Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics
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Item A community-based evaluation of population growth and agro-pastoralist resilience in Sub-Saharan drylands(2019-02) Burian, Alfred; Karaya, Rebecca; Julia, Wernersson; Egberth, Mikael; Lokorwa, Benjamin; Nyberg, GertAbstract Human population growth is considered together with climate warming as major driver of change in Sub-Saharan Africa. Research on the implications of increased population densities often utilises community knowledge but without incorporating the view of local stakeholders. In this study, we applied a community-centred approach to assess direct and indirect consequences of population growth in drylands of north-western Kenya. Combined social, agricultural and geo-spatial analyses allowed us to identify major system transitions, determine their linkage to population growth and deduce consequences for local livelihoods and community resilience. Community-members reported positive and negative consequences of fourfold population growth since 1974 but evaluated its overall effect as clearly beneficial. This overall positive effect was based on both, positive developments and the successful mitigation of potential system stressors. First, food security was maintained despite high growth rates because a shift from migratory pastoralism to a more labour-intensive agro-pastoralist system helped to increase agricultural productivity. Additionally, land-use changes were linked to land privatisation and improved erosion protection on private land, decoupling population growth from environmental degradation. We detected, however also early warning signs of reduced community resilience as households were unable to fully recover livestock densities after catastrophic events. A population-growth driven reduction in household land-sizes and the decreased monetary value of agricultural production were identified as drivers of this development. The extrapolation of our results to establish a general relationship between population densities, land-use and household resilience in Sub-Saharan drylands suggest that further system transformations will be required to ensure regional food-security.Item Optimization of manufacturing conditions of the new purple leafed Kenyan teas (TRFK 306) – maceration style and withering duration(2018) Kilel, E.C.; Wanyoko, J.K.; Faraj, A.K.; Ngoda, P.Purple tea in Kenya, TRFK 306, has received great attention due to its perceived health benefits though how it should be optimally manufactured has not been researched on exhaustively. The current study investigated on the two possible methods of manufacture – Cut Tear and Curl (CTC) and orthodox manufacture - with varying withering time of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 hours. Catechins, gallic acid, caffeine, total polyphenols and antioxidant activity were assayed as quality indicators. If gallic acid and caffeine are the main chemicals targeted, then orthodox type with longer withering, 15 – 20 hours, is usually recommended. When targeting catechins especially epigallocatechin gallate and high total polyphenols, orthodox type of manufacture whichever the withering time is proposed. CTC with withering hours of 15-20 produces teas with high antioxidant activity. It was concluded that TRFK 306 is best processed by orthodox or CTC but with longer withering time.Item Effects of Blended Fertilizers on Leaf Nutrients Content of Mature Clonal Tea in Kenya. Journal of Experimental Research. Volume 6 (2).(Enugu State University of Science & Technology, 2018-06) itienei, Kibet S; Kamiri, Hellen W.; Kamau, David M.; Nyabundi, Wilson K.; Morogo, MaureenFertilizer studies in Kenya tea industry have focused predominantly on compound NPK. These fertilizers cannot be easily manipulated for specific soils and tea clones. In this respect, Athi River Mining limited has produced Mavuno blended NPK fertilizers with calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). However, their application rates that would result in optimal nutrients uptake are lacking. This is the knowledge gap that this study sought to address. Therefore, the fertilizer blends were assessed for their effects on nutrients uptake at different rate in two sites. The sites were selected purposefully, one in the eastern and the other in the western tea growing areas. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) were used to select 36 trial plots in the two areas which were treated with three fertilizer types where one type was control, and four fertilizer application rates with one rate being a control. The trial was replicated three times Leaf samples were collected and analyzed for nutrients content. The data were then subjected to the analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Mstat C computer software package. Two leaves and a bud had higher nitrogen content (Timbilil 4.84%; Kagochi 4.53%) compared to deficient levels in mature leaf (Timbilil 2.26%; Kagochi 2.95%). This study has shown that supplementing the soil applied NPK fertilizers with calcium, magnesium and micronutrients resulted in better nutrients uptake.Item Influence of Vegetation Cover and Topographic Position on Water Infiltration, Organic Matter Content and Aggregate Stability of Grassland Soils in Semi-Arid Kenya(Advances in Agricultural Science, 2019) Mutuku, Daisy; Kamiri, Hellen; Ndufa, James; Kiama, Stephen; Mware, MugoA study was conducted in Mpala and Ilmotiok ranches in Laikipia County, Kenya, to investigate the influence of vegetation cover and topographic position on soil organic matter, bulk density, aggregate stability and water infiltration rate. Three vegetation cover types; (Tree, Grass and Bare) and four topographic positions (Hillslope, Headwater, Riparian, and Plateau) were evaluated. Soil samples were collected along the topographic positions and within the vegetation cover types at five levels of depth; 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50 cm during the dry season May to August 2016. The samples were analyzed for soil organic matter, bulk density and soil aggregate stability. Water infiltration rate was measured in situ on the soil surface using a mini-disk Infiltrometer. Soil aggregate stability varied significantly between topographic zones (p=0.0124) but not between the vegetation cover types and soil depth in Ilmotiok site. Mpala site showed a significant difference in aggregate stability between the topographic zones (p=0.0152). However, no significant difference was observed in variation of aggregate stability between the vegetation cover types and soil depth (p=0.8998; p=0.8284) respectively. In