Soil and Water Conservation Measures and Challenges in Kenya; a Review
Journal Title: Current Investigations in Agriculture and Current Research - Year 2018, Vol 2, Issue 5
Abstract
The preservation and sustainable development of soil and water resources is one of the basic principles for the development of Kenya. Throughout the course of history, all the social improvement and economic development are deeply concerned with soil loss and ecological environmental protection. Poor soil and water conservation measures will lead to land degradation that are either natural or human induced. Natural hazards include land topography and climatic factors such as steep slopes, landslides from frequent floods, blowing of high velocity winds, rains of high intensity, strong leaching in humid regions and drought conditions in the dry regions. It is now common sense that soil and water conservation is the insurance for national ecology and its development. Consequences to land degradation leads to increased use of inputs and greater costs where farmers attempt to combat reduction in yields with increased inputs, particularly fertilizers. For the past long period of time, soil and water loss has been recognized as number one killer to the ecological environment and Kenya is at critical conditions for its development with complicated geological conditions and accelerated human destruction and serious soil and water losses. Based on historical documents, experience and detailed data analysis, this paper aims to review the general characteristics of soil and water loss, to explore the relationship between soil and water conservation and sustainable economic development, and to provide relevant strategies for soil and water conservation in Kenya. The Republic of Kenya is in Africa and a founding member of the East African Community (EAC) with the capital city Nairobi. Kenya's territory lies on the equator and overlies the East African Rift covering a diverse and expansive terrain that extends roughly from Lake Victoria to Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolf) and further south-east to the Indian Ocean. It is bordered by Tanzania to the south and southwest, Uganda to the west, South Sudan to the north-west, and Ethiopia to the north and Somalia to the north-east. Kenya covers 581,309km2, and current population of 50,410,740 as of Saturday, January 27, 2018, based on the latest United Nations estimates, of which 74% lives in rural areas. Average population density is 87per km2, but its distribution is highly influenced by climate and agro-ecological zone. The highest density is found in western province. From 2002, the population growth rate was estimated at 1.8 5 per year. Life expectancy increased up to 60 years by 1993 but dropped to 45 years by 2002 due to high incidence of HIV/AIDS [1]. Overall, poverty level was estimated at 30.8% in 2004. Improved water sources are accessible for 62% of the population, ranging from 89 % in urban areas to 46% in rural areas. Improved sanitation facilities are used by 56% of the population in urban areas and 43% in rural areas, while average over the whole country is 48% AIDS [2]
Authors and Affiliations
George Njomo Karuku
Keywords
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- EP ID EP570432
- DOI 10.32474/CIACR.2018.02.000148
- Views 77
- Downloads 0
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