6 research outputs found
Effects of Irrigation Systems on Farming Practices: Evidence from Oluch-Kimira Scheme, Homa Bay County, Kenya
No full textIrrigation waters have vast benefits to the soils especially where they are installed. Some of the benefits of water includes: facilitating nutrient circulation within the soil profile, assist in nutrient uptake by various plants, enhance transpiration as well as enhances nutrient diffusion in the soil. But also irrigation systems have negative effects to soils mostly including environmental impacts. The current study wanted to investigate the effects of irrigation systems on farming practices in Oluch-Kimira. A survey methodology with an Ex-post facto research design was used with a sampling frame consisting of 340 small-scale farmers. A sample of 332 irrigation participants and 8 non irrigation participants were chosen for the study using random sampling. Primary data was collected through interview schedules administered to participants in irrigated agriculture and Non participants. It was revealed that before irrigation technology the level of embracing farming systems was at 3.96% (R2=0.0396) while after introduction of irrigation technologies the embracing lever increased to 55.6% (R2=0.556), a clear indication that the farming systems in the study areas improved due to presence of waters or humid environment brought about irrigation and water in general. The results also revealed that increased irrigation technologies have also improved the farming practices and eventually improved good agricultural practices
Farmers’ Response to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer Utilization on Maize Cropping Systems in Kisii County, Kenya
No full textDecline in soil fertility has been identified as a major factor hindering maize productivity globally; the majority of these soils are deficient in nitrogen, phosphorous and organic matters. Low maize productivity in Kenya is attributed to decline in soil fertility. Improving soil fertility is necessary to achieve sustainable maize productivity among small-scaled farmers. However, farmers’ response toward the application of fertilizers is not enough. This study sought to determine farmers’ response towards the usage of organic and inorganic fertilizer in maize cropping systems among the maize producers. A simple random sampling technique was employed to achieve a sample size of 246 respondents from accessible household population of 10,800 maize farmers. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, which was then subjected to Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software (Version 20) for analysis. The findings indicated that, the mean age of the farming population was 42 years with an average farming experience of 18 years. Majority of the farmers had secondary education as their highest level of education. The findings revealed that 90.2% of the farmers use di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer; the findings further indicated that there was prolonged single use of DAP fertilizer in the same piece of land for a period of 6-10 years continuously. 84.1% of farmers applied inorganic fertilizer while 58.9% of the farmers used manure or manure and inorganic fertilizer. In terms of soil analysis and replenishment, the findings revealed that there was poor response towards soil testing and lime application. A further 94.7% of the farmers indicated they had never carried out soil testing in their farm while 92.3% of the farmers had not applied lime to normalize soil pH. Farmers in Kisii County need to seek for soil testing services as a guide to determine which fertilizer to be applied and use of lime if it is needed be as well as use of organic manure to improve soil properties and also make use of zero-tillage method of cultivation to allow soil nutrients built up. These recommendations will lead to an increase in production of maize to an optimal level in Kenya
Influence of Selected Socio-Economic Factors on Crop Productivity under Irrigated Agriculture among Kimira-Oluch Smallholder Farmers of Homa Bay County, Kenya
No full textIrrigation technology plays a critical role in enhancing agricultural productivity globally. For the last ten years, the availability of water for irrigation has been rapidly declining yet the demand for water for irrigation has been on arise. The introduction of irrigation technologies as immediate interventions for crop productivity has proved to be effective in many countries and most likely has changed the phenomenon to a more reliable and sustainable agricultural production. Despite many efforts by the Kenyan government to improve the country’s agricultural sector, still there is low crop productivity due to the continued practice of rainfed agriculture. The main objective of this study was to determine the influence of selected socio-economic factors that is the attitude towards the introduction of irrigation intervention, Irrigation technologies, Gender participation, Age of the participant, Household income, and Level of education on crop productivity among Kimira-Oluch smallholder farmers in Homa Bay County, Kenya. A survey methodology with an Ex-post facto research design was used with a sampling frame consisting of 340 smallholders. Data were collected through interview schedules administered to participants in irrigated agriculture and Non-participants (rainfed agriculture). Inferential statistics used involves multiple regression analysis and two-way ANOVA. The hypothesis was tested at a 5% level of significance and the results revealed an absolute value of correlation coefficient of 0.823 which indicates that there is a high correlation between the crop productivity and selected socio-economic factors that is (ATT, IRT, GP, HI, AR and ELR). The findings further revealed that R2= 0.714 of the proportionate variation of the model an indication that, the selected socio-economic factors can predict 71.4% of crop productivity and the other variables not included in the model can only predict 29.6% of productivity. By using analysis of variance (ANOVA) the findings revealed that the regression model predicts that there is a significant improvement in crop productivity and the farming system as well. This was revealed by the F-ratio of 71.83 indicating a significant relationship at a p-value of= 0 .000. The model will be of greater use in determining the influence of socio-economic factors on crop productivity in other regions without necessary undergoing the full research processes thus reducing the research expenses by almost half
