Electronic Agriculture in Kenya’s Arid and Semi–Arid Lands (ASAL) Schools.

troy said 6 months ago

I believe this is a good Idea

deassis said 6 months ago

This is really feasible. This idea could go a long way in helping the students and the Africa people as a whole.

rayunited said 6 months ago

Agriculture is the backbone of many African countries and this idea would help the people.

You have my endorsement

bonny4resty said 6 months ago

i would like to know more about how Agriculture can help Kenyan students

MUGOANTO said 6 months ago

Great idea which I believe is viable.

MakenaK said 6 months ago

Brilliant initiative!

meshak said 6 months ago

The integration of e-technology in the development of sustainable agricultural activities in ASALs is a truly thought provoking idea. With the internet gaining prominence as a means of communication and social interaaction, it can serve as a vital tool in the exchange of ideas and experiences among the actors in ASAL regions. This idea should be propagated across developing and developed countries across the world.

mikekingori said 6 months ago

good idea i hope it will be implimented

macherukaruku said 6 months ago

Please note that the correct One Dollar for Life (ODFL) website is http://www.odfl.org

josephshuel said 6 months ago

this is an amazingly innovative idea worth support from all of us in the development sector. just the right idea at the right time and the right place(africa)!!

johnkingi said 6 months ago

indeed innovative...

erastus said 6 months ago

i like this. we should get together to see this things as a realization to Africa.

danielkkassoo said 6 months ago

This project will alleviate poverty levels in our community. The community will participate in agricultural entrepreneurship programs.

JOHNKUIRAWARUTERE said 6 months ago

The project will improve retention of students in rural schools and prove agriculture is still the main source of economic empowerment in the rural areas.

veronicawangari said 6 months ago

This is a good idea.

Maish said 6 months ago

thats a good idea to help pple

velmanimmo said 6 months ago

This is a brilliant Idea which would help countries that have agriculture as the backbone of their economy. It would also help in giving the students skills which they can use in future for their livelihood.

alexismaingi said 6 months ago

I hope this works out.

alexismaingi said 6 months ago

Information technology is the way forward in the world today.

johnngichu said 6 months ago

if the innovatin can;;;;;produce agricultural products including crops and livestock in Kenya’s ASAL Schools as a source of learning, food security and agri-business.there`s no need at all to deny this a well deserved endorsement.

you have my endorsement.

symonnjine said 6 months ago

In Africa ASAL Schools the best weapon to fight the academic backwardness is through e-agriculture,this will enhance economic growth and indeed contibute to economic development.

bonifacemwenda said 6 months ago

This is the first step in a journey of a thousand miles that will see African countries join the likes of Malawi in sustaining food security and respective economies of our Nations

wakababobo said 6 months ago

I second this idea!

ashaahmed said 6 months ago

Its really encouraging that this project idea promotes Agro Foresty considering the levels of desertification in Kenya, this would be timely!

wambeti said 6 months ago

I like the whole idea of approaching hunger and poverty mitigation using e-learning. The country and the world at large is increasingly embracing the concept of iformation technology. The ASAL areas are the most hard hit by prolonged droughts while the situation continue to be compound by the erratic rainfall and current climatic changes of global warming. I am delighted that the writer has touched on an area the points to the future of ASAL agriculture- the conservation agriculture(CA). CA is anchored on 3 primary principles viz:- a)minimal turning of the soil, b)use of cover crops and c) use of controlled crop rotation.To it water harvesting would add great value to the whole procees of increasing food security for the ASAL dwellersand in general to the entire country.

githiji said 6 months ago

A GREAT IDEA!!!If impremented kenya will be a country free from hunger.

noah said 6 months ago

I like the thoght. Kindly consider integration of other relevant literature in the factual e-forums to inform our youth on reproductive health issues, which remains a challange in all sectors of development.

gakuyo said 6 months ago

This project is a very good idea in this times and age. The concept of networking among stakeholders in any particular field should be encouraged since it always leads to better,more innovative,cost effective and wonderful results.

wanyonyi said 6 months ago

This is a good project Idea and I really hope that it will go a long way in instilling a culture of agricultural productivity.

Alphaxard said 6 months ago

This a great approach towards having a country without hunger,im really impressed by e-agriculture and more so conservation agriculture which is a best practice in 21st century,reduces cost and big results at the end.

muthui said 6 months ago

a timely idea, just what kenya needs to tackle her food woos

margaretwanjiru said 6 months ago

This is quite innovative and I hope the project succeeds and should be emulated by others. The idea of involving young children is in itself great. These are the future leader of tomorrow and we must start targeting them in all our programme development initiatives. Our waters sources are depleted and it the high time we started tapping rain water for organic farming. I am impressed by the whole concept.

simonmuriithi said 6 months ago

Tis is wonderful,I have been observing this organization very closely and i benefited in one of its project here at Naro moru Mixed day high school where they built a class.So I do support this project. simon

simonmuriithi said 6 months ago

Tis is wonderful,I have been observing this organization very closely and i like the idea.Ibenefited in one of its project here at Naro moru Mixed day high school where they built a class.So I do support this project. simon

Dan1 said 6 months ago

This is a genius idea!! It's it time this recurrent problem is tackled.

Wamalwa said 6 months ago

Having spent my lower studying years in a margnalized area, I belive that this Proposal is inclined towards helping and bringing to level those in well developed areas and marginalized areas.

