ABSTRACT East Coast Fever (ECF) is a tick borne disease endemic in the North Rift region of Kenya. The ECF infections lead to substantial economic loss to smallholder dairy farmers from veterinary costs incurred in using prophylactics and value loss associated with animal mortality and production decline during disease infection. Traditionally, prophylactic strategy of choice is application of acaricide in communal dips and hand spraying, but effectiveness of the strategy is a factor of good...
ABSTRACT In recent times, dairy farming has become a major economic activity for many smallholder farmers in Kiambu County. This has been encouraged by the rising demand for milk and dairy products by the growing population. Following this, there has been an increased demand for dairy cow feeds by the small-scale farmers and therefore the need to do this study. The general objective of the study was to contribute to improved livelihood by determining level of demand of dairy cows feed and pr...
ABSTRACT Bambara nut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) is an indigenous legume crop in Kenya. Fusarium oxysporum f.sp voandzeia is a destructive fungal pathogen affecting Bambara nut in Kenya. An experiment was carried out in the green house and field to determine the incidence and severity of Fusarium wilt on local landraces and evaluate its management using goat farm yard manure (FYM). The field experiment was carried out in Busia County, where four villages (Bufisi, Bukati, Madola and Butun...
ABSTRACT Poor soil fertility and high disease incidences particularly BW are the main constraints to potato production in Njoro, Kenya. Reduction of potato yield of between 30 – 70% has been attributed to bacterial wilt alone. Against this back drop, a trial was conducted in 2012 as part of a shortterm crop rotation experiment (2 years) to investigate the effect of crop-rotation on soil bacterial wilt population and potato yield. The experiment was set up in a randomized complete block des...
ABSTRACT Food grain shortage in Kenya is attributed to low rainfall and poor distribution in maize growing areas particularly as well as low soil fertility associated mainly with nitrogen deficiency. Use of irrigation water and nitrogen fertilizer is likely to solve this food security challenge. This study was conducted over two seasons covering 2012 and 2013 with the aim of establishing optimal irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer rates for drought tolerant hybrid maize (Zea mays L.), DK8031,...
ABSTRACT During the past two decades, agricultural scientists in Kenya in collaboration with International Potato Centre have released numerous new varieties, developed improved Irish potato management practices, and actively worked with government agencies, NGOs and farmer groups to ensure that these improved technologies are widely available to farmers. However data on national Irish potato production in Kenya fail to demonstrate that these efforts have had an impact on national mean yield...
ABSTRACT Adoption of agricultural technologies by farmers is influenced by a number of factors, which include the farmer and farm attributes, technology characteristics and institutional factors. It is on this premise that drought tolerant varieties (DTV) of wheat were developed for production in Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASAL). This study was designed to assess low adoption by describing and comparing factors that have influenced adoption of DTV in the (ASALs) of Narok and Kajiado districts...
ABSTRACT The African Indigenous Leafy Vegetables (AILV) agricultural sub-sector in Kenya has in recent times gained considerable prominence and attention. A diverse number of studies have underpinned the role it can play in improving the economic standing of smallholders, while playing an imperative nutritional role in the diets of many consumers. Stemming from increased awareness on the rise of various lifestyle illnesses and crusaders championing for healthy eating habits, the demand of A...
ABSTRACT Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a drought tolerant crop with a potential for industrial uses. Despite increase in demand for sorghum for industrial use, the local supply is low mainly due to to lack of high yielding sorghum genotypes. A number of genotypes with desirable properties for use in baking, malting and brewing have been identified however there is no information on the performance of these varieties in the agro-ecological zones traditionally used for sorghum product...
ABSTRACT Food insecurity is still prevalent in many parts of the world. Despite several research attempts to alleviate food insecurity in Kenya, estimates indicate that approximately 50% of Kenyans are food insecure with 10% in constant need of food relief. One of the causes of food insecurity as it has been reported by other scholars is gender inequality. Women, especially in developing countries have been reported to significantly contribute to food production compared to men while in deci...
ABSTRACT Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is one of the major vegetables grown in Kenya as a commercial crop. It is mainly grown in the open-field under both rain-fed and irrigation production systems. The crop has gained popularity as a cash crop due to declining land sizes as it can be grown on small-scale unlike traditional cash crops like coffee and tea. Since the crop is susceptible to diseases and weather conditions, the country does not have an all year round supply of the produce. Co...
ABSTRACT French bean is a major export vegetable crop in Kenya that is currently facing a steady decline in production. Two-spotted spider mite, (Tetranychus urticae Koch) is one of the major pests that has contributed to the fluctuations in French beans production. The conventional management of this pest using miticides has caused serious environmental and safety concerns particulary in the export market. Plant-based products provide safe alternatives that can be included in integrated pes...
ABSTRACT Kwale County has a vibrant agricultural land rental market due to its relative good climate and fertile soil. However, it is faced with several challenges including inefficiency use of resources such as land. There is evidence in Ethiopia and other parts of the world that participation in agricultural land rental markets can be a solution to solving food insecurity and land inequalities in Sub -Saharan Africa and the world at large. However, there are few studies which have been con...
ABSTRACT Horticultural sector is an important sector in production of food and generation of income. According to Kenya‘s vision 2030, crop cultivation is one of the main pillars of unlocking the potential of Kenya through increased productivity. The importance of snow peas is increasing greatly due to its high demand especially in Europe. In spite of the benefits associated with the production of snow peas, farmers in Nyandarua county have been withdrawing from its production probably due...
ABSTRACT Food insecurity remains a major challenge among the small-scale farmers in Kyuso SubCounty. Though the Ministry of Agriculture has been training small-scale farmers on various dryland farming technologies, Kyuso Sub-County has remained food insecure. This is evidenced by the fact that small-scale farmers in the Sub-County depend on food aid for their survival. The role played by the dryland farming technologies in ensuring household food security among the small-scale farmers has no...