Abstract/Overview The black soldier fly has become an important insect in bioconversion activity. However sustainable use of the insect is now dependent on the development of efficient artificial rearing systems. The concern however is on the scarcity of information on Black Soldier Fly rearing in general and on specific aspects of the production chain in particular such as use of baiting attractants for adult oviposition. The current study compared baiting efficiency of different attract...
Abstract/Overview Most smallholder farmers who account for more than 70% of the maize produced in Kenya are perpetually food insecure and stuck below poverty level. Sustained maize yield increase largely depends on long term adoption of modern farming technology. However, despite the high yields associated with modern maize technology promotion during and shortly after implementation phase of many projects, sustainability of the technologies still remains a challenge for smallholder maize...
Abstract/Overview The objective of the study was to establish socio-economic status of selected farm forestry groups and networks currently undertaking farm forestry (FF)and the prospects of farm-level forestry enterprises in improving and sustaining the rural livelihoods in Mbeere and Tharaka, Sub-counties and Kitui County in Kenya. Methodology: Using interviews with 466 randomly selected farmers, farm forestry groups. (FFG) and farm forestry networks (FFN), assessment of the current far...
Abstract/Overview Small cabbage white butterfly Pierisrapaeis one of the most destructive specialist herbivores of the Brassicaceae plants. Chemical application has been used for a long time to control P. rapae but this has been shown to have major draw backs. Owing to their disadvantages, we investigate in this study, the host plant resistance as an alternative control measure for specialist insect P. rapae. T-DNA mutant Arabidopsis plants were screened for their variation in response to...
Abstract/Overview Soil has always been used as nursery and pot substrate in horticultural industry in Kenya, but it has problems related to aeration, drainage, non-uniformity and chemical suitability. Therefore, development of alternative potting substrates with optimal physical characteristics is necessary. The objective of this study was to evaluate physical suitability of forest soil (FS), compost (C), pine bark (PB), and rice husks (RH) as alternative amendments of potting substrates....
Abstract/Overview Kakamega County is a rich agricultural area where various food and cash crops are grown. However, changes in climate coupled with declining soil fertility over the area have an impact on crop production, and hence affect food security especially among small scale farmers. On the basis of this scenario, this study sought to explore the existence and determine the characteristics of climate variability/change, assess its impact on small scale farmers and explain their resi...
Abstract/Overview Solanum section Solanum, centering on the species commonly known as African nightshade, and botanically known as the “Solanum nigrum complex” is composed of a large number of morphogenetically distinct taxa, with certain common features. Their wide tolerance of habitat types, early flowering and prolific fruit production are adaptive features for success in the wild, semi-wild or weedy forms. In most parts of Africa and south-east Asia, their consumption, demand and ...
Abstract/Overview The effect of environmental conditions in the spring and autumn on the restoration of male fertility in T-4 male sterile mutant plants which were obtained via gamma (γ)-irradiation of tomato cv. First was investigated. Vegetatively propagated sterile plants gave rise to all male sterile plants in the spring, but the same T-4 plants cultivated under uncontrolled environmental conditions in autumn yielded fertile male. Self-pollination with these fertile males resulted in...
Abstract/Overview Traditional green leafy vegetables are promising alternative vegetable crops consumed in Kenya and other African countries. The crops whose consumption is on the increase include vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus spp.), African nightshades (Solanum spp.) and spiderplant (Cleome/Gynandropsis gynandra). They are popular in the Kenyan retail markets and key supermarket chains as surveys have shown. This offers the urban dwellers access to these vegetables on one hand, while of...
Abstract/Overview Abstract. Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) is a major oilseed crop and has economic and nutritive benefits for rural farmers. Although the adoption of new technologies and increased contact with extension agents as one way of increasing production has improved production, productivity of groundnut remains low. This study used the ex-post facto research design with the aim of analyzing the socio-economic determinants of groundnut production in Kenya. Using purposive, multis...
Abstract/Overview Low temperature is a common biological abiotic stress in major cotton growing areas. Cold stress significantly affects the growth, yield and yield quality of cotton. Therefore, it is important to develop a more robust and cold stress tolerant cotton germplasms. Climate change and erratic climatic condition, plants have evolved various survival mechanisms, one of which induction of various stress responsive transcriptome factors, such as the C-repeat binding factor GthCBF...
Abstract/Overview Supply of agricultural produce is directly influenced by production and productivity. Therefore, factors that affect agricultural production also affect supply. This study analyses the determinants of pineapple market supply in Bureti Sub County, Kericho County, Kenya. Multi stage sampling was used to select 133 farmers for the study using structured interview schedules. This was supplemented by secondary data collected using content analysis from different published and...
Abstract/Overview Ecotourism is emerging as an alternative development path that can enhance environmental conservation, promote participation and collaboration of various stakeholders towards achieving sustainable livelihoods along the Lake Victoria beaches as fishing and fish by-products can no longer meet the current livelihood needs. The aim of this paper was to establish the way forward on how different stakeholders would participate and collaborate towards ecotourism product develop...
Abstract/Overview Increasingly, food security interventions in developing economies are adapting value chain approaches to facilitate the integration of smallholders into high margin value chains. In Kenya, the resurgence of African Indigenous Vegetables due to their medicinal value and rich micronutrients is a case in point. The vegetables are cultivated by smallholders, and the supply has not matched the demand in the high margin markets among urban consumers. Access to such high margin...
Abstract/Overview In Kenya, value addition in Irish potatoes provides farmers with substantial income. However, the adoption of value addition practices is still low among farmers. Currently, there is a dearth of information on the factors affecting the adoption of value addition practices among smallholder Irish potato farmers in Bomet County. Using single cross-sectional data from 200 randomly selected respondents, the study determined factors affecting the uptake of value addition prac...