TIST Kenya : For additional information please contact: Joshuah Irungu P.O. Box 1508, Nanyuki,
KENYA Phone: +254-724-255-369 / Email : joshuah@tist.org KINYARITHA OFFICE Kinyaritha office is mostly based in Meru-North District.
We are working with six Divisions i.e.
1. Uringu Division 2. Tigania West Division 3. Akithi Division 4. Tigania Central Division 5. Tigania East Division & Tigania North Division We are covering many locations and these are Nkomo, Kimachia, Mbeu, Kiorimba, Nkunene, Kianjai, Miathene, Mituntu, Atwana,Kitheo,Kigucwa, Micii Mikuru,Mikinduri East and West, Ankamia, Thangatha and Muthara respectively. A lot has been done since the time this program of TIST came to Kenya. Miathene and Mikinduri have benefited a lot in planting trees in areas where they could not utilize anything like on hills, valleys and steep slopy areas. So far the office has 370 groups registered on the website & Palm. C.F (Conservation
Farming or Kilimo Hai) is a very important kind of farming method which most Small Groups have never come across. The farmers who have tried CF in our area are very happy with the good yields produced by the practice. We have several members in our area that have already prepared their land in order to do CF and plant on time. So far we have about 11 acres of land where Small Groups in our area have practiced Kilimo Hai. This kind of farming has very good results of harvest after planting maize crops. This kind of farming has reduced: (a) Man power (b) Soil erosion (c) High costs Also planting of many thousands of trees is bringing back greenery to our landscape.
Let us all join together to return our environment back to normal and reduce poverty among us. We have experienced great problems due to destruction due of the forests in our area. The trainers in our office are working hand in hand with the Best Small Groups in order to revive the groups that are no longer active and to recruit new groups. The farmers are experiencing difficulties due TIST Kenya : For additional information please contact: Joshuah Irungu P.O. Box 1508, Nanyuki, KENYA Phone: +254-724-255-369 / Email : joshuah@tist.org Nursery Maintained by a Small Group in the Lamuria Office Area Best Small Group from Lamuria Office Area to water shortage but the trainers are really encouraging the Small group members and advising them on the best practices that will help them overcome the difficulties. The office is working in collaboration with other program
stakeholders like the NALEP, Farmers Field School and the small groups were invited to a training day by KEFRI (Kenya Forest Research Institute). LAMURIA OFFICE For the last two months Lamuria office has been a beehive of work. Actually we have managed to open up new areas such as Muhonia in Sirima location, whereby we hope to recruit a large number of new groups. However we are encouraging new groups to be launching node meetings. We have managed to launch one in Sweetwaters near Nanyuki where over 11groups do meet once a month. We have already given 8 groups their payment voucher by name Kabendera, Reged, Muguna A ,Good Hope, Lengetia, Gichugwa, Gathima A and B a total sum of Ksh11,832. The other groups in our office should get paid soon in order to motivate them. Reports from the Best Small group in our office is that since they departed from the last seminar in the month of August at Mathari in Nyeyi, they have done tremendous work inspite of their physical disabilities. We are expecting several new groups to be registered through the recruitment efforts of the Best Small Group. We also expect to get other Small Groups to become Best Small Groups as per the required criteria. In addition we
have two new trainers from Matanya and Mirera areas and we hope to work with them hand in hand to achieve a bigger number of groups in collaboration with the BSG in the office. We are also expecting to get new trainers to be helping us in Labura and Endarasha sides. Reports from weather forecast is that we would be experiencing adequate rainfall. So we wish to encourage many groups to be ready to plant different species of trees and practice C.F Kilimo Hai for better yields. 2 TIST Kenya : For additional information please contact: Joshuah Irungu P.O. Box 1508, Nanyuki, KENYA Phone: +254-724-255-369 / Email : joshuah@tist.org Naro Moru quantifiers and trainers working as a team NAROMORU OFFICE Following a meeting of Naromoru field office on 5th Sept 06, it was resolved that TIST small group nodes be rejuvenated. Thus on 23rd Sept we had a very colorful node meeting of our groups in Kahurura where we were accompanied by a team from the Nyeri Farmers SACCO. They promised to lend support to our small groups, this being in terms of Micro Credit facilities and other related financial
matters. Nursery Maintained by a Small Group in the Naro Moru Field Office Area Our anticipation is that the nodes become a centre of learning, exchanging of ideas and bringing together a cross section of stakeholders. We foresee the nodes being fertile grounds for the administration and other government arms such as the ministry of a g r i c u l t u r e to disseminate important information. The local administration that is District Officers and Chiefs are also responding very positively towards the TIST program, thus nodes will also serve as a place where they can reach our groups. Advantages of Using Raised Seedbeds 1. Having raised seedbeds saves you the agony of cutting the roots since they don’t coil in the sachets that hold the seedling. 2. The roots get enough strength since they are able to penetrate through the sachets and get strong enough before the transplant. 3. The seedbed is cheap to develop since you can improvise using tree branches. 4. The seedbed allows the seedlings to get enough air and develop with all the strength. 3 TIST Kenya : For additional information please contact: Joshuah Irungu P.O. Box 1508, Nanyuki, KENYA Phone: +254-724-255-369 / Email : joshuah@tist.org Raised Seedbed at ICRAF’s Research
