Search

Purpose: We studied innovation processes in agriculture and nutrition to discuss a scaling approach that encompasses the technical, institutional, and behavioral dimensions of change. Approach: To understand dynamics across these dimensions, we analyzed farmers' innovation processes through two analytical lenses: farmer-centered and structural. Focus group discussions in Kapchorwa, Uganda, and Teso South, Kenya, looked at farmers' choices of innovations. Individual interviews and stakeholder workshops at both study sites increased understanding of the local innovation system. Findings: To address local challenges, strive for livelihood aspirations, and fulfill personal taste preferences, farmers selected and adapted practices promoted by a research project. A wide range of additional support providers encouraged farmers to develop innovations in agriculture, marketing, and nutrition. Practical implications: By promoting innovation as a process rather than an outcome, it is possible to address context-specific needs and enhance farmers' adaptive capacities. Scaling these processes necessitates the involvement of innovation support service providers in order to create an enabling environment for experimentation. Theoretical implications: Analytical dualism highlights the different roles of human agency and structures in innovation processes needed to design successful scaling strategies. Originality/value: This paper sets out a novel approach to understanding the increasingly discussed dimensions of scaling by linking them with concepts from innovation studies.

Recent research on embeddedness in global production networks (GPNs) has begun to move beyond the dominant perspective on how lead firms embed into host countries to investigate how non-lead firms embed across multiple scales in a GPN. This paper builds on such work by examining both processes of how, and the extent to which, different Southern suppliers embed into GPNs, detailing the contestation, struggles, and synergies faced. Empirical evidence is provided through a case study of Kenyan horticulture. Using a mixed-method approach of interviews and surveys, the paper finds that Kenyan farmers and Kenyan export firms (KEFs) have varied ways in which they embed, with farmers more embedded (highly dependent on network relationships and participation in a GPN) and KEFs simultaneously less embedded (having a low degree of commitment towards farmers) in GPNs. Overarchingly, the results demonstrate the need to account for the complex ways in which non-lead firm actors like Southern suppliers embed in GPNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the climate-development interface, research for development gained a strong interest in climate-smart agriculture and sustainable forms of intensification. Moreover, the urgency to respond to climate change stimulates a strong and sometimes exclusive focus on mitigation, driven by research-based agricultural practices. In the livestock sector, this materialises in strategies to lower emissions from livestock, which centralises the adoption question: what can we do to stimulate the use of best practices by smallholder farmers? This paper flags the risk that this outlook may overlooksmallholder farmers' capacities to navigate sub-optimal conditions of drought or scarcity. The paper applies an alternative lens for understanding 'agriculture-as-performance' and highlights smallholder cattle owners' agency and resourcefulness. It aims to create a conceptual space to examine how adaptive capacities are grounded in the rhythms of agriculture under suboptimal conditions. Empirically, the study focuses on the cattle-feeding practices of five farming households evolving through seasons and lifetimes in a sedentary agricultural system in Kenya. Our frame identifies diverse affordances, conceptualised as opportunities for actions, emerging and disappearing in the immediate material environment, and we portray cattle feeding as a networked response anchored in practices of giving, sharing, and receiving. We use our insights into the dynamics and performance of entangled socio-technical practices to sketch the contours of an alternative pathway for agriculture for development. We argue in favour of a shift from an exclusive focus on the adoption of predefined optimal solutions to a diagnostic and catalytic approach integrating situated adaptive performances through which farming households respond to action opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This protocol lays the groundwork for a community-centered investigation into the intersection between climate change and violence against women and girls. Providing a standardized framework, this paper will enable researchers to collect and analyze data on severe weather patterns and their potential impact on violence within communities. The interlinkage between violence and climate is an emerging field of research. There is a need for a comprehensive understanding of the intersection of these two issues focusing on the manifestations of violence, specific vulnerabilities, and coping strategies. This protocol outlines a qualitative research approach employed in Kilifi County, Kenya. The study will include key informant interviews with community leaders and policymakers, along with focus group discussions with women, adolescent girls, and men. Community engagement is a crucial component of this work as it will ensure that the research is conducted ethically and respectfully and ensure that the findings are relevant and applicable to the community being studied. This study will contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics between violence against women and girls and climate change, informing policies, interventions, and advocacy efforts