The Impact of Agroforestry-Based Soil Fertility Replenishment Practices on the Poor in Western Kenya
Date
2005Author
Place, Frank
Adato, Michelle
Hebinck, Paul
Omosa, Mary
Type
Working PaperLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Western Kenya is one of the most densely populated
areas in Africa. Farming there is characterized by
low inputs and low crop productivity. Poverty is rampant in
the region.Yet the potential for agriculture is considered
good. In the study described here, researchers looked specifically at soil fertility replenishment (SFR) systems as part
of a larger IFPRI effort to examine the impact of agricultural research on reducing poverty. Focused on two specific
systems—the tree-based “improved fallow” system and the
biomass transfer system—the study compared rates of
adoption in poor and nonpoor communities and evaluated
the extent to which their adoption reduced poverty.
Improved fallow refers to the intentional planting of a
fallow species. Improved fallows are more efficient than
natural fallows, typically achieving the same effect on crop
productivity in a much shorter time. Biomass transfer systems are those where organic nutrient sources are grown
in one place and then transferred to crops in another
place.This system allows farmers to grow crops continuously, an advantage over the improved fallow system.The
space available for producing organic nutrient sources onfarm is limited, however
Citation
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE RESEARCH REPORT ABSTRACT142Publisher
Institute of development Studies, University of Nairobi