The Influence of Social Capital on Natural Resource Management in Marginal Areas of Kenya

This paper analyzes the influence of social capital on the farmers' perception of the soil erosion problem and the level of investments in soil conservation in marginal areas of Kenya. It uses data from a survey of 321 households in Machakos and Taita-Taveta Districts. A Heckman's two-step model is applied to assess the influence of social capital on investments in soil conservation by farmers. Results show that the education level of the household head, slope of farmers' fields, proportion of off-farm income, and the status of soil erosion are significant determinants of the likelihood of farmers recognizing soil erosion as an important problem. Household size, slope, land tenure security, membership diversity, age of household head, farm size per capita and membership in groups influence investments in soil control measures such as terraces. The effects, however, are location-specific. The policy challenge is to establish and strengthen social capital elements that have a strong influence on communities undertaking soil conservation measures to promote sustainable agriculture, and improve land tenure security.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Constraints That Prevent Tour Firms from Serving Physically Impaired Tourists in Kenya

The number of people living with disabilities is increasing. It is projected that by the end of 2020, there will be over 1.2 billion people living with disability. Notwithstanding, accessibility provisions of this population remains few. Studies reveal that, many tourism destinations have not adequately provided facilities, information for physically impaired tourists. This study therefore sought to know the constraints that face tour firms from the providing for physically impaired tourist by sampling 104 tour firms and agencies in Kenya. A QUAN-QUAL approach was used to investigate this phenomenon. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings of this study reveal that there are a myriad of constraints that tour firms face including the following: The inclusion of dimensions of access, particularly for vision, hearing impairments; Operationalizing information in access, accuracy, detail, format, and presentation dimensions; Inclusion in organizing personalized trips for physically impaired tourists; The inclusion of tourism access information in generic marketing; Destination accessibility; Linkages between transport, the natural and built environments (attractions/parking/activities/ accommodation/services/natural areas e.t.c); Availability and cost of hiring attendants/skilled guides who can handle physically impaired tourists; Costs of adapting transport systems for physically impaired tourists. These findings will facilitate, policy planning, programming and implementation of policies that will see  an increased utake of accessible tourism in Kenya. Keywords: Accessible Tourism/Disabled tourism, physically impaired tourists, Impairment, Disability, Universal design DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/9-18-07 Publication date:September 30th 201

Social Capital and Soil Erosion Control in Agriculturally Marginal Areas of Kenya: The Case of Machakos and Taita-Taveta Districts

This paper evaluates the farmers perception of the soil erosion problem, and identifies and analyses social capital elements that motivate households to actively participate in soil conservation in agricultural production process. The data used in the study was generated using a structured questionnaire in a survey that covered 321 households in Kenyas semi arid districts of Machakos and Taita-Taveta Districts. Two modelling strategies were used: A Probit model was used to estimate the likelihoods of factors that may influence farmers perception of soil erosion problem, and a Tobit to estimate parameters of factors that influence terracing intensity. The results indicate that although perception of the soil erosion problem is relatively high in the study sites, its effect on soil conservation investments is not significant. In Machakos, the significant determinants of terracing intensity include land tenure, crop area, household size, and membership diversity whereas in Taita-Taveta they include age of household head and consumer-worker ratio. Results from the aggregated data show that lagged crop output, group membership density and diversity, cognitive social capital and location significantly influence the terracing intensity on farm household fields. The policy challenge is to establish and strengthen social capital elements that have a strong influence on communities undertaking soil erosion control measures for sustainable agriculture and rural development.Social capital, Marginal areas, Soil erosion, Perception, Two-step estimation, Kenya, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, C24, D23, Q15, Z13,

Who uses sustainable land management practices and what are the costs and benefits? Insights from Kenya

Suboptimal land management practices are degrading soils and undermining food production. Sustainable land management (SLM) practices can improve soil and enhance yields. This study identifies variations in SLM uptake, characterising farmers most likely to use SLM practices, identifying when it makes economic sense for farmers to implement particular SLM practices and how long it takes before benefits exceed costs. Using questionnaire data from farmers in western Kenya, we undertake a cost–benefit analysis and analyse determinants of SLM practice use. SLM implementation varied between counties and SLM practice(s), with household and farm characteristics, and access to assets and advice, playing a key role. SLM practices with high upfront and maintenance costs (e.g., terraces and agroforestry) offer low benefit‐to‐cost ratios for individual farmers who must also wait many years to break even on their investments. Nevertheless, over the policy‐relevant time horizon considered (to 2030), Net present value can be positive. Simple SLM practices (manuring and intercropping) have low input costs and offer high benefit to cost ratios, providing a positive net present value up to 2030. Findings suggest that simple practices should be prioritised within policy to improve soil and increase yields. These should be supported by subsidies or other economic measures, facilitating uptake of practices such as agroforestry, which can provide wider societal benefits (e.g., improved water retention and carbon sequestration). Economic mechanisms could be augmented with support for agricultural innovation systems, improved monitoring of land management and yield relationships, and investment in climate and soil information services

