RP-Department of Agricultural Resource Management
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Browsing RP-Department of Agricultural Resource Management by Subject "Adoption"
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Adoption of Soybean by Smallholder Farmers in the Central Highlands of Kenya(International Scholars Journals Publishing Corporation, 2019-05) Murage, F. M.; Mugwe, J. N.; Ngetich, K. F.; Mucheru-Muna, M. M.; Mugendi, D. N.Current demand for soybean in Kenya is higher than production, and the deficit is filled through importation from neighboring Countries. Despite the high demand, production and adoption remain low. The study sought to determine factors influencing the decision to adopt soybean by smallholder farmers, assess acreage under soybean, and its production. Interviews were carried out using an interview schedule on 210 households randomly sampled from purposively selected farmer groups. Data were subjected to cross-tabulation for categorical variables to test for association. It was also subjected to a logistic regression model to predict factors affecting the decision to adopt soybean. Results showed that 41% of the households were adopters while 59% were non-adopters. The number of adopters increased from 28% to 88% over the six seasons. Acreage under soybean and its production increased over the six seasons. Farm size, membership of a farmer group and attendance of training on soybean production influenced the decision to adopt soybean positively while household head age negatively influenced the adoption of soybean. These results imply that the adoption of soybean can be enhanced by targeting younger farmers, farmers with bigger farm sizes, encouraging farmers to join farmer groups and increasing training on soybean.Item Adoption Potential of Soil Replenishment Resources: Feasibility and Acceptability of Leguminous Plants and other Organic Resources for Soil Fertility Improvement in Meru South District, Kenya(African Crop Science Society, 2003) Mugendi, D.N.; Mugwe, J. N.; Mucheru-Muna, M.; Kung'u, J.B.A preliminary study to assess adoption potential of legumes and other organic soil replenishment resources was carried out in Chuka division, Meru south District, Kenya during 2002 long rains season. The study examined feasibility, acceptability, biophysical responses, farmers experiences - constraints and modifications of technologies as indicators of adoption. In a collaborative project between Kenyatta University and Kenya Agricultural Research Institute on integrated soil fertility management, a follow-up was done on how farmers selected technologies for soil fertility improvement after field days held every growing season, and a formal survey was carried out to find out how farmers implemented and modified the technologies. Selection of technologies by farmers was variable. Farmers initially selected soil fertility improvement resources that combined both organic and inorganic resources, but majority of the farmers implemented tithonia and cattle manure. Herbaceous legumes were least preferred due to competition with foodcrops while majority of the farmers used the new technologies on relatively small plots ranging from 0.02 to 0.05 acres citing reasons that they wanted to see the results first. Farmers practicing the technologies mainly benefited from increased crop yields and improved soil fertility. Among the main constraints farmers indicated were facing were lack of adequate biomass for incorporating into the soil and lack of cash to purchase inputs like hybrid maize and inorganic fertilizer. Farmers have responded by planting trees for biomass production on their farms and by 2002 long rains season some farmers had planted up-to 700 trees. The study has revealed the need to monitor how farmers adopt technologies as it facilitates in identification of issues and constraints that might hinder adoption and that could possibly feed into second generation research agenda. There is need to carry out more studies to validate the farmers innovations and to explore further the long-term sustainability of using tithonia.Item Trends in Adoption of Soil Fertility Improvement Strategies in Chuka, Eastern Kenya(African Crop Science Society, 2003) Mugwe, J. N.; Mugendi, D.N.; Mucheru, M. W.; Otor, S.C.J.; Waswa, B. S.; Kung'u, J.B.A study was conducted in Chuka division, eastern Kenya to assess trends in adoption of soil fertility replenishment strategies. Eighty two (82) farmers adopted the soil fertility improvement technologies during the short rains season 2001.During the subsequent two seasons, 163 and 206 farmers representing an increase of 99% and 150% above the initial adopters practiced the soil fertility improvement strategies. Technologies involving use of Tithonia diversifolia And Calliandra calothrysus alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizer were readily adopted due to the high yields obtained as well as being sources of fodder in case of calliandra. Constraints to the adoption of the proposed soil fertility improvement strategies were identified as inadequate labor, poor yield observed from some of the technologies at the demonstration trial, inadequate organic and inorganic resources and laxity due to fear of failure