PT-School of Agriculture & Enterprise Development

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    Analysis of the gum myrrh and oppoponax chain and its implications communities (hagar) market on the livelihood of local in Wajir county and Kenyan economy
    (2014-07-24) Makee, Albert Luvanda
    This study seeks to assess the distribution and area coverage of Commiphora. myrrha and Commiphora holtziana in its natural stands; assess the gum myrrh and opoponax production potential from natural stand; assess the socio-economic factors influencing the production of gum opoponax on the lives of the local communities; assess the gum myrrh and opoponax market chain analysis and document the constraints affecting the commercialisation of gum myrrh and opoponax in Wajir County. Research evidence carried out in the neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia show that there exists multitude of economic and ecological benefits from C. myrrha and C. holtziana though little efforts have been made to explore, investigate, document, sustainably manage and conserve the resource in its natural range. Therefore, there exist knowledge gap on the distributioh, production potential, economic uses and marketing, particularly on the genus Commiphora in Kenya. This study will be undertaken through resource mapping, resources assessment, household and market surveys using GIS and remote sensing techniques, participatory techniques, designed data sheets, the market structure, conduct and performance model, checklist and questionnaires. This study expected to generate policy recommendations that will guide decision making on the sustainable exploitation, commercialisation and socio-economic contributions to the livelihood of the local communities in Wajir County and the Kenyan economy.
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    Effects of biochar and inorganic fertilizer on french beans (phaseolus vulgaris l) performance in nitisols
    (2014-08-01) Chege, Patrick Kamau; Gweyi, Joseph Onyango
    Use of biochar is a proven technology in crop production; however, scarcity of information of how it is utilized commercially has led to poor recommendations to local farmers. There is little research work on utilization of biochar in this country especially as it relates to legumes. The little that has been done focuses more on maize and generally on smallholder farmers. The field is still relatively new and not well understood. The goal of this study is to determine the effects of two types of biochars: carbonized chicken manure and carbonized cow dung manure with or without Mavuno fertilizer grade 15:10:18 on the performance and the chlorophyll content of French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) variety slender green from Elgon Kenya. The effects of the two types of manures on French bean will be documented for comparison. The treatments will be replicated three times and will be set on a completely randomized block design. The experiment will be conducted in an open field at Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARl) Thika station. The study will be conducted in 2014 long rain season and repeated during the short rains. Data will be collected on plant height, number of leaves, pod weight, leaf area, the chlorophyll content and biomass of this legume. The collected data will be analysed through the analysis of variance (ANOVA) while means will be separated using least significant difference (LSD). Biochar is known to have an ameliorating effect on various soil properties such as improvement of water holding capacity, nutrient retention and liming effect. Soil samples will be taken before planting and after harvest and will be analyzed to determine the effects of biochar on soil properties. The effects of biochar on the level of phosphorous, calcium and magnesium content of the soil and the performance and chlorophyll content of French beans will be determined and documented. Key words: carbonized chicken manure, carbonized cow dung manure, yield, growth parameters, French beans, Mavuno fertilizer 15:10:18 chicken manure and cow dung manure.
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    Effects of Cropping Systems on Selected Soil Physical and Hydraulic Properties of A Humic-Nitisol in Kenya.