Foleni said 6 months ago

A brilliant development programme, encourage this idea and surely africa will rise.

Marine said 6 months ago

Unbelivable!!! surely an inovative project.

ongwae said 6 months ago

I support,the approach and it needs both research and training to all actors and stakeholders to be able to optimize the available resources. reservoirs can be increased by constructing underground tanks which have minimum cost to construct.

Nakhawangwa said 6 months ago

I completly endorse this project. It will make us realize our full potential.

Muriuki097 said 6 months ago

Schools in this areas will really benefit and the communities in this A&S.A areas should give a helping hand to see this project through.

kilonzo said 6 months ago

if the school in this area were educated a bout this project the area would be completely different because according to the information given it is one of the wonderful of all and unique points given.

kiamawanjau said 6 months ago

A brilliant concept that seeks to provide residents (students, small holder farmers, agriculturalists etc) in/of semi-arid regions in Kenya with access to relevant and practical technological avenue/ solutions to their agricultural and environmental challenges. and create viable, productive and sustainable land use and incomes

mathai said 6 months ago

After reading carefully about this innovation,I wish to say that I am impressed. I am also surprised to learn that our children are now having a lot of 'home work' in shadow schools. I am now prepared to start counselling them from a point of knowledge.

albertolupot said 6 months ago

This is an amazing ingenuity.It is invaluable.From my experience,with the kind of students I work with ,this project is a positive turn-around--an oasis to livelihood given that it practical and very possible.Way to go.

jackyfoo said 6 months ago

Hi

"e-agriculture" has great potential benefits to society in any country and particularly useful to farmers for weather reports, commodity prices and trading.

I did a feasibility study on e-learning in Kenya and Uganda in 2008 to identify sites for partnership with an e-learning school in Sweden (http://www.mkfc.se/about-stockholm-college/). Along with my studies in 2007, I visited many many schools including probation hostels where there is also a special need.

What I have learnt is that web-based e-learning is still in the offing even though Ghana has taken the leading role in this area for the African Union countries. The focus now is for institutions of higher education. Yes, Kenya and Uganda (and many other Sub-Sahara countries) do have many Internet cafes dotted almost everywhere, but in 2007/2008 I found that Internet access at schools by students is still very limited. How e-agriculture will help the rural communities in the near future is unknown especially in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya. (see my work in Marsabit, Maikona and Hurri Hills at http://www.globetree.org/africa/maikona). However internet connectivity and e-learning via mobile phones is an area of rapid development.

Ugandan Ministry of Education has developed lap-top based e-learning modules for secondary schools on 4 subjects and tested it on 150 schools. This was done in cooperation with a company. The development of the modules itself took some 3 years and has been testing and editing of the modules with teachers themselves. The "module" approach (not web-based) worked very well as "teaching aids" for the teachers. The modules for "virtual" chemistry and physics laboratories were especially useful and cost-effective alternatives.

If you can develop "technology" modules with animation, I think they will be very useful for vocational and technical schools too. You could cover topics on water (harvesting, water pumping, drip irrigation, green houses), energy (solar, bioenergy, biogas); agriculture (organic farming, raised bed intensive vegetable farming) and raising micro-livestock for secondary schools. They will also be useful for 2-3 year secondary school students where agriculture is part of their curriculum. My rabbit houses (http://www.globetree.org/africa/rabbit-net) are used by secondary school students. I would certainly like to see a teaching module for rabbit keeping.

++++jf


In Uganda

mwangikiama said 6 months ago

A briliant idea worth my support and of others who have the love of a country at heart.I wish it can be implemented because food crisis would a thing of the past.Again i say good work.

waigwabiliha said 6 months ago

What a brilliant and timely idea! I do support this methodology as it would seal the food gap, especially in the sub-Saharan Africa. Excellently wonderful!

hannie said 6 months ago

This is avery good idea

douma said 6 months ago

The integration of Information Technology would really help Kenya especially with the implementation on Fiber Optic technology to enhance internet connection speeds over long distances.

Considering the amount of famine being faced in most parts of the country, I feel that this project idea if implemented would be really timely.

munyeri said 6 months ago

This is gud en fab idea!!!

mwajob said 6 months ago

Wow!!! what an idea?

karoki said 6 months ago

good idea

waithaka said 6 months ago

great! there is hope for kenya

josef said 6 months ago

Quite a brilliant idea!

mwajob said 6 months ago

I really like this idea of E-Agriculture and that;

1) I believe E-Agriculture is good for the Coast people of Kenya as it is one of the province which is hardest hit by ASAL area, with many day schools, walking long distances to reach their schools and needs education on; Agro-forestry,Water harvesting, Green house / drip irrigation technology, Green bicycles and Information technology.
2) I would like to participate in E-Agriculture projects, in partnership with SEANET.

Your advice is highly welcomed. Josh.

