Newsletter December 2021 Mazingira Bora TIST is an innovative, time - tested, afforestation program led by the participants. Published by TIST-Kenya. Web: www.tist.org Email: martinweru@tist.org Tel: 0722 - 846 501 Ndalani TIST Cluster: Working Towards UN Sustainable Development Goals. Page 2 TIST: Practicing Mulching in your farm. Page 3 TIST: How TIST Works to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Page 4 Inside: Newsletter December 2021 Mazingira Bora TIST is an innovative, time - tested, afforestation program led by the participants. Not for sale www .tist.org English Version Muungano TIST Cluster, Machakos County, during their monthly meeting last month on 26th November 2021. ENGLISH VERSION 2 Y atta region in Machakos County is predominantly a semi-arid region. Like the rest of Ukambani land, ours is a low lying dry lands. For many years, residents have practiced mixed farming.That is keeping livestock and doing crop farming. We Ndalani TIST farmers are the pioneers of TIST program in our entire Ukambani region. When we learnt about TIST, we got interested. We were [particularly encouraged by TIST Trainings. From 2015 when we formally joined and started registering Small Groups, we have whole heartedly embraced all TIST teachings and putting them into practice. We are committed to fight hunger and poverty in our community. Conservation Farming has been helpful in improving crops yields in our farms. We have witnessed maize crops doing much better compared to conventional method. Trainings about health and nutrition are helping us achieve good health and well-being. Many farmers are now using energy saving jikos that minimizes smoke from the cooking area. Further, energy saving stoves provides us with clean energy. Rotational and servant leadership together with kujengana has become ‘a new normal’ in our Clusters. Besides giving every person a chance to lead and build their leadership qualities, it has enabled many women and youth to participate fully in affairs of the Clusters. Today, we have continued to spread TIST far and wide. So far we have Thirteen (13) active Clusters in Machakos. Each day, new members are joining TIST.
We hope, by spreading TIST, more opportunities will be created for both farmers and Clusters Servants to earn decent income. We are happy that TIST works with local community even in hiring TIST Servants. At Ndalani, we continue to work together with local administration. We have become a strong pillar in local governance and hence promoting peace, justice and strong local institution in our community. Planting trees is now a habit that we have embraced.Through sharing of Best Practices, we have continued to learn on how to enhance tree survival rates. We are proud that we have become active participants in taking Climate Action. Our neigbouring county is hosting this year Devolution Conference which is themed “: Multi – level governance for climate action. Sub-theme: Sub-National mobilization in unlocking the full potential of climate action during and after pandemics. We are happy that we are ahead in taking Climate Action. National and County Governments should come and learn from us! Ndalani TIST Cluster: Working Towards UN Sustainable Development Goals. By Josephine Muasya, Cluster Servant. ENGLISH VERSION 3 Mulch is dry, vegetative material used to cover the soil. It helps reduce evaporation and retain moisture, reduce soil erosion, suppress weed growth and provide plant nutrients as the material decomposes. Mulch can be used in fields before and after planting, as well as around young crop plants. It is especially useful for high-value vegetable crops, and for growing crops in dry areas, during dry-season cropping, and in places where the soil is easily eroded by heavy rains. What are the advantages of mulching? ¾ Mulch keeps the soil underneath moist longer than bare soil. ¾ Controls soil erosion by cushioning the impact of raindrops and by slowing runoff. ¾ Suppresses weeds by shading them out. ¾ Leads to healthy crop growth. ¾ Mulch acts as an insulating layer on top of soil, keeping it cooler. ¾ Mulching is essential to the survival of your farm during a drought. Mulch will reduce the amount of water that evaporates from your soil, greatly reducing your need to water your plants. What are the disadvantages: ¾ Mulching is labour
-intensive. ¾ It can introduce new pests and diseases into a field. Make sure crop residues or materials you are using had no pests or diseases. ¾ Mulch material may not be available. How to do it: 1. Before applying mulch, remove weeds and water thoroughly. This will help you get the most benefit from your new mulch. 2. Carry to the field the material you want to spread as mulch. 3. Spread it on the soil using your hands or a rake. Put a layer of mulch 7-15 cm (3-6 inches) deep all over the bed, or around the growing plants. Do not put on so much mulch that you bury the plants or shade them out. 4. Keep mulch 6-to-12 inches away from the base of trees. Do’s and Don’ts: ¾ Use dry plant material that does not rot quickly. ¾ Don’t use wet or green material as mulch. TIST: Practicing Mulching in your farm. ENGLISH VERSION 4 T IST Vision has always been to empower Small Groups of subsistence farmers to reverse the devastating effects of deforestation, drought, and famine. TIST farmers work together to identify local sustainable development goals that include tree planting and sustainable agriculture. TIST creates a communication and administrative structure that also addresses health (including HIV/AIDS), education, and nutrition. Most TIST farmers feel the work they are doing is closely matching the global goals popularly known as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), officially known as transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a set of 17 “Global Goals” with 169 targets between them.They are spearheaded by the United Nations through a deliberative process involving its 193 Member States. The 17 SDGs are listed below, together with TIST Contribution in italics: Goal 1: No Poverty . No Poverty - End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
• Extreme poverty has been cut by more than half since 1990, however, more than 1 in 5 people live on less than $1.25 a day.
