Equipment and tillage innovations for small-scale farms in Kenya: some unanswered questions with special emphasis on dryland i.e. medium potential areas

This paper has been prepared for the purpose of eliciting factual information and well informed judgements concerning some specific questions related to the potential contribution of equipment and tillage innovations to increasing agricultural productivity in Kenya. The focus is on innovations capable of easing the seasonal bottlenecks which tend to reduce crop yields because of late planting and on equipment/tillage systems that will reduce run off and increase infiltration of the limited rainfall that is received in semi-arid ("medium potential") areas. Because of the great range of choice and the difficulty of identifying implements and tillage practices that offer particular promise under various soil, climatic, and economic conditions in Kenya, it is essential to draw upon the experience and expertise of selected individuals in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa and overseas organisations such as the National College of Agricultural Engineering and the Intermediate Technology Development Group in the U.K