| dc.description.abstract | This study has attempted to explain that maximizing the contribution of agricultural research
with a view of reducing poverty, requires focusing both on improving productivity and ensuring
this use is sustainable and equitable. This means looking beyond direct impacts and to maximize
agriculture's role in wider economic growth and as a source of livelihood for the impoverished
people living in Muranga County. This study used the term sustainable agriculture to cover the
productive use of land, water, and other natural resources. Thus it is not limited to crops and
livestock but includes fisheries, aquaculture, forestry, and wildlife thus enhances opportunities
for agricultural research to contribute to sustainable development, and ensures wealth creation
and improved livelihoods for the people living in Muranga.
In Muranga, the poor spend much of their income on food, depend primarily on labor earnings,
and tend to reside in marginal agricultural areas. To reduce poverty, agricultural research should
aim to ensure adequate food supplies by developing yield-increasing agricultural technologies, to
increase labor demand by developing labor-using agricultural technologies and to develop
agricultural technologies suitable for marginal areas.
According to the IMF Investment Program for Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and
Employment Creation in Kenya 2003-2007 report, increased agricultural productivity is closely
related with the speed of poverty reduction. The direct effects through lower food prices,
increased farm incomes, and more jobs on farms are well understood. Furthermore, the
sustainable management and use of renewable natural resources is important for achievement of
growth and livelihoods for poor people. This is through their direct productive use (e.g. forestry
and fisheries), and also in terms of this impact on the environment - such as on water and
energy, on which growth in other sectors is dependent.
This document will be organized as follows: The introductory chapter described the research
background, problem definition, objectives of the study, significance of the study, research
justification and the limitations. Chapter 2 focused on the literature review. Chapter 3 described
the research methodology and data collection, in chapter 4 the data w,.as analyzed and interpreted
and in the final chapter I gave the summary of findings and the conclusions. | en |
