PROJECT ASSESSMENTS - Science for Agriculture and Rural Development in Low-income Countries - page 144

example the characteristics of the farm household members of the FFS in Kenya
show that income levels, both on-farm and of-farm, are considerably low in Mbeere
District, resulting in almost all households living below the poverty line of 1 US$
per day (Table 1). But also in the Kiambu District 60-80% of the households are
below the poverty line.
The farms in Kiambu district import considerable amounts of nutrients both
through fertilizers, organic fertilizers and animal feeds (Table 2). On the other hand
unproductive losses through leaching (N,K), gaseous losses (N) and erosion are
high. When the import of external inputs is slightly lower, as is the case in the farms
in Ngaita FFS, a considerable negative balance for N and K is observed. A focus on
reduction of nutrient losses appears to be the most appropriate in these farms.
The extensive system in Mbeere is characterized by low import levels of nutrients,
only grazing and nitrogen fixation bring nutrients in the system, and low crop pro-
duction levels. It is obvious that the input from communal grazing has its limitations
and that in order to achieve necessary increase in crop productivity appropriate ways
have to be found to import nutrients in the system.
The project has engaged the FFS members in a process of technology develop-
ment based on a combination of local farmer's knowledge and science linkages.

Table 2 . Average farm-level N-flows per flow type in kg ha -1 half year -1

Kiambu Mbeere

Kibichoi Ngaita Munyaka Kamugi

IN 1 Mineral fertilizer 31.7 26.2 1.5 5.2

IN 1 Mineral animal feeds 32.5 15.0 0.2 0.1

IN 2 Organic fertilizers 14.6 13.9 0.7 0.3

IN 2 Organic animal feeds 10.6 4.9 0.0 0.0

IN 2 Grazing animals 0.0 0.0 12.7 20.0

IN 3 Atmospheric deposition 8.0 3.4 6.7 4.0

IN 4 Biological N fixation 3.6 3.1 11.3 4.2

OUT 1 Crop products -12.5 -10.7 -5.4 -0.8

OUT 1 Animal products -6.8 -5.0 0.0 -0.0

OUT 2 Crop residues -2.3 -7.6 -0.2 -4.5

OUT 2 Animal manure 0.0 0.0 -5.3 -8.2

OUT 3 Leaching -33.7 -37.0 -4.3 -4.7

OUT 4 Gaseous losses v20.8 -22.8 -1.2 -1.0

OUT 5 Erosion -18.5 -21.7 -8.2 -0.1

OUT 6 Human excreta -9.0 -11.7 -7.3 -12.0

Total balance - 2.6 - 50.0 1.1 2.5