Organisation

PhD Defence by Ms Jeniffer Kinoti Mutiga

Dept. of Water Resources

Title of Defence

Planning of system innovation in watersheds: spatial mapping of environmental and hydrological determinants in the Pangani and Upper Ewaso Ng'iro North River Basins, Africa

Summary

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, about 95% of agriculture is mainly rain-fed, which means that the majority of the population depends on rain-fed agriculture for their survival. The growth of the agricultural sector in many countries of SSA has been reported to be low in the past decade, despite the fact that this sector is recognized as a priority to reduce poverty. This growth is as a result of poor farming practices as well as the effects of climate variability.

Although the situation appears to be desperate, all is not lost as adoption of rainwater harvesting technologies might serve as a remedy, since they have been proved to have promising potential for upgrading rain-fed agriculture. However, most of the existing technologies in these areas have low performance rates, resulting in relatively low adoption rates. It is against this background that this research study was conducted with the aim to contribute to the already existing knowledge base, which is paramount in formulating sustainable water and land resources management strategies for water scarce river basins in SSA. Thus enhancing water productivity to improve food security and therefore, contributing to the on-going global dialogue on water for food and environment with the aim to meet the already stipulated millennium development goals (MDGs).

To achieve this goal, the study applied a rapid GIS-based analytical tool to assess the suitability of various water system innovations (WSIs) such as rainwater harvesting (RWH) technologies that are capable of improving agricultural productivity in these dry areas of SSA. Remote sensing technology was used to extract most of the data (from different multi-sensor missions) required by various decision support tools (DSTs) applied during this study and complemented with existing rich indigeneous knowledge.

Different WSIs found in Ewaso Ng’iro (Left) and Pangani (Right) Basins

In order to promote the uptake of these innovative water management technologies on a larger scale, particularly amongst smallholder farmers, we applied a spatial multi-criteria evaluation process (SMCE), a decision support tool to identify suitable areas for implementing appropriate RWH technologies in the two basins (Upper Ewaso Ng’iro North in Kenya and the Pangani in Tanzania). A weighted linear combination procedure, which allowed for full tradeoffs amongst various factors influencing suitability for RWH was applied in the data rich Ewaso Ng’iro Basin. The results obtained were then transferred to the data scarce Makanya catchment located in the upstream of the Pangani Basin in Tanzania. Suitability maps depicting suitable areas for RWH were produced, with attributes serving as indicators for targeted RWH interventions. The information generated can be used to raise awareness and to guide policy decisions on the contribution of RWH in meeting the MDGs.

However, while recognizing the benefits that can be harnessed from RWH (increasing yields through improved water productivity, improving rural livelihoods) it was critical to investigate the impacts that would accrue, if RWH technologies were adopted at a large scale by many smallholder farmers in the area. This was accomplished by applying a soil and water assessment tool (SWAT), a hydrological model to assess and compare the impacts of land cover/use changes emanating from upscaling RWH technologies on the area hydrology. This assessment was evaluated for the current year (2003) and for the alternative (upscaling of RWH technologies) scenario (2015).

Hydrological responses were estimated under historical land cover/use scenario obtained from multi-temporal historical satellite imageries of 1987, 1995 and 2003. The results obtained showed an increase in total surface runoff during this period, with a decreasing forest, bush and grass covers in the area. However, adoption of RWH as a water management strategy at a large scale reduced the overall surface runoff and at the same time, increased base flow with almost similar magnitude, thus compensating for the reduced runoff. It was further revealed that upscaling of suitable RWH technologies already being practised in the area resulted to an increase in actual evapotranpiration (ET), showing how water is being used productively to improve yields.

The study concludes that the most feasible and cost effective way to confront the water scarcity challenge and deal with water related problems effectively in these dry areas of SSA is to fully promote and encourage the adoption of water management innovations such as RWH, which have been proven to have great potential for making more water available to help improve food production and hence improve the rural livelihoods. This can be made possible by providing farmers with incentives such credit facilities and markets for their products. Capacity building through agricultural extension services on technology choice based on the land characteristics can further enhance adoption rates.
 

Curriculum Vitae

Jeniffer Kinoti was born on 25 December 1969 in Gaitu, a small rural village in Meru district, Kenya. She received her primary education from a local primary school, and later joined Nyeri Technical School for her secondary education in 1984 graduating with a distinction in 1987. This enabled her to secure admission in Moi Forces Academy, Nairobi, Kenya for her higher secondary education, which she successfully completed in 1989.

In early 1991, Jeniffer joined Moi University Eldoret, Kenya, to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Education Technology (Motor Vehicle Engineering Option). After graduating with Honours, in 1994, she immediately joined DT Dobie workshop in Ruaraka Nairobi, Kenya, as a motor vehicle mechanic and later joined Othaya Boys High School as the Head of Department (Power Mechanics Technology), where she was instrumental in setting up this department.

In 1998 Jeniffer started her Master of Philosophy degree course in Environmental Science, at Moi University Eldoret, Kenya, specializing in Environmental Information Systems majoring in Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). She graduated in 2001 with a thesis entitled “Land-use Dynamics and their Impacts on the Environment: A case study of Muthengera Location, Laikipia District, Kenya”. After graduation, Jeniffer joined the Laikipia Research Programme (now the Centre for Training and Integrated Research in ASAL Development – CETRAD) as a GIS Analyst/ Environmental Scientist, where she worked until 2002 when she joined the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi as a Remote Sensing and GIS Specialist.

In 2005, Jeniffer obtained a Dutch scholarship (NFP) to undertake PhD studies at ITC, Enschede, in the Department of Water Resources. Her study topic was “Planning of System Innovations in Watersheds: Spatial Mapping of Environmental and Hydrological Determinants in Pangani and Ewaso Ng’iro North River Basins, Africa”. This study has culminated into several peer reviewed scientific journal articles and international conference papers. Her research interests include spatial hydrology, quantitative remote sensing and IWRM. Currently Jeniffer is working at CETRAD as the Head of Research and Training and as a Post-Doc Researcher with NCCR-North-South Initiative on Mapping of Landscape transformations in East Africa Region.

Mutiga, J.K.,  Su, Z. (Promotor) and Woldai, T. (assistant promotor)  (2011) Planning of system innovations in wathersheds : spatial mapping of environmental and hydrological determinants in the Pangani and Upper Ewaso Ng'iro North river basins, Africa. PhD thesis University of Twente; summaries in Dutch and English. ITC Dissertation 187, ISBN: 978-90-6164-307-4.

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