Milly said 6 months ago

If we unite in this project, as in put all our efforts in it, why should it not work? Lets just not sit down and watch others doing what we can do. its time to wake up Africa.

monicah said 6 months ago

I think this is a wonderful idea and one that contribute greatly to improving the livelihoods of many people in africa

mwanikiwanjohi said 6 months ago

its wonderful! there is future for this country and Africa at large if this is implemented.

bonifacenyamu said 6 months ago

This is a very good idea. Through this proposed project,we could highlight the plight of the street kids who are at the lowest possible level of poverty. This is especially true for the girl street child.
Because of hunger and poverty, these children scavenge through dustbins and dumping sites for their livelihood.

symonnjine said 6 months ago

at time has come for us appreciate ideas that will be therapy to our ailments.pangs of hunger have been our ailments but e-agriculture is our therapy

charlesgathogo said 6 months ago

As a retired headteacher I would like to state that every time that there is drought, there are a lot of water and hunger problems in schools. A project that would lessen these problems would be most wellcome, and this looks like it.

lekupedaniel said 6 months ago

When i first saw the idea i developed interest and i kept on reading. My initial submission would be to congratulate the minds behind the idea. I have the following reasons for my submission:
1. Kenya is currently going through the worst drough ever in decades. With innovative ideas like - e-agriculture Kenya would have minimized the effects of the drought in schools, poor rural communities - where the bulk of the population are the powerless women.
2. E-agriculture opens up a new chapter in the way food security is adressed not only in Kenya but many parts of the world.
3. By targeting on children and women - the project would go along way to impact positively in the lives of many and would in the end be sustainable for replication in other similar circumstances.
4. I believe with adeqaute farm outputs the project would have solved side issues - like poverty, conflict over resources and also promote market economy at the micro-level.

Ideally, this is an idea that would require further resarch and documentation.

thank you

Tkimaru said 6 months ago

I am a farmer after having been a headmaster of many primary schools in many dry areas. During my stay in these schools, I saw many children drop out of school because of biting hunger. I think e-agriculture can change the fortunes of many schools and many farmers even in wetter areas, because it is courageously targeting the poor.

macherukaruku said 6 months ago

To all that have commented, and others.

This is to acknowledge with thanks, the many comments/improvements that have emanated not only from Kenya but also other parts of our global village

From the America’s Troy and the Portugal’s Deassis’s comments two weeks ago, to those of Jackyfoo and Kenya’s Lekupedaniel to-date, so much attention has been directed to e- agriculture so much so that I am now able to look at this proposal from many points of view.

By the nature of many proposed projects, it is easy for me to conclude that there are many people out there, from all over the world that really care about the poor, the largest percentage of whom are women.

Normally the advocates of the poor (whom Robert Chambers ‘83 calls the wretched of the earth) are urban based ‘rural development tourists’ who have strategically “perched” themselves in the vantage position between the ignorant world of development agencies and the poor of the poor-the “last” (Chambers 83)-most of whom they (advocates) have never seen.

It is therefore significant that ARC has made it possible for anybody who has any innovative idea of changing Africa for the better has access to this high table forum of discourse where all ideas are equal.

Since I have now been exposed to the larger picture of ARC membership comments, I will be able to give my more informed comments, shortly.

Thank you for sacrificing your time in reading the above monologue.

Geraldgichuhi said 6 months ago

This is a great idea. This is the true spirit of Africa, to help one another and living together in harmony. I support this project fully.

mutero said 6 months ago

This is quite a noble course, it will propel Kenya and Africa at large to greater heights of prosperity and redeem millions from poverty.

I am totally behind it and request more people to join in.

macherukaruku said 6 months ago

E-Agriculture Improvements

So many people have suggested so many improvements to E-Agriculture. I thank you all.

1.Bonny4resty
Comment: I would like to know more about how agriculture can help Kenyan Students.
Answer: I think Kenyan students would benefit from e-agriculture through getting more balanced food, learning about survival techniques through E-Agriculture and also being able to interact easily an freely with others for better livelihoods.

2.Meshak
Comment: The integration of e-technology in the development of sustainable agricultural activities in ASAL’s is a truly thought-provoking idea.

Answer: I agree with you. I believe that it is at the e-technology level that the unreachable poor and women, poor and also pro-poor organizations will sit face to face with their policy-maker counterparts at the proposed table of policy dialogue.

3.alexismaingi
Comment: I hope this works out:

Answer: I think, though disjointedly, that this is already happening. This can be exemplified by the already existing few guttered roofs, small drip irrigation systems/simple green houses here and there and millions of students and their penurious peasant parents in Africa who are ready to try the same given a chance, all with one hope that the tide will eventually turn. Perhaps all that is needed is urgent attention to E-Agriculture and the program will become self propagating/sustaining.

4.Gakuyo
Comment: The concept of networking among stakeholders in any particular field should be encouraged since it always leads to better, more innovative, cost effective and wonderful results.

Answer: I cannot agree with you more!
It is well documented that working together brings forth higher outputs than the summation of individual results. E.g.

When in simple arithmetic 2 + 2 = 4, in the social arithmetic world, 2 + 2 > 4.
(Perhaps this is true if there is no hidden agenda in the partnership and all are working towards the common good, or if common objectives far outweigh the individuals private ones)

If then the above synergistic statement is true, what would be the output if all schools, from all over Africa and elsewhere, worked together and linked to other organizations, all with one aim of fighting poverty and hunger in these schools and their surroundings?

I think hunger, poverty, and disease are endemic to Africa because majority of pro-poor and poor people’s organizations duplicate their efforts and many a time they are more of enemies to each other than they are to poverty, hunger and disease.Again private interests far outweigh the common good.

