Is sustainable development based on agriculture attainable in Kenya? A multidisciplinary case study of Murang'a district

Abstract

Kenya's development seems trapped in a vicious circle caused by soil erosion, declining soil fertility, land fragmentation, uctuating agricultural production, widespread poverty, corruption, ethnic tension, rapid population, urban growth and a declining economy. The development challenge is to reverse the negative effects of these processes and promote sustainable development. This paper, based on multidisciplinary work discusses whether sustainable development based on agriculture is attainable in Murang'a district in Kenya's Central Highlands. Firstly, it investigates some biophysical aspects of sustainable agriculture such as land use across time, soil nutrient status and yield, cultivated crops and soil productivity by analysing aerial photographs and soil samples and conducting interviews. It suggests that the area has gone through major biophysical changes. Second, it relates the farmers' attitude to promotion of sustainable development as carried out by the National Soil and Water Conservation Programme. It suggests that farmers carry ideas of corruption, often following ethnic lines that hampers ef®cient implementation of the extension advise. Finally, it identi®es links behind rural-urban migration by estimating households' probability of generating incomes outside the farm, typically in urban areas. Opportunistic farming, manifested by temporary reduction of farming on own land to satisfy immediate income needs, is very common among farmers.More needs to be done to promote agro-based, small-scale rural industries, improve agricultural management practices, facilitate appropriate credits, enhance marketing opportunities, ensure timely crop payments, and increase participation in decision making. It is important to realize that for farmers to embrace policies which promote agriculturely-based sustainable development the policies ought to biophysically possible, socio-politically acceptable and economically feasible.

Corruption and Anti-Corruption in Environmental and Resource Management

“…A multidisciplinary study of agricultural sites in Kenya's Central Highlands shows that collective action problems linked to corruption perceptions play a role in undermining farmer involvement in Soil Conservation Committees (53). Farmers blamed decreasing agricultural productivity on corruption reducing other farmers' work ethic, rather than on soil erosion or poor soil fertility.…”

Evaluation of the LISEM soil erosion model in two catchments in the East African Highlands

“…The East African Highlands is a region that is under pressure from population growth and its effects. For example Ekbom et al (2001) recorded, for central Kenya, an increase in population density from 137 persons per square kilometre in 1962 to 433 persons per square kilometre in 1999. This population increase has resulted in a fragmentation of land use, as well as the abandonment of fallow periods in many places.…”

“…Under such circumstances soil erosion has become a major threat. Although the British colonial government started the implementation of soil and water conservation (SWC) methods, these methods were often associated with colonial oppression and were therefore partly abandoned after independence in 1963 (Ekbom et al, 2001). In the 1980s the Kenyan Government introduced the catchment approach (e.g.…”

African Indigenous Vegetables in Urban Agriculture

“…About 20 per cent of the Kenyan land surface can support rain-fed agriculture. Only 7 per cent is high-potential arable land (Ekbom et al, 2001). In both the survey cities, rainfall has a bimodal pattern, with short rainy (September to November) and long rainy (March to June) seasons.…”