Economics around Kiandongoro Area – Rural Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 12, 2011 -- The Forest cover in the Aberdares has been known as a water catchment area resulting to streams of rivers flowing to the Chania, Sagana, Athi and finally to the Indian Ocean. The Kiandongoro Area is located in Nyeri County, Central highlands. The altitude ranges from 2000 to 3000 ASL. It is also in the same forest that the Rhino ark embarked in a project to elect and electric fence all round the Aberdare Forest in conjunction with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

The Kenya Forest Service(KFS) has spearheaded the forest plantations which later have to be cut down as a results of experiments being carried out or to fulfill the needs of the wood in the market–but what should be really conserved are the indigenous trees which are very old and very beautiful making the area authentic outwards. The biosphere in Nyeri, County is quite extensive and if we were to literally study it would be too wide, that is why concentrate to one eco-system of the Kiandongoro area.

The forest has been met with challenges such as fires, illegal logging, grazing among others- however the forest act once passed will be able to control some of the challenges. Some factors are humanly caused and thus have to be humanly solved. These challenges also resulted to the almost extinct of the famous Mountain Bongo whose presence was felt in large numbers years back, Infact the area is named after the Bongo to mean ‘Ndongoro’ translated in Kikuyu– thus the area is called ‘the place of Bongo’ or ‘Kiandongoro’, this was clear evidence of their previous presence. We appreciate the KFS for their strong stand and support of this forest, their absence would have resulted to gross misconduct of the human population and no forest.
We look at some of the highlights that offer opportunity to the human population in and around Kiandongoro area and anyone who would be interested in Kenya and around the world.

1. Afforestation: - The forest still has open areas that need to be planted more trees, preferably indigenous trees. The KFS have nurseries of various trees that can be grown, however protocol has to be used. The corporate world can also arrange for tree planting rallies together with Ndongoro eco-lodge, the forest community association and the KFS. Researchers and Scientists have an open door opportunity to learn about the forest, water and wildlife conservation.
2. Bongo Conservation: as mentioned above the Bongo Antelope( Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci ) is almost extinct, we want to revive this Bongo and recover the pride to the name of the area on which it once lived freely with human population. Conservationist and researchers have an open door to come partner with us in this area.

3. Api-culture: This is the study of the bee keeping and harvesting. We have an already established community however faces with problems in areas of equipment and market. Api-culture equipment is very expensive and farmers may not afford the cost of bee keeping facility (apiary) such as the hive, the Queen excluder, overalls, gloves, gum boots etc as detailed in the book Commercial Insects by S.K.Raina this cost would be almost USD250 per apriay which is very expensive for the common farmer. The products of bee keeping which are honey, wax mostly are widely used the market is wide but no one to even satisfy the growing market– this is another open door for community developers to partner with the local community.
4. Rabbit keeping and rearing: Being an area which is moist almost all the year round the rabbit is this area appear healthy and well nourished, however farmers do not rear them in large numbers as the ready market is not available. If effort is put to have the farmer’s ready market and good prices them they will be encouraged to rear the rabbits. Its well knows now in studies that rabbit meat is good for health, another open door.

5. Dairy farm: this opportunity is widely there and people are comfortable in selling their milk every day to some of the largest milk processors in the area including Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC), however, year’s back there was an established dairy processing unit in a nearby area called Kagundu-ini complete with the equipment donated by the Danish government. Sad to say corruption got hold of it and it collapsed, but now with the current constitution this will be a matter of the past and this is another opportunity to have a small dairy processing unit to produce cheese, milk, and other items to the already existing market
Infrastructure is good having all weather roads however, during rainy seasons a 4x4 is recommended there thus investors, conservationists and researchers tourists or adventure seekers are all welcome into this area.
We need trade and we shall welcome people with the same ideas on trade, development, technology, creation of jobs and entrepreneurial training and skills. THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS TRADE NOT AID.

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