    (Kenyatta University, 2014-10-09) Kioko, Thaddeus Mutuku
    Soil physical and hydraulic properties determine soil productivity. The objective of the study will be to examine the effects of pure coffee, maize mono-crop, maize-bean intercrop, systems on selected soil physical properties and soil hydraulic properties. These soil parameters are important for effective soil management for sustainable crop production. The specific parameters to be determined are soil aggregate stability, water holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity, bulk density and organic carbon. The study will be conducted in Muguru ward in Kangema subcounty. The farms will be randomly selected where soil samples will be collected at three horizons. Disturbed soil samples collected from the selected farms will be tested for soil organic carbon and aggregate stability analysis while undisturbed core samples will be tested for hydraulic conductivity, bulk density and water retention analysis. The experimental design will be a Randomized Complete Block Design replicated three times. The treatments will be a pure coffee plot, maize intercropped with beans and maize mono-crop. Each treatment will be replicated three times within the same agro-ecological area and from smallholder farmers. The fallow land next to the treatments sampled as a control. All data collected will be subjected to analysis of variance (ANOV A) using Genstat software. Means will be separated using least significance difference (LSD) at p = 0.05. The research findings will contribute to scientific knowledge on the impact of cropping systems on selected soil physical and hydraulic properties
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    Effects of cytokinin and Gibberellic Acid on morphological development, quality and yield of French beans grown under different irrigation water schedules
    (Kenyatta University, 2014-10-08) lkiba, Lawrence Kalawa
    Farmers in Kenya experience low and unreliable rainfall that affects agricultural yields and family incomes. Attempts to address this situation have been further hampered by poor rainfall reliability and distribution. Integration of growth regulators in crop production are among the options of improving crop yields. Growth regulators can stimulate crop morphological development, quality and yield under conditions of poor water moisture. There are different growth regulators in the market that manifest different physiological effects on plant morphological development, quality and yield. In this study two growth regulators cytokinin (CK) and gibberellic acid (GA) will be used on French beans grown under different irrigation water schedules. The effects of growth regulators will be assessed on the basis of French bean morphological development, quality and yield under different irrigation water schedules. The study will also assess the effects of growth regulators against different amounts of irrigation water and interactive effects of growth regulators and water stress on French beans morphological development, quality and yields. The study will be conducted at National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL), of Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, (KARI)- Nairobi County. The study purposes to enhance French beans morphological development, quality and yields under different irrigation water schedules. The results will be extrapolated for other crops on different parts of the country. The experimental plots will constitute combination of growth regulators and different irrigation water schedules laid out in nine blocks. There will be three blocks under irrigation at intervals of two, four and six days with three replications. There will be eight plots in each block where three will be treated with gibberellic acid and the other three with cytokinin at three concentration levels. There will be a control plot in each block. The data will be analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 95% confidence.
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    Tomato Market Efficiency Analysis: A Study of Nyeri and Karatina Markets, Kenya
    (2013-12-23) Mwaura, V. W.; Nyairo, N.M.; Mbataru, Patrick
    Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of Kenya. It contributes about 26% of the annual GDP directly and 25% indirectly. Over 70% of Kenyans particularly those living in the rural areas earn their livelihood from it. Sustainable agricultural growth is therefore crucial for improving their living standards and stimulating economic growth. It is estimated that over 25?~OO ha of the total cultivated land in Kenya are under fruits and vegetables production and'that over 80% of the total producers are small scale farmers. It is also estimated that over 90% of the total fruits and vegetables produced are traded in the local markets. Agricultural produce marketing is vital in Kenya and other developing countries as it creates an incentive to improved production thus positively contributing to food security and household income. Improved agricultural production increases the demand for farm inputs and implements which promotes industrial growth. Marketing creates job opportunities both directly and indirectly hence contributing to millennium development goal (MDG) number one on extreme poverty and hunger eradication. Through marketing, those living in low and none productive areas like municipalities are able to get enough food supplies. Literature shows that despite its importance, agricultural produce marketing has been neglected by researchers for long not only in Kenya but also. in other developing countries. There has been a lot of research on how to increase agricultural production as opposed to marketing improvement. This has resulted to low development of the existing marketing systems. Literature also shows that agricultural produce marketing has been low in efficiency not only in Kenya but also in other developing countries. Moreover, most agricultural produce like tomatoes and other fresh vegetables are highly perishable and cannot be stored for long. Tomatoes are highly sensitive to poor handling and exposure to excess heat. They are highly demanded countrywide but produced only in suitable areas or in greenhouses by able farmers. Moreover there has been production increase caused by adoption of greenhouses in recent years. Due to these factors, tomatoes require a highly efficient marketing system. Market efficiency is affected by market structure and conduct among other factors. Nyeri and Karatina markets are expected to differ in structure based on their size difference. Their current level of efficiency is not known. This study therefore, will look at the efficiency of tomatoes marketing and the factors that influence it in Nyeri and Karatina markets, within Nyeri County, Kenya. A survey will be conducted by interviewing a sample of tomato market traders in the two markets of study. Sampling of tomato market traders will be done using simple random sampling method. Those sampled will then be guided to fill the questionnaire. The data so collected will be synthesized and recorded in excel spread sheet. Analysis will be done in four stages. The first stage will' involve determination of marketing cost and market margin. In the second stage market efficiency level will be determined as percentage. In stage three, the efficiency percentage obtained in stage two will be regressed on some independent variables hypothesized to have effects on market efficiency. This will be done to estimate their effect on the efficiency. Stage four will compare the efficiency of the two markets. The findings of this research will increase the level of Knowledge on marketing efficiency. It will facilitate planning for improvement of agricultural produce marketing. This will translate to better farm gate prices, better consumer prices and reasonable profit for traders. Farmers and traders will therefore earn more income, while consumers will have some savings. The beneficiaries of this study therefore will be farmers, traders, consumers and Kenyan citizens at large will benefit from the contribution made to the economy.