Abstract Adaptation is considered an appropriate response to climate change and variability, especially for rural farmers. However, the farmers’ ability to effectively respond to climate change challenges is determined by the quality of information available to the farmers and how easily the information is accessed. The study sought to assess the information needs of rural farmers on climate change. A total of I52 respondents were selected using multistage sampling technique. Percentages, ...
Maize and beans form a significant part of the diet for thousands of households in Uganda and neighbouring countries, but the yields of these crops have been greatly affected by erratic rains and prolonged droughts. Irrigation schemes are often prohibitively expensive for small-scale farmers in Uganda and elsewhere. Low-cost water conservation practices such as double digging, mulching and effective cropping systems can greatly reduce evaporation, surface runoff and increase water retention i...
Slenderleaf (Crotalaria brevidens), also known as rattle pod, is a prominent species of Crotalaria used as a vegetable in Kenya. It is a highly nutritious leafy vegetable, good sources of provitamin A, Vitamin C, carotenoids, iron protein, and calcium. At an average of 3 tons per hectare production of slender leaf in Kenya is low compared to an average potential of 11 tons per hectare. Previous studies done evaluated the influence of nitrogenous and phosphoric nutrients on slenderleaf grow...
ABSTRACT This study aimed at determining causes of grazing conflicts in Northern Kenya which were used to develop a conflicts predicting model. It specifically intended to evaluate seasonality of pasture resources, establishing how availability of grazing resources was related to grazing conflicts and predicting how communities were likely to cope with them. It was anchored on the theory that competition for limited forage triggers intra and inter-conservancy livestock movements, causing con...
ABSTRACT Irish potato is one of the major staple food crops, only second after maize in Kenya. The low yield being realized in potato production is as a result of inadequate and wrong choices of fertilizers usage and application as well as the use of uncertified planting materials. The purpose of the study was to assess potato growth, weight and yield response to the application of potassium chloride in Milimani Location, Saboti Sub-County, Trans Nzoia County. The specific objectives were to...
ABSTRACT The livestock productivity is affected by several constraints which include poor genetic potential of breed, inadequate quality and quantity feed, livestock diseases and lack of adequate livestock extension services. Therefore, livestock production can be improved by cultivating fodder crops that are of high quality. The quality of fodder is generally low especially in crude protein (CP) content during the dry season. As a result livestock productivity and reproductive efficiency be...
ABSTRACT Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] walp) is an ancient leguminous plant that is indigenous to Africa. Cowpea is commonly cultivated in the Middle East region, South United States, Asia, Africa, and throughout the sub-tropics and tropics. In Kenya, cowpea is the most important grain legume after common beans and pigeon peas. In Kilifi County and the entire Coastal Kenya, cowpea crop is considered as the most crucial African leafy vegetable (ALV), being the main source of dietary protein,...
Finger millet was once an important diet in Southern Africa since it was annual cultivation of cereal commonly cultivated in multiple ecological areas in Kenya for its seed. The cereal crop, an extremely nutritious meal for baby food, special dishes for ill individuals and unique drinks, is used for some individuals such as "eraki" beer. In Ainamoi, Kericho County, a field trial has been performed to assess the effects of separation and fertilizer concentrations on Finger Millet development a...
ABSTRACT Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a legume that is grown for various uses. It is consumed as grain, leaf for humans and as fodder by livestock with high nutritive value and high palatability. It is widely produced in sub-Saharan Africa as a source of income. It is drought tolerant and can suitably be used as an intercrop in an intercropping system. The attendant low yield of cowpea among smallholder farmers due to declining soil fertility has increased the need for site specific...
ABSTRACT In Kenya, there are gaps on the availability of studies of the specific extension approaches and their effectiveness on the adoption of technologies. This study sought to determine the effectiveness of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) in promoting adoption of best agricultural practices (BAP) by smallholder coffee farmers in Kenya. The target population was the smallholder coffee farmers in the CRI’s FFS pilot project numbering 4802. All the 117 farmers who trained and graduated in FFS w...
ABSTRACT The main producers of rabbits in the world are Italy, Russia, Ukraine, France, China, Spain, Southeast Asia, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. In Kenya, farmers have made an effort towards food self sufficiency by raising various livestock breeds such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry, but the country remains food insecure. Rabbits are nonconventional source of protein and are increasingly being kept in Kenya to enhance household food security and income. However, despite the advanta...
ABSTRACT Currently, cooperative enterprises in Ethiopia are growing in terms of numbers and membership. However, despite growing policy attention and researchers‟ interest in cooperatives, the issue of members‟ participation, in relation to the performance of cooperatives has not been adequately addressed. The overall objective of this study was to determine the influence of members‟ participation in their cooperative financial performance of cooperatives. The study used a cross-secti...
ABSTRACT Literatures define gender equity as fairness for both men and women by giving them equal opportunities to access and own resources. However, incidents of men squandering income from tobacco and denying their wives of benefiting from the income are common in Urambo District. It seems tobacco earnings are dominated by men. This is in terms of the allocation of resources and benefit sharing at the household level being done in such a way that women and children, particularly in rural a...
ABSTRACT The main objective of this study was to determine the impact of village saving loans (VSL) in improving maize productivity. Specific objectives of the research were to i) Determine the extent of using VSL in accessing agricultural inputs ii) Assess the impact of VSL in productivity of maize at household level iii) Examining the challenges facing the implementation of VSL. The study was conducted in the southern side of the Uluguru Mountains specifically in Kolero, Kassanga, Temekelo...
ABSTRACT Generally the study aimed to examine the factors which contributed to low performance in Adult Education Literacy Programmes (AELPs) among women in Morogoro Rural District. The specific objectives of the study were; (i) to find out whether formal education prior to joining literacy programmes influenced women’s performance in literacy programmes; (ii) to Examine, whether the literacy programmes were relevant to women’s socio-economic pursuits; (iii) to Investigate the community ...