ABSTRACT This project is for Kenyan horticulture to use smart greenhouses for smallholder farming in rural Western Kenya. Attributed to population increase, the question of food security has attracted the attention of scholars, the public and private-sector, governments and the international community to find ways of improving food production to meet the demands of the population. The project analyzes the country risks that may hinder the project: political, economic, gender issues in agricultural participation, climate shocks, poor infrastructure, lack of information on agriculture and market trends, low funding for the horticulture sector and poor or lack of technology. While examining the agriculture sector in Kenya and the techniques of farming, the project focuses on prior research and experiments carried out, describing the risks to agriculture and the possible recommendations, which encourage the government to increase funding in the agricultural sector and improve technology for better farming. The project draws its lessons from different case studies conducted for technological advancement in agriculture, especially for horticulture in greenhouse farming using LUMO solar panel for electricity generation while allowing the wavelength for crop germination. The adoption of speed breeding will increase crop production and sensor technology provided by smart greenhouses. Lastly, the project compares the benefits of having a smart greenhouse to using the traditional greenhouse. The project considers the different stakeholders in agriculture especially in the horticulture, who are prospective funders and will execute the project for the smallholder farmer.
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Mission: Build a cohensive, result oriented and focused county grounded on an improved and sustainable socioeconomic , infrastructural, affirmative action ,secure and clean enironment
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Third SWIM Workshop on the Changing Face of …
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Pastoral households are increasingly practising fodder production in response to forage scarcity associated with land degradation, climate variability and change. Understanding the grass seed value chain is a prerequisite for developing sustainable fodder production and guiding appropriate out-scaling in the drylands. This study investigated the producers' perspectives on grass seed production, marketing and challenges faced along the grass seed value chain in Marigat Sub-County of Baringo County, Kenya. The results show that the dominant actors were the bulking and processing agents who provided inputs and were a source of grass seed market to the producers. The producers preferred contractual agreements that allowed them to sell their grass seed to markets of their choice. As independent grass seed traders allowed for seed price negotiation, they were popular amongst the producers and thus handled the most volume of seeds marketed. Drought occurrence, inability of existing outlets to purchase grass seed at times, together with low prices offered for producers' grass seed were found to be among the challenges facing the producers. There is need to strengthen the fodder groups with a possibility of registering them as cooperatives for the purpose of collective bargaining for better grass seed prices.
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This is a national report, the result of a national mapping exercise of peace committees in Kenya. It provides an analysis of the current state of peace committees in Kenya. The findings and recommendations presented here provide a starting point in the development of comprehensive and collaborative strategies for strengthening local peace structures and inform on stakeholders with peace committees. A matrix detailing capacities of each peace committee is annexed to the report.
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Urban vegetable production is critical in supplementing food, saving on food expense, income generation and improving the livelihood of farmers. However, minimal research has been done to establish whether youth participation in vegetable production could improve livelihoods. This study focused on the extent of youth participation in vegetable production towards improvement of livelihoods in Kakamega Town, Kenya. It specifically aimed to: establish the contribution of youthto vegetable production, assess the farming resources accessible to youth, establish the benefit of vegetable production to livelihoods, and identify the major constraints to vegetable production and livelihoods. This study employed the Theory of Planned Behaviour, Sustainable Livelihood Approach and a conceptual model to understand the problem. A survey research design was adopted whereby 159 households were randomly selected and data was collected by use of structured questionnaires, interview schedules, and photography. It was established that youth mainly engaged in land preparation, planting, weeding, pest and disease control and harvesting of vegetables mainly in the afternoon on weekdays. It was revealed that more than 90% of the youth would continue engaging in vegetable production in future. Youth engaged in other livelihood activities due to the higher and quick returns, interests, academic qualifications and job satisfaction obtained. Vegetable plots were mainly obtained through negotiation with the county government officials. Most youth were accessible to water for irrigation. Personal savings were the main source of finance while the farm inputs were mainly bought. Parents were the main alternative source of labour and the extension services were mostly sought from agricultural shows. Parents and older siblings influenced the youth to start engaging in vegetable production. Youth participation in vegetable production enhanced food supply, saving on food expenses, income generation and involvement in social activities. The main vegetable production constraints included: chicken destruction of vegetable; insect pests and diseases; vegetable theft; inadequate land and insufficient finance. Some of the vegetable production constraints were managed by: fencing of vegetable gardens; applying insecticides; reporting theft cases to the administration and hiring of more land. In conclusion, youth participation in vegetable production promoted food supply, reduction on food expenditure, income generation and participation in social activities. It is recommended that access to farming resources should be enhanced and production constraints minimized to promote youth participation in vegetable production. Urban planners and scholars should focus on youth participation in vegetable production on community lands in Kakamega or other urban centres towards improvement of livelihoods.
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
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