and elevating the voices of women and girls to promote gender equity in the face of climate change challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, African Renaissance is discussed from the perspective of new interests in African agriculture. Opportunities in Africa in agribusiness are growing. But accompanying this growth is a model of agriculture based on application of high technical inputs, under the narrative of agricultural intensification. However, there is evidence to suggest that new interests and practices toward harnessing Africa's potential for agricultural development for the African Renaissance are not sustainable due to constraints and disadvantages to small-holder farmers. This paper draws from empirical qualitative research on sugarcane farming in the Chemelil area in western Kenya to demonstrate that the high technical input model of agricultural intensification stifles farmers' political power and will to control their lands and thus to innovate to benefit from their lands. The paper calls for a socially oriented model of agriculture toward contributing to the African Renaissance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing countries have recognised the need to strengthen their agricultural extension services as an engine for improving productivity, reaching marginalised, poor and female farmers and addressing new challenges, such as environmental degradation and climate change. However, structuring effective and viable extension systems remains a major challenge in most places. This paper studies the Plantwise extension programme in Kenya, an initiative that supports and increases collaboration among actors in the national plant health system, establishes and maintains a network of plant clinics – a physical interface between farmers and crop protection experts – to address the needs of smallholders, and collects key information in the process that can be used for informing policy and for monitoring and evaluation purposes. To assess the programme in Kenya, we conducted a longitudinal mixed-methods evaluation of the programme from 2014 to 2018. Our results show that Plantwise has altered the way the Government of Kenya addresses crop protection. The programme is innovative and improves knowledge at multiple levels. At the farm level, Plantwise has contributed to improvements in the use of agricultural practices, inputs and maize productivity, a major staple crop. The results show that the Plantwise approach is a reasonable alternative to other agricultural extension systems that support smallholder farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of labor-power is a critical element of all commodity chains. This is especially true of laborintensive production processes such as agriculture. The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on this, as well as on many other aspects of the economy and everyday life. The institutions of the modern world-system responded in various ways to the new situation influenced by COVID-19, taking measures to mitigate and avert the detrimental effects. This paper examines these responses and their impact on the availability of labor-power in the agricultural areas of Nakuru County, Kenya, and O'Higgins Region, Chile. By practically applying world-systems analysis, we shed light on the significance of institutions during periods of stagnation and their impact on the availability of labor-power in global commodity chains. This allows us to draw conclusions about the general impact of institutional responses to stagnation phases at the worker level. We show that the institutions studied responded in very different ways to the stagnation phase affected by COVID-19. As a result, O'Higgins Region experienced a labor-power shortage that Nakuru County had not, which may have a lasting impact on labor-power availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security represents a key challenge in most Sub-Saharan African countries and in Kenya in particular where still a relevant share of the population lives below a minimum dietary energy consumption. Kenya addresses this concern with a noteworthy policy mix, aiming at giving to the agricultural sector a leading task in improving food security. This paper evaluates the impacts on food security of expanding fertilizer capacities in Kenya, combined with a set of additional policy changes targeting fertilizer use. In a top-down analysis, a specific Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model is linked with a microsimulation approach. Scenarios present overall positive effects on key food security aggregates. The same is true for welfare. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity of households across and within regions suggests that improving input productivity through better market access and service extension are critical to reducing possible discrepancies across farmers, households and regions. The paper concludes on the need for a sound policy mix since increasing fertilizer production alone is not enough to enhance food security evenly. Among accompanying measures, intensifying extension services are essential especially for smallholders in their acquisition of better knowledge on the use of agricultural inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-Saharan Africa is often presented as the continent most vulnerable to climatic change with major repercussions for food systems. Coupled with high rates of population growth, continued food insecurity and malnutrition, thus the need to enhance food production across the continent is seen as a major global imperative. We argue here, however, that current models of agricultural development in Eastern Africa frequently marginalise critical smallholder knowledge from the process of