LAKE VICTORIA BASIN

Birds that are commonly found in the Wetlands include the black crake ( Amaurornis flavirostra ), African jacana ( Actophilornis africana ), little egret ( Egretta garzetta ), white pelican ( Pelecanus onocrotarus ), spur- winged plover ( Vanellus spinosus ), wattled plover ( Vanellus senegalensis ), black-winged stilt ( Himantopus himantopus ), cattle egret ( Bulbulcus ibis ), fish eagle ( Haliaaetus vociferoides ), whiskered tern ( Chlidonias hybridus ), great white egret ( Casmerodius albus ), and white-faced tree duck ( Dendrocyna viduat ) (Lake Victoria Basin Commission 2007).

MaraWetlands. In addition, paddy rice and horticultural crops such as tomatoes, onions and cabbages are also cultivated. The Wetland soils are very fertile, and as such little or no fertilizer is used, except for horticultural crops that use urea. Blue copper and thiodan are used as pesticides in horticulture, while chemicals such as Supa Dip, Stelladone and Pour-on ( pyrethrum ) are used in livestock production – the second most important economic activity in the Basin. Commonly kept animals include cattle, goats and sheep. Bulrush is used for thatching and making mats, while papyrus is also used for making mats. Many medicinal plants are also found in the swamp and floodplains.

Crop cultivation, particularly maize, sorghum, cassava and sweet potatoes, is the main economic activity in the

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