Vetiveria: pilot project for environmental recovery and fodder production • lorenzo vallerini
50cm buffer zone for the service road safety
50cm buffer zone for the service road safety
205 GRAVEL 0.20m To make roads dig the surface for about 20cm and fill the excavation with gravel (for 20cm)
STONES FROM SOIL PREPARATION Side of the road: make the line with a kerb of stones, the stones must be 10cm deep in the ground
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Fig. 5 Path construction detail. (By: L. Vallerini).
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Fig. 6 Vetiver plots just after planting. (Photo: J. Nakhulo). Fig. 7 Vetiver mature cultivation in the area. (Photo: M. Folini).
vandalisms to the fences and subsequently the intrusion of goats which grazed on the young plants, which resulted in a delay in their growth. This happened during the periods of drought in 2017. Whereas in other areas of the project specialised companies were contracted for construction works, in this case, as well as for part of the work related to the Palmeraie and the Afforestation area, activities were carried out on a ‘time and materials’ basis, that is hiring specialised labour (bricklayers, carpenters, etc.) and ‘casuals’, hired from time to time for specific stages of the project. Other locals were involved by the Nanyori Group both for work on field and for training activities, in the hope of an increasing participation of the local communities. This is undoubtedly an experimental phase which, after the initial worries and resistance from the local authorities regarding the danger of invasiveness of Vetiveria, has obtained a general acceptance in the County and in Loiyangalani. However, there is still some resistance from the locals to the idea of having to cultivate food for feeding their animals.
Pinners E. 2013, Vetiver History in Kenya, November, 30th. Plus Kenya — Platform for Land Use Sustainability Kenya — is a Kenyan organisation with headquarters in Nairobi, constituted by a network of researchers, professionals and farmers committed to activities concerning Land and Water Resource Management from a standpoint of environmental sustainability which collaborates with many NGOs, CBOs, as well as with public entities, both Kenyan and foreign, with Univeristies and research centres and with private entities. It is a member of the Vetiver Network International and is very active in the diffusion of the uses and knowledge regarding Vetveria. Available online at https://sites.google.com/site/pluskenya/. 6 Wegesa J. B. 2016, Vetiveria zizanoides planting and management techniques training in Loiyangalani, Laisamis Sub-County of Marsabit County, Plus Kenya Report, June, 24th. 4 5
Endnotes 1 Del Re P. 2017, Etiopia, «La Repubblica», March 7th and June 3rd. 2 Veronese P. 2017, La guerra nel paradiso terrestre, «La Repubblica» April 24th. 3 Desmodium is a genus of plant from the family of the Fabacee (or legumes) which includes dozens of varieties, most of which are herbaceous species. Desmodium uncinatum, a legume which is a native of Africa, is an insect repellent, is capable of fixing nitrogent and therefore to enhance the fertility of the soil, and is also excellent fodder for livestock. Desmodium trifolium is widely used for pastures and resists well to intensive pruning. It’s only drawback is that it is invasive.