Shouldn’t we learn more from more differentiated organizations like NATO, EU etc, and even private congromerates that have come tongether to conquer the business world?

More later, and thanks for sharing in our mission

leahwanjiru said 6 months ago

I love this idea. It will help in food security and also help avoid malnutrition in Kenya.

myriamkp said 6 months ago

This is a great idea.I am curious what the budget is to get each of these school hooked up to the internet and then to develop each of these schools as a producing farm (on a per school basis). What type of internet access system do you plan to use in areas that do not have electricity?

kingori said 6 months ago

As a horticultural/dairy farmer I would say that this approach is a very good one because we are having a lot of water and food shortages. This project can help to publisize good practices widely.

Kahome said 6 months ago

E-agriculture should be encouraged in order to boost food production especially at times of drought and famine.

Muriuki12 said 6 months ago

As a plumber and leaving in a semi-arid area, I have to agree with Mr. Macherukaruku this is the way to tackle the water shortage problem in this areas.

samuelkgichuru said 6 months ago

Since I am a farmer in a semi-arid area, I do support this idea. This is because I know that every time it rains, and this is rarely, all the rain water gets lost. Thereafter when drought hits these areas a lot of suffering is experienced .

macherukaruku said 6 months ago

Margaret Wanjiru

Comment: In your profile you state that you are very passionate about women and children issues.

Answer: Thank you for this. I think women and children problems in Africa are multi-caused and one of the major causes is power imbalance. In their book Organizations, Theory and Behavior, Hicks and Gullet have stated that Total Power is equal to the sum of one’s knowledge, economic, positional, past performance, personality, ideological, physical, and other power.

If the above holds at least most of the time, I then believe that it is the above factors that we innovatively need to work upon in order to empower women and children more progressively. Most of power can for instance be realized through strengthening of grassroots women/youths farming groups that can then coalesce to form formidable CBO’s capable of partnering with similar ones to form powerful organizations capable of influencing policy.

It is unfortunate that many of Kenya’s women/youths organizations are very weak and they are then unable to empower their members.

Women/youths groups are therefore envisaged to be a crucial target for the E-Agriculture proposed project so that they can play their rightful role in the empowerment process.


Wamalwa

Comment:…I believe that this proposal is inclined towards helping and bringing to level those in well developed areas and those in marginalized areas.

Answer: May be even the schools in wetter areas could also benefit from E-Agriculture.
It can be noted that the so called wetter areas are only wetter relative to the ASAL ones, otherwise they would also benefit significantly with similar technology.
In this way this e-agriculture project is likely to create employment and generate income from sale of surplus foodstuff in all areas.


Ongwae:

Comment: I support the approach and it needs both research and training…..
Answer: I agree with you without any reservation. This is good, coming from a researcher like your self. There has been a big challenge in strengthening of Research-extension- farmer (school) – Research linkages in Kenya over the decades.

Can you imagine what a milestone it would be if there was “….democratization of research and farmer-centered innovation systems, in which women play a key role in defining research priorities” as Michael Pimbert of IIED puts it in the September, 2009 issue of the LEISA magazine?

Still more to come, and thanks.

norwan said 5 months ago

smart and reasonable idea.

macherukaruku said 5 months ago

Jackyfoo

Comment:
E–agriculture has great potential benefits to society in any country and particularly useful to farmers for weather reports, commodity prices and trading.

Answer:
Thank you for being able to give E-Agriculture a new perspective. It is evident that you have done a lot of work on E-learning and small animals.

Poor people, micros and simplicity:
I think many people agree on small within bigness, where small is beautiful (E.F Schumacher). In African context, we could be referring to small projects and micro livestock. This would easily include:-

Bicycles, hand carts, oxen/donkey carts, simple drip/green house technology, indigenous vegetables, roots and crops , small livestock like rabbits and chicken etc, all for millions of poor people and women who would be well connected within Africa and beyond. Even project risks per capita would still be small!

With the above perspective, I think it is possible for those who subscribe to these empowering projects to come up with small- project-movements that would practically fight poverty at all fronts until this degrading and dehumanizing menace is wiped out of the face of the earth.

To achieve anything out of the above, I think what is then needed is a very high degree of collaboration and communication never witnessed before in the global war against poverty. I have this in focus as we walk the talk.

E-Agriculture is therefore meant to be practical and strategic, with action planning always within reach.

Thanks.

liane said 5 months ago

This is a good idea & i believe it will workout

muthoga said 5 months ago

This is a brilliant idea. I am sure a lot will be realized using the e -technology.

muturo said 5 months ago

This is a noble idea we must all appreciate the fact that its by integrating development ideas and innovations in education for our children will make them be in a better position to cope with ever emerging challanges e.g the current one of food security and environmental coservation and management.E-Agriculture is appropriate way foward.

caleb said 5 months ago

That's a great & a workable idea.

richardwainaina said 5 months ago

i think this project can uplift the livelihoods of many in Africa

Marymwangi said 5 months ago

I admire this project.

