The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) focuses on promoting biodiversity conservation and dietary diversification to combat food insecurity and malnutrition in Kenya. The initiative targets local agrobiodiversity, aiming to improve nutrition through indigenous food sources, while also developing policies and capacity-building strategies. Collaborating with various stakeholders, KARI seeks to enhance community awareness, market access, and the integration of gender analyses in agricultural practices.

1. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Mainstreaming Biodiversity
Conservation and Sustainable
Use for Improved Human
Nutrition and Wellbeing
Country Presentation for Kenya
1st ISC Meeting
Rio de Janeiro 25th April 2012
Maureen Miruka & Festus Murithi
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
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2. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Introduction –KARI
• Established through an Act of Parliament (Cap 250,
revised 1979) and became operational in 1986.
• Accounts for more than half of the total research and
development (R&D) expenditure in Kenya
• Is responsible for research on crops (except research on
coffee, tea and sugarcane), livestock, and land and
water resources.
• Has a network of national, commodity factor & regional
research centres responsible for applied and adaptive
research in respective regions.
• It currently has a staff capacity of 2,930 with 543 being
researchers and the rest support staff.
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3. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
KARI goals and thematic areas
• Institutional goals: i) generating and promoting
technologies and innovations; ii) developing and
promoting markets and marketing strategies; iii)
facilitating and advocating policy options; iv)
strengthening capacity for value chain research;
and v) enhancing availability of knowledge,
information and technologies.
• Thematic research areas: crops; livestock;
integrated natural resource management;
biotechnology and genetic resources
management; socio-economic and applied
statistics; and adaptive research, outreach and
partnerships.
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4. KARI Centres
Mandate Districts
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5. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Background-problem statement
• About a third (10 million) of an estimated 38
million people in Kenya suffer from chronic
food insecurity
• An estimated 1.8 million children (30%) are
classified as chronically undernourished
• 35 and 14 percent of children under five are
stunted and severely stunted respectively
(KDHS 2008/9)-Even in years of self
sufficiency
• The national per capita calorie supply per
day is less than the FAO recommended rates
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6. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Background-Scope of project
• Will seek to contribute to on-going efforts
to improve dietary diversification using
local foods
• Dietary Diversity 1 and 2 -understanding the
potential of local agrobiodiversity in
contributing to dietary diversity for
nutrition and health
• This project-informing and influencing
policy and thus mainstreaming
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7. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Site Description -Busia County
• Total population: 488,075 Male: 232,075
Female: 256,000
• The County falls within the Lake Victoria basin.
• Altitude : 1130m to 1375 masl
• Agro-ecological Zones: LM1-LM4 (medium to low
potential)
• There are two rain and cropping seasons; The
long rains: March to May/June ; Short rain
season starts in August and ends in
October/November.
• The are moderately deep, generally rocky and
stony and of low natural fertility
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8. Socio-economic
indicators
Indicator Value
Mean HH 5,142
income
Absolute 66%
poverty
Food poverty 61.4%
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9. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Kenya Poverty Map
Busia
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Targeted Biodiversity
• Traditional Vegetables
– Spider plant- Cleome gynandra
– Cowpea –Vigna unguiculata
– African nightshade –Solanum villosum,
Solanum scabrum
– Slenderplant – Crotolaria ochroleuca,
Clotolaria brevidens
– Jute mallow –Corchorus olitorius
– Pumpkin leaves- Cucurbita moschata, C.
maxima
– Vegetable amaranths – Amaranthus spp.
(A. blitum (A. lividus etc.)
