Glimpse from research
in Kenya and Mozambique
Siri Eriksen
(Compiled by Evy Jørgensen in Jan. 2012)
Selling mango at a market in eastern Kenya
High seasonal variability in the drylands of Kenya: Flooding during the rainy season, and selling cattle during the rainy season
Digging wells in the dry river bed, eastern Kenya
Wells in the dry river bed and moving with the animals are key ways of managing dry seasons and extended droughts (Kenya)
A hilltop forest in the drylands gathers fog and rainfall and hosts climatic and ecological diversity
critical to managing climatic variability (eastern Kenya)
Coastal fishers in Sofala
Boat transport on the river Buzi, Mozambique
Trade in vegetables and handicrafts are important sources of income diversification
(eastern Kenya)
Indigenous trees are conserved on farm.
They provide important products and services, including fruit during drought,
shade, and wood for handicraft
Household interviews in Buzi, Mozambique
Collecting market information to
understand how people manage climatic variability (eastern Kenya)
Presenting and discussing findings from field research, Kenya
Rivers provide water during
the rainy season.
When they dry up, piped water from a
hilltop forest is critical (eastern
Kenya)
A ferry crossing in Buzi, Mozambique
Harvesting rice in Buzi, Mozambique
The harvest of a dryland farmer in Buzi, Mozambique
Transport is an important part of rural life (Buzi, Mozambique)
Endau hilltop rises up from the dryland plains in eastern Kenya
Agricultural systems including diverse crops and trees is a way of securing production under
variable climatic conditions.
However, a farmer shows how high up flooding water reached in 2001, wiping out crops and
infrastructure (Mozambique)
Diverse crops and indigenous fruit are sources of livelihoods among dryland populations (eastern Kenya)
Intense rainfall in the drylands has flushed over the fields, eastern Kenya
Improved stoves have become popular as they reduce the need for firewood (eastern Kenya)
Animals are important in dryland livelihood systems, both for ploughing and for carrying
water and agricultural produce (eastern Kenya)
The vegetation and pastures become green once rains return (eastern
Kenya)