Solomon12 said 5 months ago

This is a noble course that will really bring out the potential of this areas and should be supported.

kiza said 5 months ago

the integration of e-technology would highly help improve the lives of many as agriculture is the backbone activity in mo-st African communities...

aaaaaa said 5 months ago

hi
this is a noble idea,a thought outside our cocoon.this,if implemented will see our nation self-reliant in food security and wil guarantee opportunities to our people.i believe this is an idea worth endorsing

wnpaulinewn said 5 months ago

THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROJECT

josephndiritu01 said 5 months ago

This is a timely innovation that will go a long way in alleviating poverty and giving platform for sustainable utilization of available natural resources in Africa and the world at large in these times of global changes climatic changes

paulmwangi said 5 months ago

Hope the project will improve livelihoods in rural Africa positively

macherukaruku said 5 months ago

Myriamkp,

Thank you for your comments about the budget.

COMMENTS:
This is a great idea. I am curious what the budget is to;
(a) Get each school hooked to internet.
(b) What type of internet access system do you plan to use in your plan in areas with no electricity.
(c) Develop each school farm.

ANSWERS:
1.To get one school hooked up to internet (costs):
(a) Computer system =$ 858.00
(b) Common website whereby each participating School will have a user account (web design and hosting) =$ 571.00
Subtotal =$1429.00

(c)The type of internet connection mode to be used is dial up.
(d) Solar power and generators could be the source of power to the area with no electricity.

(2)School Farm
The school farm has many components e.g. Gutters, water tanks, green houses, drip irrigation system, rabbit hutches and bicycles, etc.
These components appear to be many and complex. I however feel that they could be prioritized by each school project and accommodated accordingly. They could also be sequenced by the order of convenience.

Here-below I have just given rough estimates only. It is however possible to work out very detailed budget if and when needed.
(a)Gutters = 1029.00
(b)5 x 6000 liters pvc tanks @ US $ = 2857.00
(c)2 x greenhouses (steel structure) + drip system = 4286.00
(d)Rabbit hutches for a hundred animals = 268.00
(e)10 heavy duty bicycles @100 = 1000.00

Sub – Total = 9440.00


Grand total =$1429 + 9440.00 =10,869.00

Notes:
(a) US$ 1 = Kshs 70.00
(b) The budget covers fixed costs only
(c) For a better budget, more details (than I have given) are needed.

emillymwangi said 5 months ago

This is a very good idea.

Kioria said 5 months ago

This will lead to production of a variety of food and hence increase the nutrition of the residence.

marymukami said 5 months ago

It is a good project especially towards women and children.

jobkinyua said 5 months ago

I agree with marymukami above.

petermbue said 5 months ago

I believe this project is genuinely inclined towards lifting the living and working environment of those living in this marginalized areas and should be supported by all possible means.

Musyokajm said 5 months ago

This project will improve sanitation, nutrition, reduction of water borne diseases and general improvement of health for the beneficiaries.

karanjaelias said 5 months ago

It is a potentially sustainable project capable of meeting water and food objectives for schools and their surroundings.

kahuria_kuria said 5 months ago

super ideas

yiyiyi said 5 months ago

great great innovation.keep up.

wewewe said 5 months ago

what a noble idea.africa need creative men and women like you.

stephenmigwi said 5 months ago

This is a good project and should be encouraged.

leapy1 said 5 months ago

This project will help the youth

benwachira said 5 months ago

This is a brilliant idea which will enhance the welfare of the youth.

kamata said 5 months ago

It is a good project because many of our schools are situated very far from any river or stream.

rmuiruri2 said 5 months ago

It is a motivating project empowering the youth to be engaged in developing the areas mentioned.

Izzie said 5 months ago

Interesting project Idea. I hope it wins :)

simic said 5 months ago

This can be a good step in eradicating famine in Kenya

Israelk said 5 months ago

Ohh I wish I would be in high school so that I would participate in such a project...

stonewan said 5 months ago

Total respect to this project idea!

SILASKAHURIA said 5 months ago

necessity truly is the mother of invention,since mr karuku have invented idea out of necessity to liberate mankind from pangs of hunger i salute him,acknowledge his effort

antonykioma said 5 months ago

an innovation that is out to apply science and tecnology will be at an upper hand to wipe out hunger in asal areas.and since e-agriculture is a science oriented and tecnologically applied its one of a brilliant idea

springs said 5 months ago

its a graet idea especially this time when there is scarcity of rain.i wish you all the best

tehcebek said 5 months ago

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I believe that this is a noble cause and it is a great thing that they are trying to make a difference, but practices such as female genital mutilation and illegal trafficking are still prevalent in this region. It does seem a bit frivolous to offer bikes to these students or to install internet-who do you expect them to communicate with? Remember how these persons were raised. Though a time may come where it is good to connect them to the contemporary world, now I think it is best to build their nation up to speed first if we really wish to change the world. Money shouldn't be spent here when it can be spent on better teachers, better school books. I believe that computers would often be stolen and sold, rather than properly used.
To better improve our world, I propose we also focus on the adult population, not to forcibly brainwash them with our own ideas, but to create the environment for innovation and progression.

Soil must be fertile to reap a good crop


POST SCRIPT: I am all for the food and water contribution, but perhaps we should spend some of the money on medicine, health, or cleanliness. Maybe we could teach how to keep a house clean, or provide the supplies needed to make houses strong and beds comfortable. We could also provide a better refrigeration system to preserve the food, or we could provide money for those who do not have a shelter. Or we could teach effective ways to raise crops, as the first step to grand civilization is grand surplus.

