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The impact of agroforestry-based soil fertility replenishment practices on the poor in Western Kenya

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  • Place, Frank
  • Adato, Michelle
  • Hebinck, Paul
  • Mary Omosa

Abstract

"This case study explores the relationships between agroforestry-based soil fertility replenishment (SFR) systems (improved fallows and biomass transfer) and poverty reduction in rural western Kenya. It further examines the role that different dissemination approaches play in conditioning which segments of society gain access to information to the technologies and then uses them. The study made use of many different qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and samples from both pilot areas where researchers maintained a significant presence and nonpilot areas where farmers learned of the technologies through other channels. Adoption processes were analyzed quantitatively using almost 2,000 households while changes in impact indicators were measured for just over 100 households. Qualitative methods included case studies for 40 households, where researchers lived in the villages for six months, and focus group discussions involving 16 different groups. The findings showed that poverty is rampant among households and appeared to worsen during the study period. The poor were reached by many different information providers and liked certain aspects of almost all types of organizations, from government extension to community group-based methods. Access to information is mediated by social relationships of wealth, gender and status; nevertheless, poor farmers acquired a significant amount of knowledge about soil fertility management. Adoption rates are not outstanding but they are encouraging, with about 20% of all farmers using the technologies on a regular basis, and a sizable percentage of farmers newly testing. Unlike some agricultural technologies historically, SFR was found not to be biased toward people controlling and managing resources above a certain threshold. The study also found that the poor were using the agroforestry technologies to a much greater extent than they were fertilizer (about 33% of farmers not using any other soil fertility practice were trying the new systems). The technologies were almost always at least doubling yields of maize. Despite these promising signs, the systems were not found to be linked to improved household-level food security or poverty indicators, primarily because the size of the fields under the agroforestry systems was, on average, quite small." Authors' Abstract

Suggested Citation

  • Place, Frank & Adato, Michelle & Hebinck, Paul & Mary Omosa, 2003. "The impact of agroforestry-based soil fertility replenishment practices on the poor in Western Kenya," FCND discussion papers 160, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:fpr:fcnddp:160
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Jacobson & Cori Ham, 2020. "The (un)broken promise of agroforestry: a case study of improved fallows in Zambia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(8), pages 8247-8260, December.
    2. Adato, Michelle & Meinzen-Dick, Ruth Suseela, 2002. "Assessing the impact of agricultural research on poverty using the sustainable livelihoods framework," EPTD discussion papers 89, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Razafindratsima, Onja H. & Kamoto, Judith F.M. & Sills, Erin O. & Mutta, Doris N. & Song, Conghe & Kabwe, Gillian & Castle, Sarah E. & Kristjanson, Patricia M. & Ryan, Casey M. & Brockhaus, Maria & Su, 2021. "Reviewing the evidence on the roles of forests and tree-based systems in poverty dynamics," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    4. Dereje Guteta & Assefa Abegaz, 2016. "Factors influencing scaling up of agroforestry-based spatial land-use integration for soil fertility management in Arsamma Watershed, Southwestern Ethiopian Highlands," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(10), pages 1795-1812, October.
    5. Place, Frank & Adato, Michelle & Hebinck, Paul & Mary Omosa, 2003. "The impact of agroforestry-based soil fertility replenishment practices on the poor in Western Kenya," FCND discussion papers 160, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    6. Hughes, Karl & Morgan, Seth & Baylis, Katherine & Oduol, Judith & Smith-Dumont, Emilie & Vågen, Tor-Gunnar & Kegode, Hilda, 2020. "Assessing the downstream socioeconomic impacts of agroforestry in Kenya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    7. John M. Antle, 2007. "Book Review of Ruttan (2)," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 55(3), pages 616-619, April.
    8. Morgan, Seth & Baylis, Kathy, 2017. "Where Trees Grow, Expenditures Grow: Applying Spatial Matching to Evaluate Agroforestry’s Household Welfare Impacts in Kenya," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258257, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    9. Adato, Michelle & Meinzen-Dick, Ruth Suseela (ed.), 2007. "Agricultural research, livelihoods, and poverty: Studies of economic and social impacts in six countries," IFPRI books, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), number 978-0-8018-8721-6.
    10. Sarah E. Castle & Daniel C. Miller & Pablo J. Ordonez & Kathy Baylis & Karl Hughes, 2021. "The impacts of agroforestry interventions on agricultural productivity, ecosystem services, and human well‐being in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(2), June.
    11. Place, Frank & Adato, Michelle & Hebinck, Paul, 2007. "Understanding Rural Poverty and Investment in Agriculture: An Assessment of Integrated Quantitative and Qualitative Research in Western Kenya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 312-325, February.
    12. Kiptot, Evelyne & Hebinck, Paul & Franzel, Steven & Richards, Paul, 2007. "Adopters, testers or pseudo-adopters? Dynamics of the use of improved tree fallows by farmers in western Kenya," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 94(2), pages 509-519, May.
    13. Akinola, Adebayo A. & Alene, Arega D. & Adeyemo, Remi & Sanogo, D. & Olanrewaju, A.S. & Nwoke, C. & Nziguheba, G., 2010. "Determinants of adoption and intensity of use of balance nutrient management systems technologies in the northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria," Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, Humboldt-Universitaat zu Berlin, vol. 49(1), pages 1-21.

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