Analysis of Coping Mechanisms against Food Shortage Adopted By Households Farm Families in Gusii Highlands, Kenya
No full textA Comparative Study of Gender Roles in Tea Sector in Embu and Murang’a Counties, Kenya: A Case Study of Smallholder Tea Farmers
No full text<div><p><em>Men and women perform different roles within the household and in agricultural sector. However, women’s roles are more strenuous and more pronounced and they work extra hours in providing the much needed labour on the tea farms than the men counterpart. But in spite of women’s much involvement in agricultural sector, they undergo discrimination in all aspects not only related to land ownership but also kept out when it comes to control and access to the benefits accrued from tea farming. This study therefore sought to determine gender roles in tea production in Embu and Murang’a counties and also to assess the accessibility and control over the benefits accrued from tea farming by gender. Stratified random sampling; simple random sampling and Purposive sampling techniques were used to sample 276 respondents from estimated target population of </em><em>18,000 tea growers from the two counties under study. </em><em>The study established that women perform more roles in tea plantation than their male counterparts. The findings clearly demonstrated that the most tedious and difficult roles that took long hours to accomplish were assigned to the women for instance, the plucking of tea, taking green leaves to the buying centre and collecting/receiving pay slips from the factory or buying centre was majorly done by the women but it’s men who goes to the bank to earn bonus and monthly payments for the work didn’t participate and also attending annual general meetings (AGMs) or any meetings at the factory or buying centre and even organized educational forums and surveys since they knew that at the end of it they would either receive certificate of participation and more importantly sitting allowance. The finding further revealed that, men were assigned themselves roles that lighter duties that might require bit of skills such as pruning of tea bushes and nursery establishment. On the other hand women are unable to attend the forums or meetings because of numerous roles waiting for them ranging from household chores to agricultural production. Although conflicts have been in arise over the control of proceeds of tea sales because men receive the benefits and women who worked for them do not seem to benefit much, this gender discrimination had negatively affected tea production and by extension resulted in decline of tea yields and neglected tea bush. This study recommends that Kenya tea development agency to increase its sensitization forums and conducts regular workshops to educate the tea growers on gender balance in regards to distribution of proceeds from tea sales, access to and control over tea benefits. This could not only help to empower and motivate women but also demystify the gender stereotypes that men have about women and therefore eliminate gender discrimination in tea growing communities.</em></p></div></jats:p
An observational study of monitoring of vital signs in children admitted to Kenyan hospitals: an insight into the quality of nursing care?
No full textMeasurement and correct interpretation of vital signs is part of routine clinical care. Repeated measurement enhances early recognition of deterioration, may help prevent morbidity and mortality and is a standard of care in most countries.To examine documentation of vital signs by clinicians for admissions to paediatric wards in Kenyan hospitals, to describe monitoring frequency by nurses and explore factors influencing frequency.Vital signs information (temperature, respiratory and pulse rate) for the first 48 hours of admission was collected from case records of children admitted with non-surgical conditions to 13 Kenyan county hospitals between September 2013 and April 2016. A mixed effect negative binomial regression model was used to explore whether the severity of illness (indicated by danger signs or severe diagnostic episodes) is associated with increased vital signs observation frequency.We examined 54 800 admission episodes with an overall mortality 6.1%. Nurse to bed ratios were very low (1:10 to 1:41 across hospitals). Admitting clinicians documented all or no vital signs in 57.0% and 8.4% cases respectively. For respiratory and pulse rates there was pronounced even end-digit preference (an indicator of incorrect information) and high frequency recording of specific values (P < 0.001) suggesting approximation. Monitoring frequency was explored in 41 738 children. Those with inpatient stays ≥48 hours were expected to have a vital signs count of 18, hospitals varied but most did not achieve this benchmark (median 9, range 2-30). There were clinically small but significant associations between vital signs count and presence of multiple severe illnesses or presence of severe pallor (adjusted relative risk ratio = 1.04, P < 0.01, 95% confidence interval CI = 1.02-1.06 and 1.05, P = 0.02, 95% CI = 1.01-1.09, respectively).Data suggest accurate admission measures are sometimes missing especially for pulse and respiratory rates, possibly linked to manual measurement. Monitoring frequency is often low in the high risk population studied probably indicating how quality of nursing care is undermined by considerable human resource shortages