• Poverty is more than lack of income or resources. It includes lack of basic services, such as education, hunger, social discrimination and exclusion, and lack of participation in decision-making.
• Gender inequality plays a large role in the perpetuation of poverty and its risks.They then face potentially life-threatening risks from early pregnancy, and often-lost hopes for an education and a better income.
• Age groups are affected differently when struck with poverty. Its most devastating effects are on children, to whom it poses a great threat. It affects their education, health, nutrition, and security. It also negatively affects the emotional and spiritual development of children through the environment it creates. What TIST Farmers have done. Many TIST farmers have made their degraded land productive again.Through tree planting, Conservation Farming (CF) and Agro forestry practices, thousands of hectares of small farms have gained fertility and productivity. - Though rotational and servant leadership is all service and leadership points of TIST, both women and men have gained equal access to opportunities and benefits. Goal 2: Zero Hunger. Zero Hunger - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. What TIST Farmers have done - Many TIST farmers have practiced Conservation Farming. Majority of them have reported increased yields through CF. - Today, thousands of TIST farmers who have planted fruit and nut trees are reporting good harvest of fruits and nuts thereby increasing their nutritional supply for their families. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being. Good Health and Well-being - Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. What TIST Farmers have done. TIST farmers through seminars and Cluster trainings receive HIV and Aids, malaria, nutritional, hygiene trainings, etc.
They encourage and support those in need. TIST: How TIST Works to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals. ENGLISH VERSION 5 Goal 4: Quality Education Quality Education - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. What TIST Farmers have done - In TIST, we have heard farmers sharing stories of how tree payments incentives help with school fees and/or learning materials. - TIST Mazingira Bora Newsletters and training at Clusters promote lifelong learning opportunities. Goal 5: Gender Equality. Gender Equality - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. What TIST Farmers have done - At the Small Groups, Cluster level, GOCC and LC level, members practice rotational leadership, thereby giving women equal opportunity. - In TIST, the number of women working and serving farmers is even. Women have equal access for leadership training, etc. Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. Clean Water and Sanitation - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. What TIST Farmers have done. - Through Riparian program that was received well by farmers whose land touch on water ways, many of them reported increased water quality and quantity. - At Cluster meetings and through newsletters, farmers share a lot of ideas of how to improve hygiene and sanitation. Goal 7:Affordable and Clean Energy. Affordable and Clean Energy - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. What TIST Farmers have done.
- When TIST introduced clean stoves, most farmers embraced them because they were affordable and helped save wood fuel and reduced smoke in the cooking areas. - Through pruning and thinning of trees, farmers are now able to get sustainable fuel source - wood, and improved ways to use. Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth Decent Work and Economic Growth - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. What TIST Farmers have done. - TIST farmers led program has engaged more than 150 persons with flexible hours to allow continued management of primary asset - the farm. - As trees matures, they continue to provide valuable income to support livelihood through sale of fruits, nuts, honey, wood products, etc… - Cash income via tree payment incentives. Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation What TIST Farmers have done. TIST use of innovation, Information Technology and existing transport to allow youth, women, and men to immediately access new ‘industry’ (carbon) and create a ‘virtual cash crop’, which eliminates infrastructure limitations and restores productivity of degraded lands. Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities. Reduced Inequalities - Reduce income inequality within and among countries. ENGLISH VERSION 6 What TIST Farmers have done. - TIST farmers have shown incredible support for youth and women especially at the Cluster meetings - Tree incentives are additional income to the farmers, increased income through improved yields, making degraded land productive again, etc. Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities Sustainable Cities and Communities - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. What TIST Farmers have done - TIST farmers have embraced diverse cultures working closely with different languages, communities and supporting one another. - TIST values encourage inclusion, safety, and sustainability. Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Responsible Consumption and Production - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. What TIST Farmers have done. TIST have improved land fertility though CF, compost manure, agro forestry thereby increasing production sustainably, and provide for consumption. Goal 13: Climate Action. Climate Action - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by regulating emissions and promoting developments in renewable energy. What TIST Farmers have done. - Today, TIST farmers worldwide have planted 20+ Million trees,
thereby improving adaptation strategies to cope with vagaries of climate change. - Today, out of tree planting efforts, TIST farmers have removed over eight million tonnes of CO2 from the air. Goal 14: Life Below Water. Life Below Water - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. What TIST Farmers have done A significant number of farmers have planted water friendly trees in wetlands and along the waterways thereby protecting aquatic life. Goal 15: Life on Land Life on Land - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. What TIST Farmers have done. TIST farmers have planted millions of biodiversity enhancing trees and kept alive, bee habitats have thrived, agro forestry, degraded land put into productive use again. Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. What TIST Farmers have done. TIST works with diverse communities, promoting cohesion through Cluster meetings, TIST Values! Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Partnerships for the Goals - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. What TIST Farmers have done. TIST works with different partners including Taylors of Harrogate.