Facility near Meru What is a TIST “Cluster” and why is it important for TIST Small Groups in Kenya? A cluster is an area within which 40-60 Small Groups are all located within walking distance of each other. Having clusters of groups reduces the distances traveled by trainers and quantifiers in reaching the group members and their trees. When groups are scattered and far away from each other, it takes a long time for the quantifiers to quantify a few groups. When groups are in clusters, the quantifiers can quantify many more groups in a shorter time. Similarly when the groups are scattered and far away from each other, group members have to travel long distances to attend TIST training events. TIST also has to conduct more training events so that all small groups can be trained. But when groups are in clusters, TIST training events can be held within walking distance for group members. TIST can also reduce the number of training events and still be able to train many more groups. 4 TIST Kenya : For additional information please contact: Joshuah Irungu P.O. Box 1508, Nanyuki, KENYA Phone: +254-724-255-369 / Email : joshuah@tist.org As you can see, having clusters of Small Groups would mean a big improvement in the
amount of quantification and training done by TIST quantifiers and trainers. This would also reduce the cost of running the TIST program as the trainers and quantifiers would get more work done while spending lesser money on travel. So what can your group members do to help TIST in forming clusters? Count the number of registered TIST Small Groups that are within walking distance of your group and of each other. Are there at least 40 such groups? Discuss with your group members about how they can recruit new small groups in your area that are within walking distance of your group. Begin recruiting new groups within walking distance of your group by talking to them about the benefits of the TIST Program Work with your field office members to register the newly recruited groups. Should TIST Pay for Short Rotation Trees? In the July, 2006 issue of the Mazingira Bora Newsletter, there was an article about “Should TIST Pay for Short Rotation Trees?” which put forth a four-step process to answer that question. That article also suggested four possible options as the policy for paying for short rotation trees. In the Best Small Groups seminars in Meru and Nyeri held in August, the seminar participants discussed the four options and gave their feedback. TIST is asking all Small Groups to discuss this question and
give their feedback on which option they prefer. Below are three remaining options, which TIST asks your group members to discuss at your next Small Group meeting: 5 TIST Kenya : For additional information please contact: Joshuah Irungu P.O. Box 1508, Nanyuki, KENYA Phone: +254-724-255-369 / Email : joshuah@tist.org 1. Do not count the short rotation trees for meeting TIST minimum requirements, and do not pay for them. 2. Count the short rotation trees for TIST minimum criteria, report them on the TIST Website, and do not pay for them. 3. Count the short rotation trees for TIST minimum criteria, report them on the Web, and pay for them at the standard price. If the trees are cut for timber, the small group will repay the TIST program the payments made to date to plus
interest. Once you have discussed the above three options at your Small Group meeting, please use the below Form to report your preferred option. Tear off the Form and give it to your field office representative. TEAR THE FORM ALONG THE LINE Should TIST Pay for Short Rotation Trees? Field Office: Group Name: TIST Number: Village: Number of your Small Group members who discussed the three options:
Which option does your group prefer (Please circle one): 1 2 3 Additional comments from your group on this issue: 6 TIST Kenya : For additional information please contact: Joshuah Irungu P.O. Box 1508, Nanyuki, KENYA Phone: +254-724-255-369 / Email : joshuah@tist.org CHUGU OFFICE In Chugu TIST is being very considerate for everybody in the community. Our field office is looking for means and ways of creating links within the TIST program. Node meetings bring small groups together to share their best ideas. Now Chugu is serving a very wide area and has five things to celebrate: Having registered 682 groups plus another 83 from the Best Small Groups that are not yet entered in the Palm The BSGs are ready to form clusters in their areas and are already training the recruited groups. Our Director Mr. Joshuah Irungu has shown a great involvement in joining our Node
meetings for example Chogoria/Mpuri where small groups have been registered in a great number. We congratulate the effort by our quantifiers in quantifying at least 51% of the registered groups and making more small groups eligible to be paid. This has also been possible because of the efforts of our Technician Allan Koome in providing proper equipment and training for our quantifiers and we thank him for the same. Chugu trainers have put in a lot of effort in helping the small groups prepare the C.F holes hoping this season we shall report a good production of maize. Trainers have also worked very hard in creating of awareness in HIV/AIDS. Conservation Farming Results for a Group in Chugu 7 TIST Kenya : For additional information please contact: Joshuah Irungu P.O.
Box 1508, Nanyuki, KENYA Phone: +254-724-255-369 / Email : joshuah@tist.org Poem from BSG (Giantune Aaki) Miti ni uhahi Tunashukulu mwenyesi Mungu, Mumba mbingu naa nchi, akaumba Mwanadaamu aakaamweka kwa miti Yenye mazingira mazuri, Miti ni uhai kila mtu apande Asante mwenyezi mungu kwa kutuletea Mulathi
wa Tist karibu Na sisi tunao ishi kaaribu na mto Kathita Tumejuaa umuhimu wa mti na Tunaendelea kupanda Miti ni uhahi kila mtu apande Mbao za kujenga wa dawa, Makaratasi, kuni, gasi makaa vyote Twapata kutoka kwa miti Miti ni dawa kila mtu apande Miti ni lishe kwni tukitaka Matunda tutapaata kutoka kwa miti Miti ni uhai kila mtu apande 8