We have the potential to do something great- we'll do it.

jacknjoroge2 said 5 months ago

It is a good project and shows care for others and there is a future for arid areas.

mwangijohn said 5 months ago

what a noble idea.keep it up.

leopha said 5 months ago

THE IDEA IS GOOD AND AT THE END OF THE DAY IT WILL SHOW ALOT OF GOOD FRUITS.

kamaugitau said 5 months ago

These are good ideas because they are geared towards increased food production, better commucation and water conservation for the poor of the poor.

rotich said 5 months ago

a wonderful idea.keep the fire burning.

mumbua said 5 months ago

Isupport this project fully.

kuriaa said 5 months ago

this is a very good innovation that must be supported by all.

simonwambugu said 5 months ago

It is a good project. I therefore support it and urge others to do the same.

duncanangango said 5 months ago

This is a very good and innovative project.
I am a professional soil and water conservisionist and I have a lot of experince in areas of water harvesting. I therefore know a good project when I see one. I therefore approve of this project because it will alleviate poverty in these areas.

Jacinta said 5 months ago

The ideas are very good and i believe its possible.Before we introduce them to drip irrigation i would like to propose that we teach them how to cultivate the bare lands which are fertile and productive. By doing so we will have more land to do irrigation.
For water reserviors they should first know how collect water and this can be done by using roof gutters for their houses.GICHINA

barrette said 5 months ago

Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach the man how to fish and ..... well you know the saying. I believe that this project does just that, goes after the root which is to educate/teach to facilitate change and even better "coordinate the learning" so that all are pulling in the same direction.

macherukaruku said 5 months ago

Great idea for a noble cause. All the best

Ougo said 5 months ago

The current students are the tomorrow's leaders. Good idea

April said 5 months ago

Good Idea, I have a question though..

How many schools will this proposed idea cover?

kennmondo said 5 months ago

a time honoured practise is pancuality,likewise a life honoured practise is to develop an idea which will increase food self sufficiency.

Kaniaru said 5 months ago

This is a viable project that should be supported by everybody.

davidbolton said 5 months ago

great idea we support it.

lydiamuthami said 5 months ago

It is a good idea because so many people are suffering because of water shortage since a lot of water is wasted during the rainy season and should have been harvested then. The project should have come yesterday.

Angeline said 5 months ago

This is a great thought for it will bring food security in schools since its unfortunate so many students have been forced to attend schools with hungry stomachs. This has really affected their overall participation and concentration in schools.

irenemutune said 5 months ago

Wonderful ideas for a worthy cause

wwambuguh said 5 months ago

Excellent ideas

Moniwambui said 5 months ago

water harvesting will bring a solution to the existing water shorage and lack of food in the country.

jnyagah said 5 months ago

Brilliant idea

nyaguuh said 5 months ago

This project is people based since so much need of water on the ground is needed since people spend so much time and energy searching for this rare commodity. Unfortunately, when it rains so much water goes to waste and people suffer when the drought strikes.

wahetes said 5 months ago

good idea and keep up.

georgemenja said 5 months ago

This is a very important project that will go along way in assisting the students and the nearby community.

Karanjaanne said 5 months ago

I do support the project.

macherukaruku said 5 months ago

To tehcebek,

Comment:
I believe that this is a noble cause and it is a great thing that they are trying to make a difference….

Answer:
Thank you for your compound comments of which I am going to attempt to answer some.

Firstly, I am not very competent to say much about cultural problem like female genital mutilation and illegal trafficking. Given time I may however say something.

Bikes to students:
This is one of the most popular projects that we have ever implemented in schools and children orphanages. In 2008, we distributed bikes to many schools where students travel for many miles to and from school each day. We also distributed children bikes to children homes. A Nanyuki-based Wheels of Wonder Bicycling club also received 48 bikes, all from One Dollar for Life: www.odfl.org

In August this 2009, we distributed 30 road bikes from California’s Wheels 4 Life non-profit and the beneficiaries are now much better of. I wish to assure you now that even a second hand bike means a lot to those who have never owned one.

Internet:
Please note that most of the students are already connected to the world through their internet-enabled mobile phones and cybercafes. Kenya has already been connected to high speed fiber optic cable and some schools are already proud owners of some computers. You should therefore have no fear at all that the schools will not be able to take care of them.

Brainwashing:
I meant counseling of the youths. Of late so much information has come through internet and social networks, most of which has inundated the minds of our young people. Most of this information (if you can call it so), is one-way and our gullible youths are not street wise. They therefore swallow all -hook and sinker – and this is what we want to prepare them for.

As a parent of teenagers, my cardinal duty is to preach tested values to these children so that they can face this turbulent world with confidence.

P/S
As for shelter, cleanliness and beds, please be assured that this is not as bad as portrayed by some international media.

Since your comments are so wide, and you are an ODFL acolyte, can we extend the debate to ODFL’s newsletter? Or could you perhaps join the team that is visiting Kenya for home stays next summer?

Thank you so much for the debate.

Macheru Karuku.

macherukaruku said 5 months ago

To April,

Question:
How many schools will this proposed project cover?

Answer:
This proposed project will cover as many schools in Kenya and Africa as sponsors will be available. The merits of E-agriculture is in its simplicity, versatility, low cost: benefit ratio and low risks.

Thank you for your good question.

