Abstract:
CETRAD and Syngenta implemented a stewardship project whose goal was to improve smallholder crop yields and incomes through the use of Conservation Agriculture (CA) technologies and Crop Protection Products (CPP). CA is a way of farming which emphasis minimum soil disturbance, soil cover and croprotation. All over the world, these three principals have been shown to, over time; improve soil health to a point that low input agriculture can ensure food security. In marginal areas, these principles make the difference between harvests and total crop failures. Despite the demonstrated impacts of CA, its adoption is limited, especially among smallholder farmers due to a range of social and economic factors. On the other hand, CA is a new way of farming that many small holder farmers do not know about. In Kenya, factors such as lack of skills, lack of appropriate tillage tools and low income have limited the adoption of CA. The project run by CETRAD and SYNGENTA attempted to address these issues. Mapping of small holder farmers practicing CA and CPP was carried in the eight focal areas in Laikipia. The exercise was a continuation of the mapping work started in 2007. In 2008, 200 farmers were interviewed on their CA and CPP experiences. Additionally, GPS coordinates were collected for spatial mapping of the distribution of farmers practicing CA and CPP. CA advocates a holistic approach where the farmer gradually moves towards self sufficiency. Farmers should select a good number of crops to produce to meet their specific individual needs but which are appropriate to the farmer’s physical (climate/soils), economic and cultural environment. For the selected crops, farmers should try different varieties to reduce the risk of failure. For example, different maize varieties have different resistances to drought, pests and diseases. In case of a drought or disease outbreak, the resistant variety will survive. Farmers should approach farming as a business but not as a culture. Today, profitable farming will need inputs from outside which will cost the farmer money. It is therefore important that the farmers keeps a good record of inputs and outputs and make assessment where their farming is profitable or not.
