Farmer groups' characteristics' influence on the selection of soil fertility enhancement technologies in Eastern Kenya
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Date
2015
Authors
Mwebia, Frashiah Wangeci
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Abstract
Declining soil fertility is a key problem in East and Central African sub-region and in
the Central highlands of Kenya, which is compounded by the ever growing
population that depends on the decreasing land sizes. Despite development of good
and effective soil fertility enhancement (SFE) technologies, uptake by the farmers
has remained low. Farmers' groups approach is one of the methodologies used for
dissemination of SFE technologies but understanding of how this approach
influences uptake of the technologies is limited. This study assessed the influence of
farmer groups' characteristics on the technology application and also the influence
that farmers' participation, trainings and socio-economic characteristics have on the
selection of the technologies. The study was carried out in Mbeere South and Maara
sub-counties in Kenya. Interview schedules were administered to farmer groups and
individual farmers. Descriptive (frequencies, means, frequencies, percentages) and
inferential (correlation and regression) statistics were performed on the data collected
using SPSS software. The results showed that several key variables influenced
groups' application of animal manure. These include; group size (p=O.O 19), the
number of females in the group (p=O.027) and reason for applying manure
(p=O.O 15). Variables that influenced application of fertilizer include; reason for
applying fertilizer (p=O.043) and Tropical livestock unit (p=O.025). Variables that
influenced application of a combination of manure combined with inorganic fertilizer
include; group age (p=O.008), reason for applying the combination (p=O.022) and
group gender (p=O.056). Household variables that influenced selection of manure
include; HH size (p=O.OOl), benefits of manure (p=O.OII), TLU (p=O.036), source of
knowledge (p=O.023) and most effective teaching method (p=O.024). HH variables
that influenced selection of fertilizer include; HHH education (p=O.033), land under
food crops (p=O.012) and availability of on-farm income (p=O.OI2). HH variables
that influenced the selection of a combined use of animal manure and inorganic
include: HHH education (p=O.OOl), TLU (p=O.Oll) and availability of farm income
(p=O.Oll). Among the total trainings (93.6%) that were conducted; 98.2% were soil
" fertility related, 24.3% were group dynamic related while 39.4% were production
related. There was a significant (p=O.043) relationship between trainings and
selection of a combination of manure + fertilizer. There was a significant (p=O.039)
relationship between farmer participation and selection of a combination of manure +
fertilizer. The information obtained from this study will be helpful to the groups
themselves, researchers, policy makers, farmers' training designers and other
stakeholders wishing to disseminate technologies in natural resource management
programmes.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Degree of Master of Environmental Studies (Agroforestry and Rural Development) in the School of Environmental Studies of Kenyatta University, July 2015