future agricultural design due to a lack of a methodological tools for engagement. This paper addresses this by outlining a potential means to capture and share locally produced agronomic information on a large scale. We report on a 'Citizen Science' pilot study that worked with smallholder farmers in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Western Kenya, to co-design a mobile application using the well-developed Sapelli platform that easily allows farmers to identify, record and geolocate cropping patterns and challenges at multiple stages in the agricultural calendar using their own understanding. The pilot project demonstrated the technical and epistemological benefits of co-design, the abilities of smallholder farmers to co-design and use smartphone applications, and the potential for such technology to produce and share valuable agricultural and ecological knowledge in real time. Proof-of-concept data illustrates opportunities to spatially and temporally track and respond to challenges related to climate, crop disease and pests. Such work expounds how smallholder farmers are a source of largely untapped ecological and agronomic expert knowledge that can, and should, be harnessed to address issues of future agricultural resilience and food system sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, crickets are gaining recognition as a valuable alternative protein source for human consumption due to their lower resource requirement and ecological footprint compared to traditional livestock. In this paper, we examine strategies that may expedite the sustainable domestication of crickets as a food source. Using survey data from 306 households in western Kenya, we find that supplying cricket production starter kits, granting access to credit facilities, encouraging participation in farmer groups, and fostering partnerships can enhance the adoption of cricket farming. Moreover, we provide new evidence that institutional training significantly increases cricket yields while embracing cricket consumption (i.e. entomophagy) increases market supply. These findings underscore the importance of technical training, provision of production starter kits, and raising awareness about entomophagy to achieve sustainable mass production and adoption of cricket farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The agricultural sector remains the backbone of several emerging economies, including Kenya, where it contributes 34% to its gross domestic product (GDP). However, access to financing for agricultural activities appears to be very low compared to developed economies. Following this, governments in a number of countries have sought to introduce banking sector regulations to facilitate increased funding to the agricultural sector. Taking motivation of the interest rate capping regulations by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) in 2016, this paper examined the effect of these interest rate ceiling regulations on agri-lending in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach: The paper employs random effects technique to estimate a panel data of 26 commercial banks in Kenya from 2014 to 2018 using the ratio of loans to agricultural sector to gross loans and the natural logarithm of loans to agricultural sector as proxies for agri-lending. Bank size, equity, asset quality, liquidity, revenue concentration and bank concentration are employed as control variables. Findings: The results of the panel regression estimations show that the introduction of the interest cap resulted in increases in the proportion and growth in agri-lending compared with the pre-interest cap period. In addition, large banks and highly capitalised banks were found to be associated with lower agri-lending, with differences in the effects across pre-cap and post-cap periods. Practical implications: From a policy perspective, the findings highlight the effectiveness of interest rate capping in meeting this objective and supports the calls for strengthening cooperation between the government and key stakeholders in the financial sector. This will allow for the effective enforcement of policies by the regulatory powers in a manner that guarantees sound and dynamic financial systems, particularly within the agricultural sector. Originality/value: As far as the authors are aware, this the first paper to examine the effect of the interest rate cap regulation on agri-lending in Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of climate smart agriculture knowledge transfers. As well as to examine the application of climate-smart agricultural (CSA) knowledge such as conservation agriculture, irrigation systems, integrated soil fertility management, bioenergy and agroforestry by smallholder farmers in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach: The study applied comparative research methodology to compare climate smart agriculture knowledge application between smallholder participants in farmer field schools (FFS) and no FFS participation. This study used household data from 759 randomly selected rural agricultural households in three counties in Kenya. The study applied multivariate probit model to estimate CSA knowledge application by farmers who participated in field trainings and non-FFS participation farmers. Findings: This study established that climate smart agriculture knowledge transfer through FFS increases farmers' application of critical aspects of climate smart agriculture knowledge practices such as irrigation system, conservation agriculture and soil and water conservation. Such aspects have been noted as effective interventions against adverse climate change effects such as persistent droughts and flooding and soil infertility. Further findings illustrated that farmers who