Kalama Division, Machakos District, and Eastern Province of Kenya, East of Nairobi. The area is Low Agricultural Potential Area. Altitude ranges between 1800-2100 metres. Subsistence mixed farming is practiced (crops and livestock are kept). The majorities of the farmers in the location live below poverty line and have limited capability to purchase external inputs. Declining soil fertility, low soil organic matter, decreasing per capita arable land, poor socio-economic status and unpredictable and unreliable rainfall characterize the site. Crop yields are low and there are periodic crop failures.

Responsible Organization

Kenya Institute of Organic Farming (KIOF), Partners: Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI-NARL), Agricultural Economics Research Institute (LEI-DLO), The Netherlands, ETC-Netherlands, Aquagri-Consortio, Portugal

Description

The project was initiated in 1997 with the focus of improving soil fertility and farm productivity by studying potentials of organic farming techniques and stimulating adoption of the same. The European Union funded the project. Parameters under study were soil nutrient balances and farm economic performance. A community meeting was held in 1997 to discuss constraints to soil fertility management and possible solutions. The meeting resulted in eighteen farmer volunteers participating in the project for a period of 3 years (study period 1997 to 1999). Fifty percent of participating farmers were those who had earlier been exposed to organic farming and the rest were those practicing conventional farming.

Constraints and opportunities for soil fertility management were diagnosed through participatory soil characterization, bio-resource flow mapping and quantification of the major flows. Participatory Technology Development (PTD) approach was used to initiate a debate and action, with farmers, in soil fertility management and in the development of soil fertility management technologies. Using the approach, compost and liquid manure technologies were jointly selected by farmers (organic and conventional farmers) and researchers (facilitators) for participatory on-farm research and evaluation.

The impacts of these technologies on soil nutrient balances and on Agro-economic performance of maize were evaluated and compared with normal farmer's practices. Normal farmer's practices comprised application of 16-t/ha compost in organic farms (T1organic) and a combined application of 16 t/ha "Boma" Manure and 57 kg/ha DAP in conventional farms (T1Conv.). The new technologies tested comprised doubling organic farmers’ current compost application rate, T2organic and T2Conv; and a combined application of T2 and 7-t/ha liquid manure (T3organic and T3conv.). Results of the project were disseminated at community level and at the level of agricultural extension and development agencies (NGOs, private sectors, Govt. ministries and church based development agencies).

Issues Addressed

Organic Farming, Sustainable Agriculture, Land resources management, Soil Fertility management and Participatory Technology Development.

Results Achieved

A combined application of compost and liquid manure significantly results in higher grain yields and net cash income than the normal farmer's practices. Although not statistically significant, the same trend holds true for gross margins. Top dressing with liquid manure increased maize grain yields by 22-33 percent. These figures were 15-27 percent for gross margins. Compost application alone (at a rate of double the current farmers practice), results in an improved performance of gross margins, net cash income and return to labour. It is only the combined use of compost and liquid manure that has a positive impact on nitrogen and phosphorus balances rather than using compost or liquid manure on its own.

The nine conventional farmers who initially did not know how to prepare compost for improved soil fertility management had started preparing compost. All the eighteen farms adopted strategies for improving compost quality by e.g. adding Tithonia SP to compost heaps. Farms neighbouring the eighteen farms in the project adopted composting to varying degrees for improving organic matter content. 50 percent of the farms that had participated in the project were growing and selling surplus vegetables, a situation attributed to the use of compost and liquid manure for improving organic matter content. The participants in the project formed a partnership group with a chairman, a secretary and a treasurer to help pool resources together. They work in member's farms in turn to offset labour constraints and contribute finances for their own local projects.

Fifty participants drawn from NGOs, national research institute, agricultural extension staff, church based development agencies, private sector and other development agencies in general were sensitised in organic farming through development scenario workshop. The workshop was organized to chart out the way forward in implementing organic farming techniques.

Lessons Learned

• The project was a learning process for both farmers and researchers. Farmers gained insight into improved soil fertility management practices. The eighteen farmers who participated in the project are not only practicing a diversity of management practices, but also neighbouring farms (70 percent multiplier effect). Researchers gained an insight into indigenous farmer's technologies useful for soil fertility management.

• The formation of a group comprising all the farmer stakeholders in the project facilitated the initiation of self-help activities for the common good of all the group members.

• The application of organic farming techniques of compost and liquid manure which, prepared from locally available materials, had a positive contribution in improving soil conditions and thus crop yields. 50 percent of the farms started selling vegetables, which they were not able to do before.

• The study has shown that the current farmer's management practices for maize cultivation in Low Potential Areas results in net negative nitrogen balances. However, the combined use of compost and liquid manure turns the negative nutrient balances into positive ones.

• Through active involvement of farmers, extension agents, NGOs, researchers, the private sector and policy makers in a process of learning and effective change the project made strides in raising stakeholders’ awareness in facilitating the implementation of organic farming techniques.

Contacts

Davies D. Onduru; John W. Njoroge
Kenya Institute of Organic Farming
P.O. Box 34972,
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel. (+254) 02 583383, 583194; Fax (+254) 02 583570
Email: kiof@iconnect.co.ke