A Participatory Rapid Appraisal of Farming Systems in Western Kenya

From the Executive Summary
In the second phase of the Smallholder Dairy Research and Development Project (SDP), as well as continuing work in central Kenya, attention will be given to western Kenya where lessons learnt from the central and coast regions of Kenya will be applied. Western Kenya shares a number of features that present an opportunity for smallholder dairy research and development. The climate is favourable for dairy production and average farm sizes are declining rapidly due to increasing population pressure.

This study follows a sequential process Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis to identify potential sites, participatory rapid appraisals (PRAs) in the selected sites and characterisation surveys. Each step informs the design and analysis of next study, building each time a better knowledge and understanding of smallholder agriculture and dairy systems and the constraints, and refining the recommendation domains for the pilot interventions to be selected with farmers, market agents, regulators and policy makers.

The PRAs were organised in the districts at the sub-location level by the project management together with the farmers and various stakeholders to:

• Appraise the history and development of agricultural production systems;
  
• Identify stakeholders and their interests;
  
• Learn various farming activities from spatial and temporal points of view;
  
• Identify local needs and constraints to the development of dairy farming;
  
• Identify milk market outlets, flow patterns and constraints faced in this area;
  
• Identify service providers and the constraints faced in their trade.

The PRA studies in western Kenya were designed to gain information on broad agricultural activities. PRA sites were selected based on features described by the spatial mapping of factors crucial to dairy farming. The main factors were spread of people, cattle, towns and roads. Factors that describe natural dairy potential: rainfall and humidity, altitude, soils and disease risk were also used. To cover as much of the variation in a district, one sub-location was picked from each of the two most dominant clusters.

The research team included staff from International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. At each site the PRAs were held with groups of farmers of different ages and gender. Farmer turnout ranged from 20 to 130 (50 on average). A variety of PRA tools were used in a flexible and sequential manner, cross-checking at each stage and improving on reliability and participation of the farmers.

The earliest and most distinctive development was adjudication and demarcation of land from communal ownership to individual holdings in the 1960s and 1970s, resulting in smaller land sizes per household that could not allow the keeping of large numbers of Zebu cattle. With title deeds, credit became accessible and was mostly used for the establishment of the new high yielding maize hybrids, which were also encouraged by effective marketing through the National Cereals Board. During this same period, government supported services were strengthened through the provision of agricultural field extension workers, establishment of veterinary clinics, and construction of communal dips.

Coffee was established as a cash crop in the 1940s, tea in the 1960s and 1980s, and sugar in the late 1970s but only for the Northern districts. Dairy cattle were only introduced in the early 1970s through national artificial insemination and purchase of cows from large dairy farms. In many places Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) had established dairy cooperatives in the1960s and milk was marketed through these societies through the 1970s.

The 1980s were the beginning of a period of poor fortunes for both crops and livestock. Poor quality seeds, unreliable markets, high production costs and further decline in land sizes reduced crop production. In the 1990s the government withdrew support from essential services and initiated their provision through private enterprise. Withdrawal of veterinary services impacted negatively on the growth of grade cattle numbers.

Despite the conspicuous presence of Zebu cattle, crop husbandry dominates agricultural activities in all areas studied except Nandi where grade cattle are more prominent. A typical household has about three to five Zebu cattle and very few cross or grade cattle. The low number of grade animals kept per household and their low productivity is a result of low feed supply, and poor husbandry methods. The prevalence of the Zebus is associated with the cultural practices (dowry payment and prestige) where the number of cattle per household is more valuable than the quantity of milk produced.

Tick borne diseases, especially East Coast Fever, are endemic throughout the area. Prevalence of foot and mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease is associated with uncontrolled movement of livestock into and out of the districts and the presence of Trypanosomosis to wildlife in the forests.

There are some indications of intensification in all areas with livestock playing an important role as a source of food, income and manure. Most areas produce their own food with much diversification. All areas indicate high market activities with sale of food and cash crops, milk and also for sourcing inputs such as fertiliser and food.

Communities have close relationships between farmers with the ministry of agriculture, churches, self-help groups, tea and coffee factories, and the veterinary department. The communities did not have close relationships with stockists, KARI and the Agricultural Finance Corporation.

The constraints that were mentioned by most of the 14 farmers' groups are: animal diseases; extension services; animal breeding; roads; crop diseases; cost of inputs; water; land size; capital; marketing; quality of inputs; output prices; soil fertility; human diseases; veterinary services; credit; management of dips; and livestock feeds.

Most marketing is through the informal sector to nearest urban centre. A few farmers' cooperative societies are still operational, though beset by management problems and competition from milk hawkers. Constraints to milk marketing include seasonal fluctuations in supply, high cost of capital items, lack of organised marketing, high transportation costs, lack of storage facilities and knowledge on milk handling.

In conclusion, over time, farmers have been responsive to incentives as shown by rapid increases (decrease) in production of crops and milk when conditions are conducive (not conducive). Most areas in the region have the potential for intensive livestock production due to favourable climatic conditions. Intensification of dairy production would increase the household labour demand and offer alternative sources of income. Western and Nyanza districts are generally deficient in milk and flows tend towards the major towns. There are opportunities for growth in milk marketing if there is improvement in the organisation of traders and encouragement by regulatory bodies to trade in larger volumes under hygienic conditions.

For SDP, the issues that will have to be addressed will revolve around the huge milk deficit while there is still potential to increase milk production. Immediate issues would be to improve our understanding on why the production gap exists and why farmers do not adopt technologies that would increase milk output.