received CSA knowledge transfers applied agricultural insurance to mitigate rising climatic risks on their farms. Knowledge transfer interventions targeting affordability through subsidizing agricultural insurance are probable and more cost-effective measures that can be used to reduce smallholder farmers' exposure to climate change-related risks. Originality/value: This study provides information that was previously unknown about climate smart agriculture knowledge transfers and application among farmers who participated in field trainings and non-FFS participation farmers by using empirical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we examine whether there are significant gender differences in the adoption of climate‐smart agricultural (CSA) practices in sub‐Saharan Africa. Using individual‐level data from four sites in Kenya, Uganda and Senegal, our empirical analysis provides robust evidence that men have a higher likelihood of adopting high‐return CSA practices including modern chemical fertiliser, improved high‐yielding varieties and drought/pest tolerant livestock practices. In contrast, women tend to have a higher likelihood of adopting low‐risk and low‐return traditional CSA practices such as water harvesting, crop covering, rangeland management and pest management. Our subsample analysis shows significant heterogeneity in the gender gap across countries. The results of the decomposition of the observed gender gap show that personal values and norms, access to weather and production information and farm characteristics are important factors that explain the gender differential in the likelihood of CSA adoption. Our findings imply that equalising access to key resources such as plots of land, information and decision making power will be crucial to close the gender gap in the adoption of CSA practices. This is particularly important given the differential impacts of climate change between men and women in sub‐Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article explores the potential of an emerging group of farmers in Kenya, namely the growing segment of urban-based medium-size farmers, often called "telephone farmers". To what extent do they benefit from an emerging ecosystem to support them in operating their farms, and what does that mean for the Hidden middle of agricultural value chains, the actors between the farmers and consumers? Unlocking the potential production of telephone farmers will require more services from collectors, traders, transport firms, the storage facilities, wholesalers and processing units and retailers. Ultimately, optimized telephone farm production benefits the business of Hidden middle value chain actors, increases incomes and jobs and improves food security. Design/methodology/approach: Based on a survey and in-depth interviews a profile of the telephone farmers is given and their role as innovators is analyzed. The Latia Resource Centre (LRC) provides assistance to medium-size farmers, like the telephone farmers, helping them to prepare business plans and use modern technology and contributing to an emerging ecosystem providing support to all farmers. Findings: The article analyzes the medium-size telephone farmers. It documents the contributions of this new agricultural actor to developing value chains and a dynamic ecosystem. The paper profiles the telephone farmers first and then identifies what they need and the support they receive. The emerging innovative ecosystem impacts agricultural productivity and production and hence the development of value chains. Small farmers gain access to opportunities offered by telephone farmers, working for them as outgrower or farm worker. Research limitations/implications: The authors used a small sample of 51 farmers and covered only a two-year period. Social implications: Small farmers are being helped through the emerging eco-system and farm labor acquire skills, which they can also you on another or their own farm. Originality/value: Based on the analysis an even more effective ecosystem is suggested and policy recommendations are formulated before the conclusion is drawn that these medium-size farmers contribute to innovation diffusion, inclusive value chain development and food security and are becoming part of this expanding, innovative ecosystem. Following the debate on food security the results suggest to pay more attention to the development of telephone farmers given their role in developing agricultural value chains and innovative ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether agricultural supply chains (ASC) can be simultaneously sustainable and resilient to ecological disruptions, using the Planetary Boundaries theory. The nine different Planetary Boundaries i.e. climatic change, biodiversity loss, biogeochemical, ocean acidification, land use, freshwater availability, stratosphere ozone depletion, atmospheric aerosols and chemical pollution are examined in relation to ASC sustainability and resilience. Kenya's tea upstream supply chain sustainability and resilience from the ecological point of view is questioned. This study adopts a multi-case study analysis approach of nine producer organisations from Kenya's tea supply chain. The data from the in-depth semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion are analysed using thematic analysis. The Kenyan tea supply chain producers are not aware of all the nine planetary boundaries, although these impact on their resilience practices. They are engaged in pursuing both sustainability and resilience practices. They implement mainly environmental practices in relation to sustainability, while only a few of them are implementing resilience practices. The sustainability and resilience concepts were found to be interrelated, but