Abstract
Results from farmer evaluations of exploratory on-farm trials with hedgerow inter-cropping in a semi-arid region of Kenya (the Yatta Plateau of Machakos District) are presented. Hedgerows ofCassia siamea, Gliricidia sepium andLeucaena leucocephala, which were managed by eight farmers to enhance soil fertility, were established in the mid-1980s. Although trial farmers appear convinced of the ability of the technology to increase crop yields, reduce erosion and provide firewood, most did not feel that the short-term risks (i.e. reduction in crop productivity) and the extra labour required were worth the long-term benefits. Hence, few of the eight farmers were willing to extend their hedges. The discussion suggests that in the risky production environment of the Yatta Plateau, where crop yields fluctuate constantly with the amount of rainfall, soil fertility is not of urgent concern to farmers. A participatory case study approach, which emphasizes farmers' opinions, preferences and ideas elicited through regular farmer evaluation exercises, as distinct from on-farm technology testing for validation, is recommended for on-farm research on new and complex agroforestry technologies. This approach permits between understanding of some of the complex socio-economic factors affecting the adoption of hedgerow intercropping and is the most cost-effective way to gather in-depth and contextual information on farmer decision-making and management of externally introduced agroforestry technologies.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adan B (1993) Soil fertility and productivity aspects of alley croppingLeucaena leucocephala andCassia siamea under semiarid conditions in Machakos, Kenya. PhD dissertation, University of Florida
Atta-Krah A and PA Francis (1989) The role of on-farm trials in the evaluation of alley farming. In: Kang BT and Reynold L (eds) Alley Farming in the Humid and Subhumid Tropics, pp 92–106. Proceedings of an international workshop held at lbadan, Nigeria, 10–14 March 1986
Danso AA and Morgan P (1993) Alley cropping maize (Zea mays var.Jeka) with cassia (Cassia siamea) in The Gambia: Crop production and soil fertility. Agroforestry System 21: 133–146
David S and Enilorac MP (1993) Farm and socio-economic characterization of households involved in technology testing with the Dryland Agroforestry Research Project. ICRAF, Nairobi
Enilorac MP (1992) Technical report: on-farm agroforestry research in Yatta Plateau, achievements, lessons and future directions. ICRAF, Nairobi
Gosal K, MacDougall L and Avila M (1991) Socio-economic Study in the Kakuyuni Area. Kenya Dryland Agroforestry Research and ICRAF, Nairobi
Heyer J (1990) Kenya: monitoring living conditions and consumption patterns. UNRISD Report 90.2. United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, Geneva
Hoekstra D (1984) Agroforestry systems for the semiarid areas of Machakos District, Kenya. ICRAF Working Paper no 19. ICRAF, Nairobi
Kang BT, Van der Kruijs, AC and Couper DC (1989) Alley cropping for food crop production in the humid and sub-humid tropics. In: Kang, BT and Reynold L (eds) Alley Farming in the Humid and Subhumid Tropics, pp 16–26. Proceedings of an international workshop held at lbadan, Nigeria 10–14 March 1986
Kiptot E and Muthoka S. n.d. Report on the progress of the on-farm Dryland Agroforestry Research Project located in Kakuyuni, Machakos. DARP Research report no, 8. DARP, Katumani, Kenya
Mgoboh SG (1991) Crop production: environmental change and dryland management in Machakos District, Kenya 1930–90. ODI Working Paper 55. ODI, London
Neunhauser P, Bayreuther H, Engel M, Friesenegger M, Magelassa A, Neves A, Renneke V, and Salzer W (1983) Appropriate land use systems for smallholder farms: a survey of ecological and socio-economic conditions in the Machakos District (Kenya). Technical University of Berlin, Berlin
Palada MC (1989) On-farm research methods for alley cropping. In: Kang BT and Reynold L (eds) Alley Farming in the Humid and Subhumid Tropics, pp 84–91. Proceedings of an international workshop held at Ibadan, Nigeria, 10–14 March 1986
Perez L (1979) The human ecology of rural areas: an appraisal of a field of study with suggestions for a synthesis. Rural Sociology 44: 584–601
Pinney, A 1991 Farmer-augmented designs of participatory agroforestry research. Agroforestry Systems 15, 2–3: 259–274
Rao M and Coe R (1991) Measuring crop yield in on-farm agroforestry studies. Agroforestry Systems 15: 275–289
Rao MR, Sharma MM and Ong CK (1990) A study of the potential of hedgerow intercropping in semi-arid India using a two-way systematic design. Agroforestry Systems 11: 243–258
Rochleau D (1985) Criteria for re-appraisal and re-design: intra-household and between household aspects of FSRE in three Kenyan agroforestry projects. ICRAF Working Paper no. 37. ICRAF, Nairobi
Scherr, S (1991) On-farm research: the challenge of agroforestry. Agroforestry Systems 15, 2–3: 95–110
Shepherd K and JH Rogers (1991) Approaches to on-farm testing and evaluation of agroforestry technology. ICRAF Working Paper no. 67, ICRAF, Nairobi
Singh RP, RJ Van den Beldt, D Hocking and GK Korwar (1989a) Alley farming in the semi-arid regions of India. In: Kang, BT and Reynold L (eds) Alley Farming in the Humid and Subhumid Tropics. pp 108–121. Proceedings of an international workshop held at lbadan, Nigeria, 10–14 March 1986
Singh RP, Ong CK and Saharan N (1989b) Above and below ground interaction in alley-cropping in semi-arid India. Agroforestry Systems 9: 259–274
Sumberg J and Okali C (1989). Farmers, on-farm research and new technology. In: Chambers R, Pacey A and Thrupp LA (eds) Farmer First: Farmer Innovation and Agricultural Research, pp 109–114, London Intermediate Technology Publication, London
Van Den Beldt R (1990) Agroforestry in the semiarid tropics. In: MacDicken K and Vergara N (eds) Agroforestry: Classification and Management, pp 150–194. John Wiley and Sons, New York
Warner K (1993) Patterns of Farmer Tree Growing in Eastern Africa: A Socioeconomic Analysis. Oxford Forestry Institute and ICRAF, Oxford
Yamoah, CF, Agboola AA, Wilson GF, and Mulongoy K (1986a) Soil properties as affected by the use of leguminous shrubs for alley cropping with maize. Agricultural Ecosystems and Environment 8: 167–177
Yamoah CF, Agboola AA, Mulongoy K (1986b) Decomposition, nitrogen release and weed control by prunings of selected alley cropping shrubs. Agroforestry Systems 4: 239–246
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
David, S. What do farmers think? Farmer evaluations of hedgerow intercropping under semi-arid conditions. Agroforest Syst 32, 15–28 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00713845
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00713845