Case Study
Local Sustainable Food Scheme
Makueni Food and Water Security Programme, Kenya
An example of a local scheme in an LIC to increase sustainable supplies of food.
AQA GCSE 8035 link: "An example of a local scheme in an LIC or NEE to increase sustainable supplies of food."
Location and Background
Where is Makueni?
- Country: Kenya -- a low-income country (LIC) in East Africa
- Region: Makueni County, south-east Kenya, about 200 km south-east of Nairobi
- Environment: Semi-arid, with low and unreliable rainfall, and high temperatures that increase evaporation
Why is there food insecurity?
- Rainfall is low, erratic and unreliable, so rain-fed crops often fail
- Main traditional crops (maize and beans) are not drought-resistant, so yields are very low in dry years
- Soils are fertile volcanic soils, but lack of water means this potential is not fully used
- Many households rely on subsistence farming, so crop failure quickly leads to hunger and undernutrition
The Local Scheme
The Makueni Food and Water Security Programme is a small-scale, community-based project working with villages in Makueni to improve water and food security together.
Key Partners
- Local Self Help Groups (community groups)
- Just a Drop (UK NGO) and Africa Sand Dam Foundation (Kenyan NGO) -- provide funding, technical support and training
Main Aims
- Provide reliable water so that farmers can irrigate crops
- Increase food production and reduce crop failures
- Use appropriate technology and training so changes are sustainable and community-owned
What Does the Scheme Do to Increase Sustainable Food Supplies?
Click each strategy to reveal the detail:
1. Sand dams for year-round irrigation
2. Climate-smart and drought-resistant crops
3. Farmer training in climate-smart agriculture
4. Crop diversification and home gardens
5. Tree planting and agroforestry
How Does the Scheme Increase Food Security?
Food and Nutrition
- More reliable water and drought-resistant crops mean fewer crop failures and more stable food supplies
- Crop diversification and irrigated vegetables improve diet quality, reducing undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies
Economic
- Higher and more reliable yields allow families to sell surplus crops, creating cash income
- Women's cooperatives rent land and produce seed and food crops for sale, increasing women's incomes and economic independence
Social
- Better food security reduces hunger and stress
- With crops no longer failing as often, families are less likely to need emergency food aid
- Extra income can be spent on school fees, healthcare and housing
Environmental
- Agroforestry and soil-water conservation protect soils, reduce erosion and improve groundwater recharge
- Drought-tolerant crops and better water use mean farming systems are more resilient to climate change
Is the Makueni Scheme Sustainable?
Environmental Sustainability
- Uses rainwater stored in sand and soil, not fossil groundwater -- works with the natural water cycle
- Tree planting, soil conservation and careful irrigation maintain or improve soil and water resources for the future
Economic Sustainability
- Based on low-cost, appropriate technology (sand dams, planting basins, local seed systems) that communities can maintain themselves
- Higher, more reliable yields and sale of surplus crops mean farmers can afford to reinvest in seeds and tools
Social Sustainability
- Community-led: Self Help Groups, women's cooperatives and local farmer groups plan and run projects
- Training builds local knowledge and skills, so improvements do not depend on outside experts in the long term
Limitations
Drought Risk
Relies on some rainfall each year -- severe multi-year droughts can still threaten crops.
Site Suitability
Not every area has suitable sites for sand dams or irrigation infrastructure.
Scaling Up
Scaling up across the whole county requires continued support, coordination and investment.
Using This Case Study in Exams
Example 6-mark question
"Explain how a local scheme in an LIC or NEE has increased sustainable supplies of food."
You should:
- Name the scheme and country (Makueni Food and Water Security Programme, Kenya -- LIC)
- Explain at least two strategies (e.g. irrigation from sand dams + drought-resistant crops + farmer training + diversification)
- Link each strategy to why it is sustainable (environmental, economic, social)
Key Facts to Memorise
- Country & region: Makueni County, Kenya (LIC), 200 km SE of Nairobi
- Main problem: Semi-arid climate, unreliable rainfall leading to frequent crop failures and food insecurity
- Scheme name: Makueni Food and Water Security Programme (local, community-based)
- Main strategies: Sand dams providing water for irrigation; drought-resistant crops (sorghum, millet, pigeon pea, green grams); farmer training in climate-smart agriculture; crop diversification and irrigated vegetables; tree planting and agroforestry
- Outcomes: More reliable harvests, improved diets, extra income from surplus crops, greater resilience to drought
Worked Example6 marks
Makueni Case Study Quiz
Question 1 of 4
Why is food insecurity a problem in Makueni County?