Machakos. A long History of Agricultural Development and Research Louis N. Gachimbi

1. Machakos. A long History of Agricultural Development and Research Louis N. Gachimbi National Agricultural Research Laboratories P.O.Box 14733, e-mail: inmasp@skyweb.co.ke Nairobi. Trade off Analysis: An operational and accepted tool for policy analysis workshop, Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi June 20-21, 2005 • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

2. Characteristics of Machakos District Main issues: population pressure, Land degradation due to steep slopes, persist drought, low farm incomes, low farm productivity, low Nitrogen and Phosphorous levels. • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

3. 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 • 1945 – African Resettlement Board (ARB) which was latter replaced by African Land Development Board (ALDEV) • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

4. Activities (a) Pasture improvement, soil and water conservation, livestock water development, tsetse fly eradication. (b) Modification of agro pastoralists perceptions and actions: grazing controls, ranching schemes, land tenure privatization. (c) Improvement of livestock systems through breeding, disease control and marketing (ranches) 1970s to date: Disaster mitigation: • Ranching phase (1970s-1980s)- ranches heavy capital investment. • Range/livestock project (ASAL): development of water, roads and marketing infrastructure. • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

5. Integrated natural resource management - Involves all stakeholders (move from top down heavy capital intensive to smaller less capital intensive). - Soil and water conservation - Agro forestry - Crop and livestock improvement • Wildlife • Large scale dairy/beef ranching • Small scale farming: Maize/beans/cowpeas/fruit trees. • Small scale irrigation schemes (Matuu, Kibwezi) • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

6. Research conducted for the past 10 years • Others • Livestock improvements trails: Boran/zebu, disease control • Pasture improvement: water harvesting trails for pasture/fodder production, bush clearing etc. • Soil fertility: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and Manure (FYM) trials, farm nutrient balances. • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

7. Farming systems in Machakos (including Makueni) • 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) • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

8. Major characteristics of the farming systems in selected sites * Machakos and Makueni are the current administrative boundaries. • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

9. Land use patterns in selected sites: • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

10. Average farm total nutrient balances (kg/ha) for selected sites • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

11. Economics • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

12. Percentage of farms with observed nitrogen level (N, %) No. of farms N<0.05 (V. Low) 0.05<N<0.12 (Low) 0.12<N 0.25 (Moderate) N>0.25 (Adequate) Mean Range Matuu 28 0 89 11 0 0.10 0.07-0.15 Kasikeu 19 0 23 68 9 0.19 0.08-0.62 Kibwezi 17 8 76 8 8 0.12 0.04-0.61 Mwala 26 23 77 0 0 0.06 0.02-0.09 Average soil nitrogen levels in selected sites • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

13. Percentage of farms with observed phosphorus (P, ppm) No. of Farms P<20 (Deficient) 20<P<80 (Adequate) P>80 (Excessive) Mean (g kg-1) Range (g kg-1) Matuu 28 82 18 0 0.12 0.02 - 0.37 Mwala Kasikeu 26 19 37 100 61 0 2 0 0.26 0.01 0.10-1.10 0.00 - 0.08 Kibwezi 17 100 0 0 0.04 0.02 - 0.11 Average soil phosphorus (Olsen) levels in selected sites *Low levels of organic carbon due to high mineralisation rates * Potassium is adequate in the soil for common crops • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

14. Assessment of Poverty levels based on family earnings per consumer unit per month • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

15. Long term agricultural developments options in low rainfall areas Goal: • Multifunctional land use • Economic development of the region • Improved livelihoods of the population • Conservation/maintenance of resource base • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

16. Measures: Design of development plan for livestock-wildlife-tourist industry • Feedlots for high intensity beef production • Manure processing facilities • Infrastructure: feed grains and processed manure transport, marketing, infrastructure • Improved animal health care • Localised food production with water harvesting, use of manure and rotation • Future threats: • Land subdivision • Slow adoption rates of technologies especially soil fertility options due to low returns • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

17. Long term agricultural developments options in areas with relatively high rainfall (Mwala and Kasikeu) • Dairy cows • Cultivation of mono cultures of maize and grain legumes • Cultivation of forage legumes for supplementary feed • Efficient manure management • Mixed crop-livestock systems with market orientation for milk • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

18. Measures: • Breeding and using improved cattle • Efficient recycling of crop residues, manure and organic waste and collection of waste/fallow vegetation for mulching/feed/composting • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

19. Futurethreats • Slow nutrient depletion resulting in low yields and low efficiency of external inputs • High risks of drought and crop failures; threats of food insecurity and unsure livelihood • Low recycling efficiency of manure and crop residues • Competition for labour • Livestocknumbers • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

20. Agricultural development options in irrigated systems Objectives: • Maintain and expand small scale irrigated production system • High intensity, high value commodities production centred for local and export market • Improvement of livelihood Measures: • Maintenance and management of small-scale irrigation system • Reduce transaction costs: market information, physical infrastructure, marketing channels, co-operatives, micro-finance • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

21. Threats • Soil quality (salinization) • Water availability and competition • Marketing problems (reduce transaction costs) • Measures: • Development of skills for all links in chain (production, quality control, transport, marketing) • Establishment of effective production-marketing chain in public-private partnership • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

22. Thank You • Kenya Agricultural Research Institute