Agricultural Production and its Constraints in Central Kenya: A Case Study of Kiambu District. KARI-ETC-LEI INMASP Report

Abstract

Kiambu 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.