Socioeconomic factors affecting Agroforestry adoption in Ndabibi location, Naivasha, Kenya

Abstract

Agro forestry has demonstrated great potential In dealing with the problems of low farm production and increased degradation of forests as a resu1t 0f human induced pressure. The adoption 0 f agro forestry has however not been very successful due to assumption of the underlying socio-cultural and economic factors. The approaches employed have often been based on generalizations rather than being area specific thus lack of understanding of the underlying influencing factors for many areas such as forest adjacent communities.

The objectives of this study are therefore to: investigate the effect of socio-cultural factors on the adoption of agro forestry practice, to assess the role of economic factors and also to examine how forest dependence relates with the adoption of agro forestry in Ndabibi location which is a forest adjacent community. The study found out that while some socio-cultural factors such as: education, contact with extension service and membership to farmers association have a significant positive relationship with the adoption.

In addition, economic factors of income and land tenure security were found to have a significant positive relationship with the adoption of agro forestry practice while land size was found to have a significant negative relationship with the adoption. Forest dependence was found to have a significant negative relationship to the adoption of agro forestry practice such that those were more dependent exhibited a low adoption while those who were less dependent exhibited a high adoption of agro forestry practice.

The study came up with v ar i o u s recommendations for addressing the problem. First, the study recommends the need to engage In activities that will boost farmers' outcomes. This includes diversification to those Income generating activities that are environmentally friendly. It also recommends the need to boost access to education and extension services. Local people are also encouraged to join farmers associations to increase their levels of participation in development activities. Those with bigger land should be encouraged to engage more in agro 'forestry while efforts aimed at enhancing land tenure security such as legal settlement of squatters are encouraged. Initiatives aimed at creating alternative sources for forest derived products on farm are highly encouraged.