National Soil and Water Conservation Programme - Kenya

The National Soil and Water Conservation Programme began on an experimental basis in pilot areas in 1974. It spread to Divisions within the high potential areas of Kenya, leaving the semi-arid lands mainly to special district integrated development programmes. Initially it worked through the normal frontline agricultural extension worker, but when a Training and Visit extension system was introduced in the mid-1980s, relegating soil and conservation to a very minor place, the programme developed a Catchment approach working in selected cathments through a Divisional Soil Conservation Officer and two frontline workers given special training and allowances as Soil Conservation Assistants.