Stephen Ngigi, Ph.D. Kenya Rainwater Association/ Columbia Global - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Innovations for Scaling up Rainwater Harvesting and Management in sub-Saharan Africa

Stephen Ngigi, Ph.D.

Kenya Rainwater Association/ Columbia Global Centers for Africa Jun une 1, 1, 20 2015 15

• Innovation is a new idea, more effective device or process.
• Innovation can be viewed as the application of better solutions

that meet new requirements, in articulated needs, or existing market needs.

• This is accomplished through more effective products, processes,

services, technologies, or ideas that are readily available to markets, governments and society.

• The term innovation can be defined as something original and

more effective and, as a consequence, new, that "breaks into" the market or society.

• Innovation refers to the notion of doing something different

rather than doing the same thing better.

• An innovation must be replicable at an economic cost and must

satisfy a specific need.

What is an Innovation?

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Introduction

• Technology (storage and utilization)
• Financing mechanisms
• Implementation approaches
• Sustainability aspects

Innovations

Desired Results & Impacts: CC Mitigation, CC Adaptation, Food & Nutrition Security and Improved Livelihoods Leading to: Adoption, adaptation & increased investments for scaling up – hence need for a integrated business plan

Farmers’ Innovations and Challenges

High water losses: High Seepage and Evaporation (40-60%)

Simple on-farm water storage ponds: irregular shapes, steep side slopes, siltation, physical and health risks

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Learning from Past Experiences to avoid reinventing the wheel

High investment costs: Need for cost-effective interventions

Seepage losses: Lining with either concrete, masonry, UV-resistance plastic Evaporation losses: Roofing with iron sheets, thatch, vegetation e.g. non- flowering passion fruit

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Q A E Q PA Q t V      ) ( d d

Research-based Solutions

Note: Seepage and evaporation losses accounted for 40-60%

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Innovation: Evolution of the Farm Pond Technology

Enhancing cost-effectiveness /durability and environmental sustainability Increasing water storage and reliability: Reducing water losses and health risks

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Innovation: Smallholder Farmers’ Drip Irrigation Technology

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Innovation: Farmers’ Adopted Low-cost Greenhouses

Note:

• 1. The wooden greenhouses are not durable and last for only 2-3 years
• 2. Investment cost ranges from $ 800-1,000 and seasonal income of $ 1,000 -2,000
• 3. Thus given the options, farmers can invest in low-cost metallic greenhouses

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Innovations: Modifying and Upgrading Farmers’ Technology

Note:

• 1. The metallic greenhouses are durable and their performance is excellent
• 2. Investment cost ranges from $ 1,000 – 3,000 depending on the size
• 3. Smallholder farmers can invest in the technology if effective incentives are used

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Implementation: Phased and/or Selective Adoption

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A farmer can start with the lining, then roofing later or

• pt for fencing especially for

large farm ponds (>150m3) depending on cost & cash- flow/source of funding

Implementation approach: Integrating Farm Pond with Greenhouses

Promoting sustainable and cost-effective innovations for smallholder farmers – income generation is driving the process

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Transforming Smallholder Farmers from Subsistence to Commercial Agriculture with linkage to the markets through farmers’ cooperatives/ marketing associations

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Sustainability Aspects: Business Enterprise development

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Sustainability Aspects: Ownership?

When technology fails

Harvesting silt instead of water!

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Conclusion: Scaling Up Innovations and Technology Transfer

• Situational analysis – learn from farmers’ experience and

knowledge, and roles of different stakeholders

• Problem diagnosis – quantify the problem to confirm and

demonstrate farmers’ challenges and new innovation

• Provide viable and innovative options to address the

problem and adopt the most cost-effectiveness innovation that is acceptable to the farmers to enhance adoption

• Do not reinvent the wheel – build from farmers’ and past

experiences and blend with modern technology

• Technology promotion should demonstrate how the

technology works and its impacts – real life experience with supporting data to verify the performance & outcome

THANK YOU