CONSERVATON AGRICULTURE IN KENYA（在肯尼亚CONSERVATON农业）.pdf

` CONSERVATON AGRICULTURE IN KENYA Analysis of Past Performance and Emerging Trends Dr K’Owino Isaac O. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology March 2010 RSVP: COMESA Secretariat; Bella Road Lusaka Zambia +260 211 229 725 ikowino@mmust.ac.ke; ikowino@/ +254710691771 Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Box 190 Kakamega Kenya 50100 1.0 Abstract This report presents the status of conservation agriculture (CA) in Kenya. Its findings established that most Kenyan farmers embrace elements of CA principles and practices with the exception of tillage techniques. Common practices include mixed cropping systems related to Agroforestry/tree pruning, residue retention or cover crops. Green manure legumes such as Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) and sunnhemp (Crotalaria ochroleuca) have been introduced in smallholder farms for soil fertility improvement with a lot of success in Eastern Province. In this region and elsewhere including the Nzoia River Basin, farmers plant nitrogen fixing legumes and animal feeds such as Calliandra, Luceana, Lucerne and Desmodium Species. Briefly, majority of the small holder farmers in Kenya still rely on conventional approaches of farming and practice elements of CA technology to ensure they are food secure without regard to conservation tillage practices. A number of large scale farmers in Kenya still use tractor drawn ploughs. However, most of them have up to date sprayers and planters, some of which are made locally by the Jua- Kali artisans. A broad analysis of major gaps in the policies, practices, and results across all case studies is also provided. This broad perspective allows the reader to appreciate both the commonalities an