Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4.
Research and development priorities, identified during stakeholders' consultations
System
characteriza-
tion
Rainfed; Low population
density
Rainfed; High population
density
Irrigated systems
Clusters
Enchorica, Kiomo
Kionyweni, Kasikeu
Kibwezi, Matuu
Short-term
measures
•
Control livestock
numbers
•
Improve animal health
care
•
Increase local food
production through
water harvesting, use of
manure and rotation
•
Breeding and using improved
cattle
•
Mono-cropping maize and
dual purpose legumes
•
Application of Rock
Phosphate
•
Efficient nutrient recycling
through crop residues and
manure
•
Maintenance and
management of small-
scale irrigation
systems
•
Reduce transaction
costs: market infor-
mation, physical
infrastructure, mar-
keting channels,
cooperatives, micro-
finance
Long-term
measures
•
Design of development
plan for livestock-
wildlife-tourist industry
•
Establishment of feed-
lots for high intensity
beef production
•
Establishment of
manure processing
facilities
•
Infrastructure: feed
grains and processed
manure transport, mar-
keting infrastructure for
meat
•
Ecological niche market
development
•
Introduction dairy breeds
•
Import of feed grains from
high potential areas
•
Cultivation of mono-cultures
of maize and grain legumes
•
Cultivation of forage
legumes
•
Efficient manure manage-
ment
•
Establishment milk
marketing system
•
Infrastructure for transport of
feed grains
•
Establishment of
effective production-
marketing chain in
public-private
partnership
•
Development of skills
for all links in chain
(production, quality
control, transport,
marketing)
Conclusions
Following some adaptations to deal with the specific characteristics of farming
systems in the ASALs, the NUTMON methodology appeared an efficient tool for
quantification of nutrient balances and financial performance at both farm and
activity (plot) level in the arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya. An advantage is its
ability to estimate hard-to-quantify flows of nutrients, which contribute to high nutrient
losses from the farms. The participatory approach followed increased awareness and
insight among farm households with respect to soil nutrient flows, nutrient deficiencies
and nutrient depletion. On this basis, the constraints and potentials for improving the
situation were identified.
Results indicate that in general the soils in the region are of poor quality and low
in total nitrogen (N) and organic carbon (C). Monitoring for two seasons indicated
that low and erratic rainfall in the semi-arid zone of Kenya is a major constraint to
crop production. The natural resources are degrading as a result of slightly negative
soil nutrient balances, associated with soil erosion, volatilization and leaching,
resulting in declining soil fertility status and reduced vegetative cover. Smallholder
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