Integrated nutrient management to attain sustainable productivity increase in East African farming system: Smallholder Farming and Rural Livelihoods in Ngaita Village, Kiambaa Division Kiambu District Kenya: A Baseline Survey Report

Abstract

Agricultural production among the smallholder farmers of Kiambu District, Centre Kenya Highlands is increasingly being threatened by declining soil fertility. Population growth, increasing land scarcity and inappropriate land use practices are seen as the main factors explaining why soils are coming under pressure in many parts~ of sub-saharan Africa (Scoones and Toulmil1, 1999). Evidence Of field studies in the highlands of Kenya! has shown that soil fertility is declining and at the dimension of the problem varies with biophysical, socio-economic and institutional factors Addressing this seemingly bleak scenario Calls for adoption of of all encompassing strategy of managing the widest variety of possible sources of fertility in the most efficient Way as well developing practical technologies applicable to farmers.