Browsing by Author "Muchena, F. N."
Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
- Results Per Page
- Sort Options
Item Agricultural Production and Its Constraints in Central Kenya. A case study of Kiambu District(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2003) Gachimbi. L.N.; Maina. F.W.; Onduru. D.D.; Muchena, F. N.; Kenya Agricultural Reseacrh Institute; Kenya Agricultural Reseacrh 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. These areas have been the focus for many research and extension processes and are deemed to have benefited enough to optimise agricultural production. However, the agricultural sector in Kenya, just like any other SSA countries continues to face major challenges as the engine of development especially in the face of declining per capita food production, rising levels of malnutrition and increased food insecurity over nearly three decades (Lynam et al., 1998). While the causes of this negative trend are complex, emerging evidence point to the fact that declining soil fertility, lack of robustness in addressing agricultural policy concerns and farmers' socio-economic and biophysical environment are some of the prime underlying causes for this trend (Sanchez st af, 1997; Muriuki and Qureshi, 2001; Deugd et al., 1998; Hilhorat et a/ 2000; DALEO, 2000). calls for new approaches in agricultural technology Reversing this trend development and diffusion, which take into account farmers' knowledge and biophysical and socio-economic circumstances. It is, thus apparent that there is need for new approaches to increase farmers' capacity to test new technologies in their fields, assess results and relevance of technologies to their particular circumstances and to interact with researchers and extensionists on a demand driven basis (GoK and UNDP, 2001). This calls for shift from the current top down approaches to participatory approaches for enhanced soil and farm productivity. Farmer field school is seen as one approach that can contribute substantially to bridging this gap (Braun et al., 2000). The drive towards farmer field schools has been due to the search for robust approaches to arrest declining agricultural productivity and to increase opportunities for facilitating learning at farm level. Farmer field schools are deemed important in addressing the existing cobwebs in agricultural technology development and adoption, weaknesses in research and extension linkages, low rating of farmers expert knowledge, communication gaps between scientist and farmers' and in strengthening community-based institutions. The report presents a Review Literature on Agricultural Production and its Constraints in Central Kenya with Focus in Kiambu District. It Details Agricultural Production Levels of Various Crops or Livestock Enterprises and Problems Facing Existing Systems.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 Demonstration trials on Tumbukiza and Conventional Tillage Methods and their impacts on Agro-economic Performance of Two Napier Varieties in Kiambu, Central Kenya - KARI-ETC-LEI INSMAP REPORT NO.KE 19-2005(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2005) Onduru, D. D.; Wouters, B.; Muchena, F. N.; Gachini, G. N.; Gachimbi, L.; De Jager, A.; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute; Onduru D.D; Wouters B.; Muchena F.N; Gachini G,N; Gachimbi L.In sub-Saharan Africa, mixed crop-livestock systems predominate in the semi-arid, sub-humid and cool highland zones. In these areas, systems intensify and crops and livestock become increasingly integrated as the human population increases and land becomes a more important constraint than labour (Mcintire et a/., 1992). It has been estimated by the World Bank that around 10 percent of the population of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are primarily dependent on their animals, while another 58 percent depend on livestock indirectly (Ogle, 1996). Livestock are important culturally in establishing the status of the farmer (Moll et a/., 2001); as a store of wealth (Doran et a/., 1979); as a form of insurance (Slingerland, 2000); as providers of employment to the farm households, and in the recycling of waste products and residues from cropping or agro-industries (Sansoucy et a/., 1995).Item Evaluation of Mineral Fertilizer, FYM, Tithomia and Their Combination in Maize Production at Gachoka Division, Mbeere District, Kenya. - KARI-ETC-LEI INSMAP REPORT NO.KE 16 2005(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2005) Onduru, D. D.; Muchena, F. N.; Obanyi, S. N.; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute; Gachimbi, L.; Maina, F.; Gachini, G. N.Agriculture is the principal Sources of livelihood for the majority of households having in the semi -arid areas of Eastern Province and Kenya in general. The areas Support approximately 20% of Kenya's population. However, per capita production in these areas has been on the decline and fanning households in these regions are faced with continuous food deficits, which in moist cases cannot be remedied through the short term interventions of the Costly famine relief food operations. Improving soil fertility has been identified as an essential micro-level strategy for increasing and sustaining food production in small-holder cropping systems (Sanchez et al. 1997). Further intensification and diversification of land use with high value crops is also advocated.Item Exploring effects of Rhizobium Strains on performance of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris): Experiences from Demonstrations held in Kiambu District, Central Kenya. KARI-ETC-LEI INSMAP Report.