KARI Katumani Research Centre Annual Report for 2004

Abstract

KARI Katumani is responsible for developing and disseminating technologies for dry land farming in Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Mwingi, and Taita Taveta districts and other arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS) in the country. The mandate districts have a total land area of about 6 million hectares, out of which 4 million Ha are arable with an estimated 500,000 farm households and a human population of about 3 million. The region is characterized by frequent famines, high poverty levels and widespread land degradation. A number of research efforts have been initiated by the Centre to reverse this trend and some of them have already started bearing fruits. The Centre runs 18 research programmes that involve the development of appropriate soil and water management technologies for ASALs, improved crop varieties that are both drought escaping and tolerant to pests and diseases, and livestock improvement. In additon, the Centre also assists in the dissemination of its technologies through the Agricultural Technology and Information Response Initiative (ATIRI) facility.