M.K.

peterchristopher said 5 months ago

I support this idea for a worthy cause

bennjeri said 5 months ago

This is a good thought for our schools since many students suffer when spending alot of time searching water instead of reading and doing other things that will model them to being better persons life. Given a thought this will be a wonderful start to make it easier for schools to acess water.

keneddywaihenya said 5 months ago

Its an innovative project that create numerous job opportunities to the youth and even the community members who live around the project site.

macherukaruku said 5 months ago

The ARC Approach:
Is this the Future Development Model of Africa?

Billions of Dollars have been poured into development projects in Africa over the decades. This has not however been translated into reduction of poverty in any meaningful way.
One thing that is clear is that most of the projects have been identified and implemented by outsiders, so perhaps the top-down development model has not succeeded.

The ARC Approach is however very different. It is equal and opposite. More than that it seeks to elicit wide support from not only community members and stakeholders but it also incorporates ideas and improvements from all over the world.
In this way it incorporates an unequaled transparency and accountability because all those who voted for the project had to first of all understand the concept before voting for it. They will therefore always want to know about its implementation. If the risks are too high they will reject it.
In this way, the approach has not only included democratic choice but it has also obtained serious participation of all. So in the end the community will be able to say, "This is our project”.

If I am not wrong, the model is a cycle of events as follows:

Project Identification ? Voting ? implementation ? monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) ?Project Identification ?………

Thank you ARC Community – Thank you all!

josephngarira said 5 months ago

This is a great project that will convert those unexploited areas to productive lands.

mukamielizabeth said 5 months ago

This is a great project for driving Kenya to vision 2030.thanks God give you more resources to help the poor Africans .

Swambui2 said 5 months ago

As a member of a wwomen group,I can say that this project can realy bring development to poor women groups.

angunju4 said 5 months ago

I have seen how water scarcity has interupted farming in our country, therefore through water harvesting our problem will be solved and farmers will have better farm products.

macherukaruku said 5 months ago

MY FINAL SUBMISSION

To All,
This is to thank you most sincerely for having found time to look at SEANET’s E – Agriculture innovative proposal.

It has been a hectic but necessary journey trying to track the votes tally growing from one to over 700 that it is now.

I have immensely enjoyed the process. If I get another chance of participating I will definitely go through the same, because I believe in it.

It is my hope that other organizations that want to assist Africa would seriously consider the ARC model with a view to embracing it and expanding it to all their Africa’s projects.

My final appeal is for everybody to support the E-Agriculture proposal because it is likely to not only be useful to Kenya but also other parts of the developing world.

According to the Global Hunger Index 2009 report released on October 14th, Kenya is rated among 30 countries with the least food security in the world. Hunger is moving fast from serious to alarming.

I therefore appeal for wide support for the E-Agriculture methodology because it has the potential to partly solve this hunger menace.

Yours in Better World
Macheru Karuku.
Executive Director, SEANET International

stephenweru said 5 months ago

Being a farmer, I like this idea.

Issacgithui said 5 months ago

I represent part of the dry Laikipia as a concellor and we need this project

agrobroker said 4 months ago

good fanatstic i need to get together with you people as Imcreating an iTV RURAL B2B & elearing in europe:
"Through Information Technology FARMERS can showcase their products worldwide and create huge economic opportunities to improve their lot. Through information technology the poor who cannot go abroad for further training can also study distance education on agriculture to improve their business. They can learn marketing, how to brand their products, how to reduce post harvest losses. They can use new ways of connecting such as the social networking sites to look for business partners in order to expand their businesses. Through information and communication technology they can access loans. More Information and Communication Technology centers should be set up. Workshops and seminars should be organized to sensitize people on the need of using these plans to help people in their work".

I have the concern trough ICT of keeping my client´s informed regarding his type of market by crating TAILORED information, not onlyr National or WORLDWIDE.

Regarding the logistics attendance, we have a long experience, in "Lisboa", were we have our HEAD OFFICE fully licensed, at Setúbal and Aveiro, with support of a International network (joint-agreement) offices.
All the necessary operations to pursue an excellent performance, is supported by an International knowledge and contacts all over the world.

The expertise of AgroBroker is in fact in a segments of the marketing(TRADING), namely in Agriculture products and fertilizers, be it in bulk or containers, which is an advantage due to its particular and precise work we do to the INDUSTRY.
Therefore, in order t to grant an EXCELLENT SERVICES I recently embarked in a PROJECT to created a new approach in the agro- market by developing a "Itv RURAL B2B and e-learningplataform " this will mutual benefit PRODUCERS and INDUSTRY alike and CONSUMERS will be aware of the BEST of PRATICSES in AGRICULTURE (FOOD and FEED sectors) anywhere, everywhere:
Alcino PINHEIRO -AgroBroker International FACILITATOR a Agro-commodities and ship chartering expert and the Logistics agency LISMARITIMA join forces to tackle the IBERIAN Agro Commodities TRADING and LOGISTICS MARKET in order to concur AFRICA and SOUTH AMERICA with internet TV broadcast on food security debate TEMATICS.

We will also under such PLATFORM provide YOU all a full backing on any purchase/trading on a Ex-Works /FAS/FOB/CNF/CIF or DES terms....with this NEW ERA of being closed to the needed.