(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2004) Onduru, D. D.; Gachimbi, L.; Muchena, F. N.; De Jager, A.; Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteSoil fertility is closely linked to productivity and is a function of individual soil variables (inherent and influenced) such as climate, management and slope. There is a belief that soil fertility is declining in East Africa as evidenced by appearance of widespread distribution of soil deficiencies in major macro-nutrients and micronutrients ascertained from commensurate crop responses and soil analyses and local soil quality indicators; widespread appearance of plant species which thrive under low soil fertility such as striga and poverty grass; changes in soil colour and texture associated with low fertility; and widespread negative nutrient balances (Nandwa and Bekunda, 1998; Nandwa, 2003). Emerging evidence points to the fact that a reversal of soil fertility decline requires the adoption of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) as a pragmatic and feasible approach to overcome the limitations of past research approaches (Deugd et al., 1998). As a holistic approach to soil fertility management, INM embraces responses to the full range of driving factors and consequences, namely biological, physical, chemical, social, economic and political aspects of soil fertility decline. The approach also addresses nutrient deficiencies; inappropriate germplasm and cropping system design; pest disease interaction with soil fertility; linkage between land degradation and poverty and global policies; incentives as well as the role of institutions in soil fertility management (Bationo, 2003).Item Exploring Potentials of Rhizobium Inoculation in Enhancing Agro-economic Performance of Cowpeas in Mbeere District, Eastern Kenya(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2005) Kenya Agricultural Research Institute; Onduru, D. D.; Muchena, F. N.; Gachimbi, L.; Gachini, G. N.; de Jager, A.Declining soil fertility is a major constraint to crop production in most parts of Mbeere District. According to Sanchez and Palm (1996) soil fertility depletion in smallholder farms is the fundamental biophysical root cause of declining per capita food production in the region, and its replenishment should be considered as an investment in natural resource capital. The declining soil fertility in smallholder farms has been attributed to continuous cropping, removal of field crop residues, overgrazing between cropping seasons with little or no use of external inputs and soil erosion (Smaling et al., 1992; Sanchez et al., 1997). Although inorganic fertilizers have been recommended as a means of improving soil fertility, these fertilizers have often been perceived by farmers as expensive. According to studies conducted By Heisey and Mwangi (1996) and Bashir et al. (1997), transport costs for agrochemicals make the use of inorganic fertilizers on staple food crops uneconomical for most smallholder farmers.Item An Outline of the Major Soils In Kenya(Ministry of Agriculture, 1982) Van der Pouw, B. J. A.; Siderius, W.; Ministry of Agriculture; Muchena, F. N.; Ministry of AgricultureThe first edition of the National Atlas of Kenya which was published in 1959 inctuded a soil map at scale 1:3,000,000. The same soil map was published in the subsequent revised editions of the Atlas in 1962 (2nd edition) and 1970 (3rd edition) respectively. At present the Survey of Kenya is preparing a 4th revised edition of the Atlas.Item The role of Soil Survey In Irrigation Development(Kenya Soil Survey, 1977) Muchena, F. N.; Kenya Soil SurveyOne of the crucial issues facing Kenya at present and in the future revolves around high rates of population growth and the limited agricultural land base Although the country at present is almost self sufficient in food production, the demand for agricultural products is continually rising and there is therefore a potential food problem. Consequently there is a need to intensify land use. The strategy for this should aim at achieving high yields per unit of land while at the same time conserving the soil and water resources. apart from increasing production in the high rainfall areas, irrigation and land reclamation by drainage and flood protection are two major alternative s for expanding Kenya's cultivatable land for producing additional food and export crops.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.
