Impacts of algal blooms and microcystins in fish on small-scale fishers in Winam Gulf, Lake Victoria: implications for health and livelihood

Lake Victoria, bordered by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, provides one of the largest freshwater fisheries in the world and supports millions in small-scale fishing communities. Historical environmental change, including population growth, nutrient loading, introduced invasive species, and rising temperatures, has resulted in eutrophication and persistent cyanobacterial harmful algae blooms (cyanoHABs) over recent decades, particularly in the shallower gulfs, bays, and inlets. CyanoHABs impact fisheries and food web dynamics and compromise food and water security for nearshore fisher populations. In this study, we examine the socialecological impact of freshwater blooms on fisher health in one of these eutrophic regions, Winam Gulf in Lake Victoria. CyanoHABs persist for months and produce microcystins and hepatotoxins at levels unsafe for human health. We assessed potential risk and contribution of microcystin exposure through fish consumption, in addition to exposure through water source, and conducted 400 fisher and 400 household surveys. Average microcystin concentrations exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline for drinking water consistently during the long dry season, and cyanobacterial cell counts surpassed WHO standards for recreational risk in 84% of samples. Hazard quotients for fish consumed by young children were 5 to 10 times higher than permissible levels. In addition, fishers chronicled profound ecosystem changes with direct impact on livelihood, fisheries, and water quality with 77.4% reporting a decline in profit or catch, 83.1% reporting adverse impacts of cyanoHABs on fish in the lake, and 98.2% reporting indicators of declining water quality in the lake overall. Through the application of a social-ecological lens to a public health model, we identified spheres of influence that modify how fishers experience HABs related stressors and risks to provide a starting point at which to identify sustainable strategies to improve food and water security and livelihood for the millions in nearshore communities

Adaptive strategies and local innovations of smallholder farmers in selected agri-food systems of central Kenya

Food production in Kenya is closely related to smallholder agricultural production. Paradoxically, many smallholders suffer extended periods of food crises. This underscores the importance of understanding the multiple pathways smallholders use to deal with food insecurity. Participatory action research, using both qualitative and quantitative methods was undertaken to identify adaptation strategies and innovations used to address food insecurity vulnerabilities. A sample of 360 households was drawn randomly from 18 farmers\u2019 groups living under acute food and livelihood crisis (Mbeere South district); experiencing borderline food insecurity (Kirinyaga West District) and those with low resilience (Nyandarua North District) all in Kenya. Results showed that smallholders in these areas use and perpetuate diverse adaptive strategies and innovations for coping with vulnerability, for risk avoidance and for livelihoods insurance enhancement. These strategies and innovations ought to be recognised by research, development and policy actors and should inform interventions intended to strengthen smallholder agri-food systems in Kenya.La production vivri\ue8re au Kenya est \ue9troitement li\ue9e \ue0 la production de petits exploitants agricoles. Paradoxalement, laplupart de ces exploitants souffrent de longues p\ue9riodes de crises alimentaires. Ceci souligne l\u2019importance de la compr\ue9hension de multiples voies et moyens qu\u2019ils utilisent pour faire face \ue0 l\u2019ins\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire. Une action de recherche participative par des m\ue9thodes qualitatives et quantitatives \ue9tait enterprise pour identifier les strat\ue9gies d\u2019adaptation et innovations utilis\ue9es afin d\u2019adresser les probl\ue8mes li\ue9s \ue0 l\u2019ins\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire. Un \ue9chantillon de 360 m\ue9nages \ue9tait al\ue9atoirement tir\ue9 de 18 groupes de fermiers vivant sous une crise alimentaire aigue (Mbeere South district); ceux vivant en situation proche de l\u2019ins\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire (Kirinyaga West District) ainsi que ceux \ue0 faible flexibilit\ue9 \ue0 la situation de famine(Nyandarua North District) au Kenya. Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 que les petits exploitants des r\ue9gions pr\ue9cit\ue9es utilisent et perp\ue9tuent diverses strat\ue9gies d\u2019adaptation et innovations pour faire face \ue0 la vuln\ue9rabilit\ue9 pour \ue9viter le risque et promouvoir l\u2019assurance quant au gagne-pain quotidien. Ces strat\ue9gies et innovations devraient \ueatre reconnues par la recherche, ainsi que des des acteurs politiques et de d\ue9veloppement et s\u2019en inspirer pour initier des interventions visant \ue0 consolider des syst\ue8mes agro-alimentaires de petits exploitants au Kenya

Track E Implementation Science, Health Systems and Economics

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138412/1/jia218443.pd

Adaptive strategies and local innovations of smallholder farmers in selected agri-food systems of central Kenya

Food production in Kenya is closely related to smallholder agricultural production. Paradoxically, many smallholders suffer extended periods of food crises. This underscores the importance of understanding the multiple pathways smallholders use to deal with food insecurity. Participatory action research, using both qualitative and quantitative methods was undertaken to identify adaptation strategies and innovations used to address food insecurity vulnerabilities. A sample of 360 households was drawn randomly from 18 farmers’ groups living under acute food and livelihood crisis (Mbeere South district); experiencing borderline food insecurity (Kirinyaga West District) and those with low resilience (Nyandarua North District) all in Kenya. Results showed that smallholders in these areas use and perpetuate diverse adaptive strategies and innovations for coping with vulnerability, for risk avoidance and for livelihoods insurance enhancement. These strategies and innovations ought to be recognised by research, development and policy actors and should inform interventions intended to strengthen smallholder agri-food systems in Kenya.La production vivrière au Kenya est étroitement liée à la production de petits exploitants agricoles. Paradoxalement, laplupart de ces exploitants souffrent de longues périodes de crises alimentaires. Ceci souligne l’importance de la compréhension de multiples voies et moyens qu’ils utilisent pour faire face à l’insécurité alimentaire. Une action de recherche participative par des méthodes qualitatives et quantitatives était enterprise pour identifier les stratégies d’adaptation et innovations utilisées afin d’adresser les problèmes liés à l’insécurité alimentaire. Un échantillon de 360 ménages était aléatoirement tiré de 18 groupes de fermiers vivant sous une crise alimentaire aigue (Mbeere South district); ceux vivant en situation proche de l’insécurité alimentaire (Kirinyaga West District) ainsi que ceux à faible flexibilité à la situation de famine(Nyandarua North District) au Kenya. Les résultats ont montré que les petits exploitants des régions précitées utilisent et perpétuent diverses stratégies d’adaptation et innovations pour faire face à la vulnérabilité pour éviter le risque et promouvoir l’assurance quant au gagne-pain quotidien. Ces stratégies et innovations devraient être reconnues par la recherche, ainsi que des des acteurs politiques et de développement et s’en inspirer pour initier des interventions visant à consolider des systèmes agro-alimentaires de petits exploitants au Kenya