Out of Site out of Mind: Quantifying the Long-term Off-site economic Impacts of Land Degradation in Kenya

This study investigated the private and social returns to Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices with an objective of finding practices that reduce the on-farm and off-farm negative effects of land degradation. The results show that SLM practices have robust profits for farmers raising dairy cows. Farmers without dairy cows realize profits that are sensitive to input and output prices. Adoption of SLM also provides global environmental services whose value is about 10% of the net present value. The results suggest the need to promote SLM practices with multiple uses and consider ways to compensate farmers who offer significant environmental services.Environmental Economics and Policy,

On-site and off-Site long-term economic impacts of soil fertility management practices: The case of maize-based cropping systems in Kenya

"This article analyzes the on-site and off-site economic impacts of various sustainable land management (SLM) practices in Kenya. Long-term trial data are used to establish the relationship between SLM practices and maize yield. The analysis of on-site effects focuses on the profitability of maize production at the farm level, while the examined off-site effects include carbon sequestration and siltation from maize farms, which increase the cost of potable water production. The major contribution of this study is the use of long-term experimental data to estimate the impacts of land management practices on crop yield and consider their off-site benefits and costs. The results of this study show that soil and water conservation (SWC) structures reinforced with leguminous plants are more profitable when the plants are used as fodder, as opposed to situations in which only SWC structures are used. SWC structures reinforced with vegetation had lower maintenance costs, whereas those that were not reinforced with leguminous trees were not profitable over the long-term period. These results suggest that complementary and multipurpose SWC practices are more likely to be adopted compared to non-complementary and/or single-purpose practices. Thus, SWC practices should be promoted as a package of complementary technologies. If it is not feasible to promote a mix of complementary enterprises, high value crops are likely to make SLM practices more profitable. In areas where SLM practices are not profitable, promotion of alternative livelihoods is necessary. Adoption of SLM also provides global environmental services worth 10% of the net present value of the SLM practices over the 50-year period addressed in the present study Finally, the results of this analysis suggest that farmers who offer significant environmental services should be compensated for their efforts." from Author's AbstractAgroforestry, Land degradation, Soil erosion, Sustainable land management, Land management, Economic impacts, maize,

The sero-epidemiology of Rift Valley fever in people in the Lake Victoria Basin of western Kenya

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a zoonotic arbovirus affecting livestock and people. This study was conducted in western Kenya where RVFV outbreaks have not previously been reported. The aims were to document the seroprevalence and risk factors for RVFV antibodies in a community-based sample from western Kenya and compare this with slaughterhouse workers in the same region who are considered a high-risk group for RVFV exposure. The study was conducted in western Kenya between July 2010 and November 2012. Individuals were recruited from randomly selected homesteads and a census of slaughterhouses. Structured questionnaire tools were used to collect information on demographic data, health, and risk factors for zoonotic disease exposure. Indirect ELISA on serum samples determined seropositivity to RVFV. Risk factor analysis for RVFV seropositivity was conducted using multi-level logistic regression. A total of 1861 individuals were sampled in 384 homesteads. The seroprevalence of RVFV in the community was 0.8% (95% CI 0.5–1.3). The variables significantly associated with RVFV seropositivity in the community were increasing age (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.1–1.4, p<0.001), and slaughtering cattle at the homestead (OR 3.3; 95% CI 1.0–10.5, p = 0.047). A total of 553 slaughterhouse workers were sampled in 84 ruminant slaughterhouses. The seroprevalence of RVFV in slaughterhouse workers was 2.5% (95% CI 1.5–4.2). Being the slaughterman, the person who cuts the animal’s throat (OR 3.5; 95% CI 1.0–12.1, p = 0.047), was significantly associated with RVFV seropositivity. This study investigated and compared the epidemiology of RVFV between community members and slaughterhouse workers in western Kenya. The data demonstrate that slaughtering animals is a risk factor for RVFV seropositivity and that slaughterhouse workers are a high-risk group for RVFV seropositivity in this environment. These risk factors have been previously reported in other studies providing further evidence for RVFV circulation in western Kenya

Challenges Faced By Female Entrepreneurs and Strategies Adopted To Ensure Business Growth - A Case of Selected Micro Enterprises in Juja- Kenya

A Research Project Submitted to the School of Business in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA)This research aims to determine the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs, strategies adopted to ensure business growth a case of micro enterprises in Juja, Kenya. The specific objectives were to determine: the challenges that face female entrepreneurs while growing their businesses; the strategic management practices that address challenges faced by female entrepreneurs while growing their businesses and the impact of adoption of strategies on the growth of female owned entrepreneurs’ business. The study adopted a descriptive research design to determine the strategic management challenges that female entrepreneurs face while growing their businesses in Juja- Kiambu County. The target population was the 364 owners of female businesses in Juja town and simple random sampling was used to obtain 191 female owners of businesses in Juja town. To calculate the sample size of the respondents, the study used the Yamane’s formula. The study used open and closed questions to gather primary data. The researcher selected a pilot group of 7 women from the target population to test the validity of the research instrument. Analysis was done quantitatively and qualitatively by use of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics in form of simple regression was used. Results show that female entrepreneurs in Juja Sub County encountered various challenges in effort to grow their SMEs, among the challenges include lack of capital, limited awareness of markets while growing their business and that majority face problems of access to credit. Domestic commitments deter women from making effective entrepreneurial decisions and that lack of managerial training and experience is among the key challenge leading to closure of women own SMEs in the first two years after opening. Also, business challenges diminish women’s ability to contribute effectively to sustainable development of their business. The organisation values help in women’s business growth and strategic management tools offer an opportunity for women to analyse their position in the industry. Finally, it was established that the adoption of strategies had enhanced the growth of business in terms of increased profitability, revenue growth, cashflow growth and increase in the number of customers which in turn enhanced their competitiveness. The study concludes that women in Juja area had adopted strategies to enhance businesses growth, among them included use of business plan with clear assignments of responsibilities regarding detailed implementation activities of the business, ensuring that responsibilities are clear and well assigned. Women in Juja area had adopted SWOT analysis tools to offer them an opportunity to analyse their position in the industry in terms of strength, weakness, opportunities and threats. Women entrepreneurs should be sensitised on the available credit access facilities, this should be done by the county government in close liaison with local financial institutions. The county government should organise for business training targeting women. This will help in ensuring that entrepreneurs are equipped with right skill that are a prerequisite to in ensuring business growth. Women entrepreneurs need to develop strong daily program that takes care of business operation hours and domestic commitments. Other alternatives may also be employed to salvage valuable time that is lost on domestic commitments. Cultural values that do not allow women to own property that can be used as collateral in bid to securing credit facilities should be discouraged. This study recommended that county government need to lay down clear process and encouraging regulations that promote women entrepreneurship in the county. Women owned business should have in place a clear proactive business strategies in place that outline the business core activities, prospects and a very clear workable formula towards the achievement of the stated goals. There is need to periodically conduct business strategies assessment in order to evaluate the business performance course. SME’s should be encouraged to building stronger internal structural base such that funds will be adequate to enable them function more effectively and compete favourably. The county government should come up with more institutionalize laws that will ensure adequate protection of SME’s from any form of exploitation in a bid to access funds or ensure expansion and growth of their businesses