Scientists from International Nitrogen Management Systems (INMS), Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Makerere University in partnership with Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) collectively reflected on strategies of harnessing Nitrogen for productivity in Lake Victoria Basin region.
The meeting which started on 5th and ended on the 6th March 2019 at Imperial Express Hotel, Kisumu, Republic of Kenya was guided by two objectives—to come up with a set of recommendations for good nitrogen management strategies for East Africa Demonstration Sites and enable participants appraise and familiarize themselves with barriers of achieving sustainable nitrogen management in Lake Victoria Basin and potential options to overcome identified barriers.
In the two days Conference, scientists and LVBC team sought to respond to among other paradoxes : responding to ‘too much-too little nitrogen paradox,’ bridging science-policy gaps and reconciling sophistication inherent in science and simplification of messages for the benefit of over 45 million citizens of Lake Victoria Basin.
Opening the meeting, the LVBC Executive Secretary, Dr. Ally-Said Matano, emphasized balancing too much-too little paradox in the Lake Victoria Basin hence the need for scientists to investigate practices, policies and existing knowledge on nitrogen at all levels—regional, national and local in East Africa.
“Sustainable use of Nitrogen is relevant to Lake Victoria Basin region because 70% (35 millions) of citizens in the wider Lake Victoria derive their livelihoods from agriculture systems. However, there is need to optimize Nitrogen for productivity while reducing environmental threats,” LVBC Executive, Dr. Matano said. The LVBC also shared with scientists the nitrogen loading rate in Lake Victoria and how the water hyacinth enables its survival from higher nitrogen presence in Lake Victoria waters.
Presentations in the conference also outlined three major gaps: policy, funding and science gaps. Scientists considered scientific gaps to mean limited efforts to determine the magnitude and quantity of nitrogen but reliance on estimates. According to Dr. Cargele Maso from International Nitrogen Management System, “with such a scientific gap, science cannot adequately inform policies in East Africa.” Scientists also cited limited implementation and enforcement of policy and legal instruments as a major policy gap still limiting strategic and operational management of nitrogen in the EAC Partner States.
As the specialized institution of East African Community, LVBC, according to Dr. Matano, regional Industrial and Effluent Treat Standards adopted by the Council of Ministers and implemented by EAC Partner States is an indication of goodwill of policy-makers, but he acknowledged there is still gaps between enactment and implementation of laws and policies at national levels.
According to Dr. Cargele Maso, the partnership between LVBC and INMS provides synergetic opportunities specifically in harnessing science to influence changes in policies, practices and cultures favorable to climate change because of destructive nitrogen in EAC Partner States.
LVBC Executive Secretary noted that the partnerships will contribute in positioning Nitrogen Management Strategies in reducing high regret investments and practices such as overfishing, massive cutting of trees, poor farming practices and unregulated industrial discharges in and around Lake Victoria. Scientists prioritized positioning strategic communication at the heart of science as a pathway to achieving the development objectives of EAC partner States.