– Vine spinach – Basella alba
– African/Ethiopian kale – Brassica carinata
– Mushrooms
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Targeted Biodiversity…
• Sorghums
• Millets (Finger millets)
• Nuts and oil crops
– Groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea), simsim (Sesamum
orientale (S. indicum)),
– Bambara groundnuts (Vigna subterranea)
• Indigenous fruits:
– Purple (Carissa spinarum (C. edulis))
– black fruits (Vitex doniana)
– Guava
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12. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Targeted Biodiversity: Livestock
• Indigenous chicken
• Dried meats
• Termites
• Quails
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13. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Activities: Knowledge base
1.1 Assessments in Pilot Sites
– Baseline studies
– Nutritional value of select biodiversity
– Nutritional status of target population
– Training in participatory food, nutrition
and health assessment methodology
1.2 Information Management
– Production information on species
– Food composition of target species
– Comparative studies
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14. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Knowledge base
• Baseline Studies
– KAP
Agricultural/Farming
systems
Market systems
Household
• Socio-cultural/economic
• Food consumption
(Dietary diversity/
Diversity scores from 24
hr and 7 day recalls)
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15. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Activities: Knowledge base
• Production
– Seeds selection and
bulking-esp. vegetables
– Soil preparation
– Spacing
– Weeding
– Pest control
– Harvesting
– Post harvest handling
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Activities: Knowledge base
• Inventory and analysis of IK,
development of guidelines
– Document IK on crops/animals in
the study site
– Amalgamate IK into a county
database which can be queried
(think of ownership, IPR, updating)
– Promote and use IK
– Raise awareness in the community
about the value of IK
– Help communities record and
document their local practices
– Make IK available: disseminate IK
back to the community through
newsletters, videos, books and other
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17. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Activities:
Policy & Regulatory Framework
• 2.1 Developing policies and strategies to mainstream
– Analysis and synthesis of sector policies
• 2.2 Establishing cross sectoral platforms
– Creation of local, regional and national fora
• 2.3 Drafting policy guidance
– Development of evidence-backed policy recommendations &
guidelines
• 2.4 Improving marketing options
– Value chain analysis of target species
– Identification and analysis of input and output markets
– Value addition of the species
– Capacity building of target groups -market linkages,
collective marketing
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18. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Participatory Market Systems Dvpt
• DEMAND and
SUPPLY
• SERVICES &
INFRASTRUCTURE
• INSTITUTIONS
Laws, Codes &
Practices
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19. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Activities: Awareness & Outscaling
• 3.1 Best Practices for mobilising agrobiodiversity
– Packaging & dissemination of best practices for
mobilizing biodiversity
• 3.2 Improving capacity of relevant actors
– Development of guidelines and training modules
• 3.3 National information campaigns
– Development of awareness materials
– Publicity fora- seed fairs, print and electronic media,
exhibitions
• Guidelines for improved use of nutritionally rich
foods
– Development of training modules
• Documentation of tools & methods for mainstreaming
– Development and sharing of information using policy
briefs, journal articles and project reports
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20. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Awareness raising strategy
• Local NGOs to reach communities
• Flagship crops & livestock
• Diversity of markets
• Institutional markets
• Key selling points – Good sources of
micro-nutrients
• Stakeholder participation in promotion
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21. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Promotion techniques
• School gardens and meals
programs
• Education and awareness
material (T-shirt, brochures,
banners, posters)
• Use of the media (FM radios,
TV stations)
• Fairs -Food and seed fairs
involving famer groups,
restaurants and manufacturers
• Cultural events hosted by
large hotels and serving local
foods
• Publications and resources
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22. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Integrating Gender and Gender Analysis
Integrating gender in project
implementation approaches
Integrating gender into each
research component
Specific research and
interventions on gender

23. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Country Partners
• Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
• Kenyatta University
• National Museums of Kenya
• Ministries of Agriculture, Health & Education
• NGOs -Rural Outreach Program & market
linkages
• National Environmental Management
Authority
*Role of Private Sector
*Role of ASCU & MoA Policy Division
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24. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Capacity Building –strengths
• Socio-economics, policy and marketing research
• Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation
• Nutrition, public health & epidemiology
• Documentation of indigenous knowledge
• Seed science and biodiversity conservation
• Ethno-botany and agro-biodiversity promotion
• Food nutrition and dietetics
• Public health nutrition
• Policy Analysis
• Gender mainstreaming and analysis
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Capacity Building-Needs
• Market development and linkages
• Policy Engagement
• Nutrient and phytochemical analysis
• Product development
• Climate change
• Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation
• Public awareness
• Partnerships
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26. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Opportunities
• Public awareness on health foods
• Political good will –e.g. ASDS, FSNP
• Studentships
• International partners
• Outreach and partnerships focus in KARI
and CGIAR
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27. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
Immediate Next Steps
• National Steering Committee Meeting
• Administrative issues
• Specific site selection (Village level)
• Reconnaissance visits
• Baseline studies planning and execution
Studentships
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28. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute www.kari.org
AHSANTE SANA