Ilmotiok site, the highest infiltration rate was recorded in the Tree covered fields (73.3 mm/hr) and decreased in Grass fields and Bare grounds at 25 and 17 mm/hr, respectively. The Headwater zones had the highest infiltration rates (73.3 mm/hr) while the lowest infiltration rates were (0 mm/hr) in the Hillslope zones. The infiltration rates in Mpala site were highest in Bare grounds (37.8 mm/hr) and lowest in Tree fields with 5.7 mm/hr. The Headwater zones had the highest infiltration rates followed by Hillslope zones with (8.9 mm/hr) while the Riparian zones had the lowest infiltration rates (0.00 mm/hr). Soil organic matter (SOM) differed significantly at P (<0.0001) among the vegetation cover types, topographic zones and soil depth for both sites. In Ilmotiok site, the mean soil organic matter was highest (1.96%) in Hillslopes zones and lowest in Grass covered fields (0.30%). In Mpala, SOM content was highest in Tree covered fields at 2.28%, and lowest in Grass covered fields at 0.38%, for RIP and PLA zones respectively. Topographic positions and grazing management influenced soil properties in the semi-arid grasslands, hence the need for strategies in grazing management that will promote restoration of these degraded areas.Item The use of modern information and communication technologies in smallholder agriculture: Examples from Kenya and Tanzania(Information Development, 2015-09) Krone, M.; Dannenberg, P.; Nduru, G.Through examining the example of commercial small-scale horticultural farmers in Mt. Kenya region and Mwanza region, this empirical study aims to provide an explanation for why different perspectives on the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the Global South exist. A mixed methods approach was used to show that ICT usage can lead to significant improvements, including access to simple and complex knowledge and the development of business linkages. However, the influence of ICT depends on the different ICT usage types and the capabilities of farmers to use them. This paper gives a differentiated view on factors influencing the effects of ICT on small-scale farming. It provides a typology of ICT that helps to explains some of the potential effects of ICT usage in the Global South. The results contribute to the current applied and conceptual debate on market access for smallholders and Information and Communication Technologies for Development.Item Origin, discovery of tea, wild tea and early development of tea in Assam, indigenous tea and tea drinking habit among the tribes in Assam of India(2015) Baruah, P.Tea is the most popular beverage in the world and its consumption is next only to water. The scientific findings on its health beneficial properties and as a drink of general wellbeing are contributing to make it even more popular and accepted as a beverage of goodness and for a healthy life style. Tea drinking originated in China about 5,000 years ago and gradually the world took to drinking tea. India is a major producer of tea in the world and the State of Assam is the largest tea growing belt in the world. Tea was discovered growing wild in Assam by the British in early 1800. The local population of Assam, some of the tribal people, were in the habit of drinking tea in their indigenous method of preparation. The practice is still continuing. Subsequent tea cultivation in Assam has made it a major agro-industry of the state and the finest liquoring quality of black tea in the world are produced here and consumed all over the world. Tea drinking has rather been gaining further acceptance now due to its natural health benefiting properties. The heritage drink has withstood the test of time and it may well be the drink of the future. The journey of the beverage through the passage of time has been glorious and fascinating. The origin of tea in China, myths associated with it, spread across the world, perceptions, culture and habits, discovery in wild forests of Assam, and tea drinking habit of the tribes of the state are all amazing like the mystic brew itself.Item The role of Tea Industry in the achievement of the Kenya Vision 2030(2015) Wainaina, G.Item Emerging issues in the Tea Industry(2015) Kimenyi, E.Item Recent advances in tea research(2015) Bore, J.K.Item Prospects for organic tea farming in Kenya: Two case studies(2015) Kamau, D.M.; Kekana, V.; Sitienei, K.; Wanyoko, J.K.; Nyabundi, K.Organic tea farming entails non-use of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers, including the processing and packaging of the tea. This implies that documents must be filed which prove all requirements are met throughout the growing, processing, packaging, and which can be traced by the organic certification organization. Today, almost all kinds of tea grown in Kenya are non-organic. This is despite the fact that only NPK fertilizers are used in tea farms. It is difficult just to make an organic tea farm because of the many non-organic tea farms around it. Dispersals of chemical fertilizers or herbicides and other chemical agents interfused through the soil from surrounding farms can enter the organic farm. Therefore, it is necessary to make a buffer zone or shelterbelt between an organic tea farm and nonorganic tea farm or to embrace organic tea cultivation together with the neighbouring farmers. However, the starting point is to establish that organic tea can indeed be grown economically. Two long term studies comparing different sources of organic manures in Kericho and Kangaita were assessed for yield, some soil properties and tea quality chemical parameters. The results reveal that although the organic manures do not give as high yields as the enriched manure treatments from inorganic sources, rates of 120-150 kgN/ha would suffice to replenish the lost nutrients thus maintaining tea bush health and also optimal yields. The soil pH, available K and Ca results also demonstrated that the organic manures can maintain the acidity levels of the soils thus addressing the often controversial land sustainability problem arising from use of external inputs in tea agroecosystems. Organic manures and enriched manures increased the TF and TR content while caffeine increased with increase in nitrogen rates. This was more pronounced when using inorganic fertilizers and enriched manures. The study suggests that development and promotion of organic and low carbon in the Tea Industry is key to the attainment of ecological health and environment protection by both the tea producers and consumers. Tea growers have to be compensated by benefiting from premium organic tea prices due to the loss in yields as seen by the higher yields arising from the enriched manures.