The sponsor has presented plans to address these impacts to ensure that the proposed project will upon implementation of the specific agreed measures, comply with the environmental and social requirements - the host country laws and regulations and the World Bank/IFC environment and social policies and the environmental, health and safety guidelines. The information about how these potential impacts will be addressed by the sponsor/project is summarized in the paragraphs that follow.
Land Use:
The project land was aquired from a single large landowner and no physical or economic displacement occurred. No negative indirect impactsare anticipated, rather impacts on neighboring communities are positive due to employment opportunites that will be created.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM):
Kongoni will be served by the parent company’s central IPM department. This department specializes in the mass rearing of beneficial insects such as Phytosieulus persimilis, Encarcia Formosa, Diglyphus isaea and Aphidius spp. The IPM department also has training programs for IPM that are carried out to teach the growers alternative methods of pest control rather than relying wholly on pesticides. The main pest control strategies used are:
- Use of natural enemies
- Use of natural products such as neem extracts Azadiractin, Petroleum oils, garlic extract and natural pyretrins, Bacillus spp.
- Avoiding use of class one chemicals
- use of scouting information when making spray decisions.
Pesticides Handling and Application:
All chemicals used by Kongoni comply with local laws, European Union and IFC/World Bank guidelines. Staff safety is given priority through provision of training and protective equipment. The company has formed a health and safety committee as the forum for discussion regarding health and safety issues. The health and safety officer is responsible for day-to-day management and implementation. Meetings will be held monthly/quarterly to review and rectify any highlighted problems wherever possible. The committee will ensure that all personnel receive health and safety training and new recruits are given training upon employment all staff receive regular medical checkups. Most chemicals are applied using a computer controlled drip irrigation system. Staff who apply chemicals are provided with shower and changing facilities which they use after each shift.
Waste Disposal and Recycling:
Kongoni has committed to the recovery, recycling and re-use of materials wherever possible. Waste products from grading will either be composted or used as animal feed. Where possible, plastics will be recycled through sale to earn some revenue, however, if this is not possible they will be disposed of in the most environmentally friendly fashion. All unsold greenhouse plastics and plastic paper bags will be incinerated in specially made metal drum incinerators to minimize pollution. All scrap metal and glass will be recycled by selling to local buyers. Waste paper from office use and cardboard paper from packing materials will be re-used or recycled through sale to paper making companies. Timber will only be purchased from a renewable source and the company will expand its tree nursery to enable the company to grow enough trees to supplement its needs from within. All wooden structures that break and are repairable will be repaired at the company’s carpentry workshop rather than discarded if at all possible. All nails from broken down timber structures will be recovered before the timbers are thrown away and reused if possible in the company’s repairs. Waste oil will be recycled through sales or re-used in painting timber posts in the field against termites rather than being thrown away. The storage facilities for this product will be constructed in such a way that spills will be contained. Rubble and aggregate will be re-used at every opportunity in the company’s future constructions and or spread out on the road to prevent dust along the pathways and hence reduce the use of water along the paths to contain the dust. Wherever possible when planning production systems, care will be taken to avoid using materials with a high environmental impact. Liquid effluent associated with the project is minimal and mainly comprises domestic sewage, this will be disposed of via soakpits. Any washwater from chemical containers or fertigation equipment will be disposed of on the crop or in designated areas on the farm.
Water Supply.
The farm’s water supply source is borehole. Two boreholes will be used for which permits have been obtained and yield test conducted. The local Water Authority has authorized a maximum extraction rate of use of 75% of yield, extraction adjustments and needs of other users in the area is the responsibility of the Water Authority to manage. With regard to water usage, Kongoni farm. will endeavour to reduce usage wherever possible and not to exceed its authorized limits by using:
- The most efficient application methods
- Applying water at times of least evaporation.
- Prevent run off through improved catchment systems and enhance water recycling
- Metering and measuring water use on crop-to-crop basis
The sponsor has committed to collect rainwater and maintain a drain system around all greenhouses and channel water back to the farm reservoir, this will minimize runoff/erosion potential and reduce reliance on borehole water.
Power Supply and CFCs:
Power is supplied by the grid and a backup diesel generator will be used. This genset will be stored in a concrete floored unit and fuel storage tanks will be equipped with secondary containment. Kongoni farm aims to use all forms of energy in a responsible way. At some point in the future, an independent energy audit will be carried out in order to find out where savings can be made in terms of both money and resources. All cold storage equipment will be CFC-free and no PCB based equipment will be purchased or installed.
Employee Housing:
Only housing for a few key managers will be provided. As the farm is close to Timau and Nanyuki, employees will be sourced from these areas. Infrastructure for the houses will be the same as for the farm. Water for drinking for all staff will be from boreholes and will be tested annually to ensure it complies with WHO standards.
Labour Policy and Standards:
Other farms to whom Kongoni is affiliated through their parent company have high Labour Standards involving adherence to Ethical Trade Initiative Standards, Fair Trade Labelling (FLO) and British Retail Consortium Food Standard (which also entails HACCP compliance). The standards will be implemented at Kongoni. In addition to this, to achieve high labour standards Kongoni Farm have committed that they will:
- not engage in or support the use of child labour i.e. persons under the age of 18 years.
- not engage in or support the use of forced labour, nor shall personnel be required to lodge ‘deposits’ or identity papers upon commencing employment with Kongoni Farm.
- bear in mind the prevailing knowledge of the industry and of any specific hazards, shall provide a safe and healthy working environment and shall take adequate steps to prevent accidents and injuries to health arising out of, associated with or occurring in the course of the work, by minimizing so far as is reasonably practicable, the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment.
- respect the right of all personnel to form and join trade unions of their choice and bargain collectively.
- not engage in or support discrimination in hiring, remuneration, access to training, promotion, termination, or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, political affiliation or age.
- not interfere with the rights of personnel to observe customs or practices.
- not allow behaviour, including gestures, language and physical contact, that is sexually coercive, threatening, abusive or exploitative.
- not engage in or support the use of corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion, and verbal abuse.
- comply with applicable laws and industry standards on working hours.
Through it’s Corporate Citizenship Facility (CCF) IFC also intends to work with Kongoni to develop improved common water resource management in the Horticultural Industry locatedat Lake Naivasha.
This ERS will made available, in English, at the project site, the District Officer’s and the Local Chief’s Office. Availability of the ERS at these locations will be advertised in a local newspaper. A verbal briefing of the ERS in Swahili will be provided at the project site upon request.
