Best practice replicted

Despite Nguruman being an area flowing with water throughout the year, its high temperature is one unique feature that cannot go unnoticed. This feature makes demand for cold drinks go high at the center and its environs and this has caused business people to adopt a technology that will ensure there is always a cold drink whenever it is needed despite the fact that there is no electricity at Nguruman.

One of the well stocked shops at the center, ‘The Wendo junior shop’ set up the phase and so far, the technology has been replicated by many another shopkeepers. A charcoal cooler or a ‘fridge’, as they call it addresses the need for refrigeration in areas where electricity is unavailable. It is a small box that at a far distance could make you think that it provided shelter to young chicks, but the closer you go to it, you are convinced otherwise.


From the side, the structure is covered with wet sisal sacks. Every morning, Miss Lillian, the shop attendant wets the sacks and the charcoal to ensure that her customers get their favorite drink at desired temperature through out the day.
A charcoal cooler uses the principal of evaporative cooling to maintain a cool interior temperature for refrigeration and food preservation. The device is constructed from an open timber frame with charcoal filled sides, which is kept continually moist. As warm, dry air flows through the moist charcoal, water is evaporated into the air and it is cooled. Evaporative cooling has an added benefit of increasing the air moisture content, preventing food from drying out and further extending shelf life.

The charcoal cooler can hold up to eight crates of soda and several boxes of distilled water and this has met the needs of people and at the same time bringing a lot of income for the shop owner due to high sales for these drinks as Miss Lillian narrates “.... After I introduced this technology, I am able to sell three times more than I used to sell before”.

After inquiring where she got the technology from, this is what she had to say, “…. I adopted this technology from my aunt who is always outgoing and has visited many countries of the world including Sudan where she borrowed the technology and uses the same to preserve drinking water and fresh vegetables at her backyard. I then decided to replicate the same at Nguruman to help people fight high temperatures by ensuring they obey their thirst by always having cold drinks”.

This technology is cheap to adopt since it is made from locally available material, and occupies small space. It also requires very little attention i.e., pouring some water every morning. It is a technology that can be adopted by farmers in this region to preserve their fresh produce giving it a longer shelve life and preventing their produce from spoiling due to high temperatures. Bearing in mind that Nguruman area produces almost all vegetables and fruits consumed in Magadi, Kiserian and some parts of Nairobi like city market, this technology can be very helpful to farmers. In hot climates where electricity is unavailable, refrigeration of food is a developmental need.

In Sudan, for example, tomatoes will only last 2 days in the hot sun. Preservation of crops through refrigeration can help fight hunger and starvation in the developing world by keeping foods fresh longer. For example, when housed using a similar evaporative cooling device, the life of tomatoes can be extended from 2 to 20 days as well, this may apply to other vegetables and fruits. Farmers are therefore encouraged to embrace the technology to ensure that, they preserve their surplus fresh produce for their families and for a longer period of time.

Even without Power…..

Despite lack of power in Nguruman location, Magadi division the Ministry of Agriculture staff could not give up in their bid to learn basic computer training courtesy of Nguruman Maarifa Centre. The training which was well coordinated owing to the presence of a generator which made sure the government employee had the whole day to grasp simple computer skills.
They were indeed grateful and they opted never to do their reports in bulky pieces of papers and files and instead embrace the ICT where bulky reports can be typed and shared online.

THE FUTURE OF FAMILY FARMING IN NGURUMAN

Mr Saruni Duya’s eight-acre farm, near the village of Nguruman, in southern Kenya, produces mangoes, bananas, cucumbers,and also many different “Asian vegetables”, most of which are meant for the market. He farms the same land that his father farmed for many years,and his grandfather before him, but the few innovations which Mr Duya has introduced have brought about big changes. read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Beware the buffalo of Kenya’s Loita Hills

Zebras are not Kenya’s scariest animals. Smaller than the average horse, these docile beasts do little except munch grass and look stripy. But when four of them hurtle towards you Read More>>>>>>>>

NEW LOOK!

Nguruman Maarifa Centre has taken up a new look with the introduction of three laptops and modern office furniture that suits the needs of the users. The furniture brings an aesthetic appeal and above all is easy and friendly to the users. The introduction of the three laptops has seen the centre increasing the number of computers to five this has enabled the users to get maximum use of the computers and sharpen their ICT skills.
Inside the centre, one is welcomed with a modern book shelve which has a capacity of more than 5000 books. The centre is rich in resourceful books and weekly newspaper newspapers despite the poor communication access between Nguruman and Nairobi. The seating space is adequate, nice plastic chairs and a study table make the reading area complete.
The community members could not hide their joy and they had this to say:-

David Ntumuna “…Wow the centre looks so perfect I now feel proud to be associated with the Maarifa centre I admire the brown wooden shelves they look nice”

Naomi Tongei “I can now see a great improvement at the centre am happy that even my fellow girls are now streaming at the centre to get familiar with what goes on here”

Leonard Ndungu” …The laptops are very effective because they are not consuming a lot of power and that means I can use them from morning till evening, the books are quite resourceful kudos ALIN”

Neema John “I am happy that the centre looks like a cyber café in Nairobi, neat chairs and a lot of laptops this is excellent"

Julius Kasifu”….Let’s now lay down strategies that will see our community benefit from the centre, it now looks appealing and I am happy that the young users have started flocking the centre to learn more on ICT”

James Mathu...” We have achieved a great step, and its not time to relax lets roll our sleeve and finish the final lap by ensuring that the younger generation in Nguruman village becomes computer literate this will help in future"

Francis Mburu “The centre looks wonderful, I feel like spending the whole day here there is a learning atmosphere”

World Cup season in Nguruman.

If you ever thought you enjoyed world cup....then think again as for Nguruman Community, June, 2010 was a no ordinary month with the introduction of a 21 inch television donated by Arid Lands Information Network. World cup games came live and direct and the community had something to smile about.

AGRICULTURE FIELD DAY

Nguruman Maarifa Centre took centre stage during the 2010 Annual Agriculture Field day held at Entasopia Village in Nguruman, Magadi Division. The day which attracted various stake holders from within the District was embraced by the local community members who came in large numbers so as to acquire as much knowledge as they could.

The maarifa centre stand was filled with the latest ICT equipment that farmers and community members do use to access online information. Information and Communication Technology was greatly sensitized by Mr. Wandimi the area Division Officer who urged the community to embrace ICT since the world was changing and it’s only those who would accept this change that would lead a good and successful life.