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The Machakos region

The Machakos region. Towards a system analysis. Location. The Machakos region. General characteristics. Main issues. Population pressure. Main issues. Population pressure Land degradation. Low farm incomes Low farm productivity Low soil fertility. Main issues. Population pressure

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The Machakos region

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  1. The Machakos region Towards a system analysis

  2. Location

  3. The Machakos region

  4. General characteristics

  5. Main issues • Population pressure

  6. Main issues • Population pressure • Land degradation

  7. Low farm incomes • Low farm productivity • Low soil fertility Main issues • Population pressure • Land degradation • Climate (drought)

  8. History of Agricultural Development Initiatives • Before settler occupation • Land controlled by clans, tribes or families • With colonial rule • Market economy • Increased population: livestock and human leading to land degradation

  9. History of Agricultural Development Initiatives • 1945 – African Resettlement Board (ARB) later African Land Development Board (ALDEV) • Pasture improvement, soil and water conservation, livestock water development, tsetse fly eradication. • Grazing controls, ranching schemes, land tenure privatization. • Improvement of livestock systems through breeding, disease control and marketing (ranches)

  10. History of Agricultural Development Initiatives Terracing was introduced in this region in the mid-20th Century (“More People, Less Erosion” – Tiffen el al.)

  11. History of Agricultural Development Initiatives • 1970s to date: Disaster mitigation: • Ranching phase (1970s-1980s): heavy capital investment in ranches • Range/livestock project (ASAL): development of water, roads and marketing infrastructure. • Integrated natural resource management • Wildlife management • Small scale irrigation schemes (Matuu, Kibwezi)

  12. Farming systems in Machakos • Rainfed systems in high population density areas (Central Division, Kangundo, Mwala, Kasikeu) • Rainfed systems in low population density areas (Kibwezi, Yatta): • Irrigated systems (Matuu and Kibwezi)

  13. Current farming systems

  14. System properties Typical terraced field

  15. System properties Inter-cropping 12 crops in this plot, a major challenge for modeling production systems.

  16. System properties

  17. System properties The Machakos systems are characterized by a high rate of crop failure where irrigation is not available (36-68% without irrigation, 12% with irrigation).

  18. Towards a farm model

  19. MD model • 6 regions • Key properties • Cost of production • Production/returns • 3 activities • Mixed • Maize • Vegetable

  20. Exercise • Briefly characterize your study area • Identify a limited number of regions • What are the key activities in these regions? • What are potential alternatives for the area?

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