thyroid secretion = reduced gut motility.
• Reduction or complete absence of rainfall can lead to prolonged droughts which result in feed and water scarcity and thus compromise on goat’s production and reproduction performance (e.g., milk yield, loss of body weight leading to emaciation, increased mortalities due to starvation, decreased fertility in does and reduced sexual activities in the breeding animals).

For example, depriving adapted goats water for more than 72 hrs leads to significant reduction on voluntary daily dry matter (DM) intake.

EVALUATING HONEY VALUE ADDITION AS AN ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD ASSET UNDER CLIMATE STRESSES IN THE SEMI-ARID BARINGO DISTRICT OF KENYA

Presented by Risper Maccs Berem Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics Egerton University

Bee keeping offers viable alternative for smallholder farmers because:

• Does not need a lot of land or good soil
•  Low input requirements
• Hilly and rocky land which is not arable can be used productively, provided there are bushes.
• Cheap technology-based
• Environmentally-friendly(Pollination-80%)
• Honey-Long Shelf life (no infrastructure)

Objectives of her study were:

• To assess the factors that influence the practice and extent of honey value addition.
• To assess the contribution of honey value addition to poverty reduction.

One of her recommendations was that  there is need for the Ministry of Livestock to seriously promote VA as a means of poverty reduction among the poor in ASAL

SPILL-OVER EFFECTS OF PASTORALISTS’ ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ON AQUATIC BENTHIC INVERTEBRATES

Presented by Henry T. Karanja – Egerton University

Intensification of livestock numbers at the edge of water bodies leads to:

• degraded stream channel morphology
• unstable bank soil and vegetation
• increased nutrient concentrations.
• lower diversity of riparian-dependent species.
• Cumulatively it alters the riverine benthic composition

From his study, he concluded that:

• Climate change ecologically will have broad consequences on livestock-aquatic systems and associated ecosystems,
• Long-term assessment of the effects of climatic changes on aquatic biological organisms.
• Research on mechanisms for adaptation of riverine ecosystems. 

Drying-up of rivers: implications for rural livelihoods and community responses in Central and Central-North of Central African Republic

Presented by Cyriaque-Rufin Nguimalet – Department of Geography, University of Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR)

The objective was to Analyze the societal effects of drying-up of rivers and show the rural activities exposure due to lack of water and the response of local communities.

From his study, he concluded that :

• Evidence of drying-up impacts = chronic water scarcity these last time and impacting of extra-agricultural activities
•  Societal impact of this phenomenon = shortening rainy season and severity of low-water levels implying lack of water for extra-agricultural activities
•   Populations’ increasing/growing concern
•  Community’s responses supported by local cultural realities and socio-physical environment
•  Drying-up = one of climate change consequences as vegetation degradation, temperatures’ increasing, rainfall decline
• Water scarcity’ stressing = brought modifications by climate change, upsetting the fragile organization of rural communities.

PRACTICE POINTERS IN ENABLING THE PASTORALISTS BE FEED SECURE

Presented by Monica Olala

The objectives were:

• To minimize recurrent losses in livestock as a result of feed shortage;
• To improve forage production and conservation for sustainable livestock production and productivity.

A case study of Lugari District showed that:

• Quality pasture establishment and production for hay is a key factor in sustainable livestock production and productivity.
• Pasture bulking for seed for propagation and sale was viewed as the most practical way to  upscale fodder production in this  community.
• Individual hay bank;
  - Conservation of excess feeds ensure that pastoralists  have sufficient feed to offer their livestock .
• Maize stovers are ground after the harvest, packed into bags and stored.

One of the lessons learnt was that a menu of technologies should be presented to communities/farmers.

Climate-related vulnerability and adaptive-capacity in Ethiopia’s Borana and Somali Communities:

Summary findings of community perceptions on adaptive capacity to climate change

Presented by Holly

The project was Commissioned by CARE International and Save the Children UK Ethiopia

The communities perceptions to Climate Change trends were:

• All groups identified shortened rainy seasons during last decade
• Rain frequency, distribution & predictability decreased
• Temperatures increasing

Mutually reinforcing constraints were:

• Pressures from rapid population growth
• Conflicts from unsettled internal boundary disputes
• Social and gender inequalities over resource use
• Inadequate off-farm opportunities & skills
• Poor access to infrastructure, resources and services
• Inadequate government policies, capacities & coordination
• Deteriorating traditional social institutions

Excursion and Cocktail

Day 2 of the conference ended with an excursion where guests were given a tour of the Egerton University Botanical Gardens and the Lord Egerton Castle. Later on inthe evening guests were entertained to a cocktail dinner at the confinements of the Utafiti Hall Complex.

ADAPTING RABBIT PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO A CHANGING CLIMATE IN THE DERIVED SAVANNAH ZONE OF NIGERIA

Presented by O. O Ojebiyi – Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

In his presentation, he mainly focused on the constraints posed by the changing climate to rabbit production as well as the measures devised in coping with the problems. He cited some of the consequences of heat stress in rabbits as being:

• Chronic fatigue
• Upset in the digestive process leading to reduced feed intake, lower growth rate and ultimately lower financial return
• Low immunity as blood cells that help fight off infection are affected thus leading to susceptibility to infection and diseases.
• Consistent heat can also cause nervous breakdown and ultimately death.

One of the options aimed at mitigating heat stress is temperature control where he gave a multi purpose alternative of a rabbit house situated next to a pawpaw tree which not only provides shade but also forage to the rabbits.

Rabbit house situated next to a pawpaw tree