A synthesis of past, current and future research for protection and management of papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.) wetlands in Africa

Papyrus wetlands (dominated by the giant sedge Cyperus papyrus L.) occur throughout eastern, central and southern Africa and are important for biodiversity, for water quality and quantity regulation and for the livelihoods of millions of people. To draw attention to the importance of papyrus wetlands, a special session entitled ‘‘The ecology of livelihoods in papyrus wetlands’’ was organized at the 9th INTECOL Wetlands Conference in Orlando, Florida in June 2012. Papers from the session, combined with additional contributions, were collected in a special issue of Wetlands Ecology and Management. The current paper reviews ecological and hydrological characteristics of papyrus wetlands, summarizes their ecosystem services and sustainable use, provides an overview of papyrus research to date, and looks at policy development for papyrus wetlands. Based on this review, the paper provides a synthesis of research and policy priorities for papyrus wetlands and introduces the contributions in the special issue. Main conclusions are that (1) there is a need for better estimates of the area covered by papyrus wetlands. Limited evidence suggests that the loss of papyrus wetlands is rapid in some areas; (2) there is a need for a better understanding and modelling of the regulating services of papyrus wetlands to support trade-off analysis and improve economic valuation; (3) research on papyrus wetlands should include assessment of all ecosystem services (provisioning, regulating, habitat, cultural) so that trade-offs can be determined as the basis for sustainable management strategies (‘wise use’); (4) more research on the governance, institutional and socio-economic aspects of papyrus wetlands is needed to assist African governments in dealing with the challenges of conserving wetlands in the face of growing food security needs and climate change. The papers in the special issue address a number of these issues

The influence of social capital on sustainable agriculture in marginal areas in Kenya

Non-PRIFPRI1; KMPO; Agriculture and Rural Development; 2020DG

Maize Productivity and Production Strategies: An Analysis of Kenyan Smallholder Agriculture

Against the background of low agricultural productivity and considering that maize is a major staple food crop in Kenya, smallholder farmers' maize production strategies and the subsequent productivity determinants were examined using data from a 1998 farm household survey. Three modelling strategies were used: A probit model to capture the determinants of seed varietal choice, and of maize production in pure stand; a tobit to model the determinants of fertiliser use intensity; and a two-stage least square analysis to model maize productivity. Results show that likelihood of farmers using hybrid seed is influenced by the prices of seed and fertiliser, land size and total household size. However, livestock asset value reduces the likelihood of hybrid seed use. Land size and hybrid seed increases the likelihood of farmers adopting pure stand maize production strategy whereas education, prices of fertiliser and maize, and access cost reduce the likelihood. The intensity of fertilizer use is determined by market access costs, while family labour and fertiliser use intensity, and the level of education influence farm household maize yields. [IJARD Vol.3 2002: 17-27

Analysis of household food demand patterns in Laikipia County, Kenya

In Kenya, arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), comprise some 80% of the country and are characterized by high rates of food insecurity, natural resources degradation and unsustainable land management practices. This has led to a significant disruption of bio-diversity resulting in adverse impact on traditional food sources, income and other basic needs of many rural households, thereby leaving many households depending on the markets as their main source of food. Therefore, careful examination of food demand trends among the rural households serves as a precursor to effective planning, monitoring and evaluation of interventions as well as targeting assistance effectively. Guided by neoclassical theory of consumer demand, of a negative relationship between the quantities demanded and product’s price, the study employed Linear Approximate Almost Ideal Demand System (LA/AIAIDS) model, applying Iterative Seemingly Unrelated Regression Procedure (ITSUR) to study food demand in Laikipia County, Kenya. The results indicate that food commodities are price inelastic; Maize, beans, meat and milk are necessities while fruits and vegetables and other foods (which include wheat products, rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, millet and sorghum) are luxuries. The results suggests that income rather than price oriented policies will be more significant in addressing food insecurity. Secondly, food price regimes that support both supply and demand sides need to be applied for food security to be achieved; and lastly, the impact of demographic variables such as household size, education level of household head, gender and occupation should be considered in policy formulation

The Influence of Social Capital on Natural Resource Management in Marginal Areas of Kenya

This paper analyzes the influence of social capital on the farmers' perception of the soil erosion problem and the level of investments in soil conservation in marginal areas of Kenya. It uses data from a survey of 321 households in Machakos and Taita-Taveta Districts. A Heckman's two-step model is applied to assess the influence of social capital on investments in soil conservation by farmers. Results show that the education level of the household head, slope of farmers' fields, proportion of off-farm income, and the status of soil erosion are significant determinants of the likelihood of farmers recognizing soil erosion as an important problem. Household size, slope, land tenure security, membership diversity, age of household head, farm size per capita and membership in groups influence investments in soil control measures such as terraces. The effects, however, are location-specific. The policy challenge is to establish and strengthen social capital elements that have a strong influence on communities undertaking soil conservation measures to promote sustainable agriculture, and improve land tenure security

Marketing System of Oil Crops in Kenya - Final Report

Appendices include