Browsing by Author "Gachimbi, L. N."
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Item Agricultural Production and its Constraints in Central Kenya: A Case Study of Kiambu District. KARI-ETC-LEI INMASP Report(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2003) Gachimbi, L. N.; Maina, F. W.; Onduru, D. D.; Muchena, F. N.; Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteKiambu District lies in the high potential area of Kenya which constitutes 20% of total arable land. The rest of the land is either, marginal or arid. The areas have been the focus for many research and extension processes and are deemed to have benefited enough to optimize agricultural production. However, the agricultural sector in Kenya, just like any other SSA countries continue to face major challenge as the engine of development especially in the face of declining per capita food production, rising level of malnutrition and increased food insecurity over nearly three decades. While the causes of this negative trend are complex, emerging evidence point to the fact that declining soil fertility, lack of rubestress in addressing agricultural policy concerns and farmers, socio-economic and biophysical, environment are some of the prime underlying causes for this trend. Reversing this trend call for new approaches in approaches in agricultural technology development and diffusion, which take into account farmers’ knowledge, biophysical and socio-economic circumstances. This report presents a review of literature on agricultural production and its constrainte in central Kenya with a focus on Kiambu District. It details agricultural production leveis of various crops or livestock enterprises and problerns facing the existing systems.Item Assessment and Monitoring Nutrient Flows and Stocks to Determine Appropriate Integrated Nutrient Management Strategies: Technical report on the study approach and preliminary results of NUTSAL project, 1998/99.(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2000) Gachimbi, L. N.; Ikombo, B. M.; Itabari, J. K.; Nandwa, S. M.; Nguluu, S.M.; Kinama, J. M.; Thuranira, E. G.; Karuku, A. Μ.; de Jager, A.; Keulen, H. V.; Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteThe National Soil Plant Nutritional (NSFPN) Research Programme has the mandate to contribute towards increased agricultural production in the high, medium and low rainfall areas in Kenya. This constitutes 44.6 million hectares of land of which only about 8.6 million ha is high to medium potential. The rest is either semi-arid or arid. The programme aims at increased crop production through integrated nutrient management approached under different cropping systems and appropriate tillage practices. Improved production of crops and livestock in a sustainable manner is a key to agricultural development in arid and semi-arid lands.Item Assessment and Monitoring of Nutrient flows and stocks and Development of Appropriate Nutrient Management Strategies for ASAL (NUTSAL) - Report on the Study Tour of Machakos and Kajiado farmers to Machakos and Mbeere Districts 2004(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2004) Gachimbi, L. N.; Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteThis report details the results of a study tour involving farmers from Kajiado and Machakos District to Mbeere (Gachoka Division) and Machakos (Masii and Katumani). The objective is to learn from other fanners in similar Agro-ecological settings. A total of 28 farmers (18 male and 10 female) set out to exchange information on observed farming practices and study an assortment of technologies and learn about sustainability of their community based organisations after the project.Item NUTRIENT MONITORING (NUTMON) RECONNAISANIE SURVEY IN THE SEMI-ARID AREAS OF EASTERN KENYA.(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 1998) Kenya Agricultural Research Institute - National Dry Land Farming Research Centre- Katumani; Ikombo, B. M. (Team Leader); Bett, C.; Gikonyo, E. W.; Ngugi, P. T.; Gachimbi, L. N.; Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteThere is a problem of low yields due to poor soil fertility in the agro-ecological zones (AEZ) IV and V in Eastern Kenya (Simpson et al., 1992). Most of the soils are sandy with low organic matter content. In particular, nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency is widespread in maize crops that are grown continuously on cultivated land without nutrient replenishment (Okalebo et al. 1992). Normal farming practice in the region involves little return of crop residues. Farm resources do not allow purchases of fertilizers (Rukandema 1984), and manure use is limited by its poor quality and unavailability (Probert et al., 1992). Continuous cultivation without replenishment of plant nutrients must in time result in productivity declining to low levels. In order to design appropriate and integrated nutrient management strategies, the nutrient flows at farm level need to be clearly understood. A nutrient balance study was conducted in three wetter districts in Kenya (Van de Bosch et al., 1997) and partial balances of +35 kgN, +15 kgP and +51 kg K ha¹ yr¹ were achieved. Such studies have not been conducted in the semi-arid areas of Eastern Kenya. A nutrient monitoring reconnaissance survey was therefore conducted in Machakos, Kitui, Mwingi, Makueni and Kajiado district in order to familiarise the researchers with the land use systems, sensitise the stakeholders on the need to monitor nutrient flows and assess the farmers knowledge on the concept of nutrient flow at farm level.Item Smallholder Farming and Rural Livelihoods in Ngaita Village, Kiambaa Division, Kiambu District Kenya: A Baseline Survey Report. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute. KARI-ETC-LEI INMASP Report(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2004) Gachimbi, L. N.; Gachini, G. N.; Onduru, D. D.; Maina, F.; Muchena, F. N.; De Jager, A.; Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteFarmer's knowledge on soil fertility management exists in a social context and access to such knowledge is subject to differential resource endowments and social determinants. The study investigated salient features of household characteristics that may directly or indirectly influence agricultural practices and choice of livelihood options. The study has shown the sample was a middle aged with persons below 40 years accounting for 38% of the sample size. The potential labour force (age 11-59) represented 31% of the sample size and a greater part of this potential labour force was literate. This indicates that agricultural activities may not be potentially constrained by labour availability. The potential labour a farm level was found to be 2 adult equivalents. The average land size was 0.5 ha with average farm population density off 5 persol11ls per hectare.