AS it is and undeniable fact that we live in an era of change, and this world is changing faster than it used to, by just a blink of an eye. How do we position ourselves as Africans to take advantages of these changes and overcome its challenges? One thing that has brought much change is Information and Communication Technology (ICT) whose ripples are felt in almost all sectors of the society. Let us cast our minds back to the past era where we were using typewriters, telephone lines, we could not withdraw money outside the banking hall, or when there was no price scanner machines, no color TV, digital cameras and computers. Today, because of ICT, our tasks are reduced and we do things better and faster. ICT has changed how we work, learn, play and relate with one another.
According to Network Readiness Index rankings 2006-2007 on ICT by World Economic Forum Ethiopia, one of the poorest countries in particular Africa, is spending one-tenth of its GDP on ICT every year. Hundred of government offices and schools have been equipped with broad band Internet connections and more are yet to come. Zimbabwe is using ICT to improve governance and public administration while giving its citizens greater access to the benefits of a global knowledge base. In 2000, the Estonian parliament approved a proposal to guarantee Internet access to each of the citizens, just like any other constitutional rights. People all over the country can access the Internet free of charge from hundreds of public access points. The above instances give credence to the importance of information technology in social and economic development of any nation. It is about time that we bring the new technology to bear on our agricultural businesses. The technology shouldn't be closed to the farming communities; the fiber optic that helps in providing broadband Internet access should be available to all communities so that people who are into agriculture can learn new techniques in agriculture and how they can access a ready market with their products.

Through Information and Technology the rural world can showcase their products worldwide and create huge economic opportunities to improve their lot. Through information technology the rural world who cannot go abroad for further training can also study distance education on agriculture to improve their business. They can learn marketing, how to brand their products, how to reduce post harvest losses. By for example using of the Facebook and other social networking sites seek new opportunities for business thus expanding their businesses. Through information and communication technology they can access loans. More Information and Communication Technology centers should be set up. Workshops and seminars should be organized to sensitize people on the need of using these plans to help people in their work.

This will give them employment and eliminate rural-urban migration, which has become a great challenge facing all governments it’s not an Africa exclusivity .

QUIOSQUES "INFOMERCIAIS" multi URBAN and RUAL (VENDING-SHOP)

This project aims to ensure effectively and efficiently services to end users (householders, visitors, traders, services and industry) in a cost effective manner and friendly way.

It is with Kiosk´s, roadside structures (e.multiservices) that we will ensure a friendly access to information ,technologies and communication to the local communities, responding to better relation, creating DIGITAL CITIES simultaneously fight INFOEXCLUSION under a pleasant environment that are the ROADcoffee QUIOSQUE,spaces and thus:

-- Democratize access to Information and Communication Technologies, facilitating its use by citizens

-- Improving the standard of service provided by local authorities to their users and contribute to its administrative modernization

-- Diversify the network of information channels and strengthen the participatory and production of content on the local reality

-- Strengthen the competitiveness of local business

QUIOSQUE "INFORMERCIAIS" MULTISERVIÇOS

provides services such as:

HOTSPOT-wlan (piconet); wi-fi; wimax

Payshop, e-Government, e-library

E-Kiosk (thematic portals and commercial)
providing a simplified ORAL version of all informative content of all sites by using software "ReadSpeaker", which is incorporated in the server of Kiosk PROVIDING ALSO:
Publications (digital and printed), vending machines were consumer can buy newspapers or magazines at any time, every day of the year

Multi (Web) (located)

Events (Craft, Tour) local and regional
Diversified sales - ie free REGULATED medication etc.... vending machines , consumer can buy at any time, every day of the year

I draw your attention here that these QUIOSQUEs, with the current offered skills can provide much further services to local residents:

Assistance and appointments / reception , digital doc. and why not ECOPOINTS

macherukaruku said 4 months ago

Agrobroker,

Thank you for your very insightful and detailed comment. It would be an honour for me to be able to link with you.

Your comprehensive proposal for spreading of ICT technology speaks for itself and its positive implications for Africa’s development is great.
It is therefore my believe that we do have a confluence of minds.
It is also my view, that your project, adopted by entrepreneurs is instant gold. I think it would work marvellously for Africa with untold trickle-down effects.

But I also feel that a more deliberate “ affirmative” action is needed. Where “ trickle-down” is the only option, it appears like most of benefits are trapped in the insatiable labyrinth of conspicuous and obsequious consumption that is represented by the bureaucratic African organizations. This is all to the detriment of the marginalized poor and women.

Suppose we superimpose the E-Agriculture idea onto yours?

Three Approaches:
1.You continue with your idea as presently constituted.
Here the idea will favour all but mostly those able to “run faster”.

2.You deliberately focus your attention to the poor, women and their institutions.
Here those who are poor and women will be directly reached and all Africa will benefit through the trickle-up effect.

3.Mix: I think, form Africa's perspective, that this would be best for rural Africa.


With your international collaboration networks, I believe it would not take long before your organization was able to help deliver a package of some “goodies”.
For example through lobbying you could get donors to focus on drip irrigation systems for schools, women and youth groups.

Just imagine how it would look like to have many “magic” water tank packages dotting the rural Africa landscape?
Wont this spur a phenomenal food production movement that nobody can stop?
Wont we be moving faster towards achieving the first United Nations Millennium Development Goal ( Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger) for Africa ?


Yours in a Better World,

Macheru Karuku
Seanet International-Kenya,
( 1st Prize Winner of Round 3, ARC Contest).