resilience does not improve at the same pace as sustainability. It is suggested that the relationship between sustainability and resilience is non-linear. Limitations and future research avenues are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to understand the role of climate-smart villages (CSVs) in promoting gender empowerment and equality in East Africa. This paper uses data collected from 280 and 305 randomly selected farm household heads in Doyogena (Ethiopia) and Nyando (Kenya), respectively. To analyse the data, the gender empowerment index for climate resilient agriculture (GEI-CRA) and the gender parity index (GPI) were constructed based on guidelines from the literature. In both Doyogena and Nyando, households in CSVs scored higher GEI. Comparing men and women in the CSVs, women were found to be more empowered compared to men and comparing between the two sites, household heads in Doyogena were more empowered than those in Nyando. Regarding gender parity index (GPI), in both sites, majority of the women in the empowered households in CSVs were either at equal status with men or even at higher status than men. These findings shed light on the potential of CSVs in enhancing gender empowerment and promoting gender equality. The positive contribution of CSVs may guide policymakers to scale up these practices with a better-targeted approach that recognize and adequately address the implementation of CSA practices so that men and women can equally benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the adoption of improved pigeon peas in female-headed households (FHHs) and male-headed households (MHHs) in semi-arid Kenya and its effect on yield as a proxy for household food security. Cross-sectional data were obtained from 450 households through a multi-stage sampling approach. We applied the endogenous switching regression model to establish the determinants of adoption decision and their effects on yield. Results showed that adoption increased crop yield. The adopting MHHs had significantly higher yield compared with the FHHs. The difference in yield was explained by both observed and unobserved characteristics in gender of the household head. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the increased commercialization of African indigenous vegetables (AIV)—former subsistence crops such as African nightshade, cowpea leaves and amaranth species grown mainly by women—from a feminist economics perspective. The study aims to answer the following research question: How does AIV commercialization affect the gendered division of labor, women's participation in agricultural labor, their decision-making power, and their access to resources? We analyze commercialization's effects on gender relations in labor and decision-making power and also highlight women's agency. Based on a mixed method design and analyzing household-level panel data and qualitative focus groups from Kenya, we observe an economic empowerment of women that we relate to women's individual and collective strategies as well as their retention of control over AIV selling and profits. Yet, while we see economic empowerment of women through commercialization—how they broaden their scope of action and are empowered by generating revenue—that does not contribute to a redistribution of labor or land rights, which are key for gender equality, instead it increases women's labor burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of eight heavy metals and ten polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was assessed in soils from three dominant land-use types in Ngong. Levels of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were determined using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer and gas chromatography, respectively. A correlation test revealed a positive relationship between heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Concentrations of zinc, copper, arsenic, chromium, nickel, lead, mercury, and cadmium ranged from 32.5–119.29, 8.73–56.75, 9.57–21.85, 2.73–21.50, 2.69–14.29, 3.43–13.47, 0.10–1.33, and 0.46–0.96 mg kg−1, respectively. The agricultural area exhibited the highest metal pollution levels. The pollution index indicated ecological risk from arsenic and mercury. Children faced a higher risk of exposure to both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic hazards. Commercial soils showed significant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination with a mean of 0.24 mg kg−1. Agricultural and commercial lands had elevated levels of fluorene (0.07 mg kg−1), while residential soils had elevated levels of acenaphthene (0.06 mg kg−1). The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons profile suggested contamination from petroleum and pyrolytic sources. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons cancer risk assessment indicated a potential threat to individuals through inhalation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender and social inclusion efforts in agricultural development are focused on making uptake of agricultural technologies more equitable. Yet research looking at how gender relations influence technology uptake often assumes that men and women within a household make farm management decisions as individuals. Relatively little is understood about the dynamics of agricultural decision-making within dual-adult households where individuals' management choices are likely influenced by others in the household. This study used vignettes to examine decision-making related to maize plot management in 698 dual-adult households in rural Kenya. The results indicated a high degree of joint management of maize plots (55%), although some management decisions—notably those related to purchased inputs—were slightly more likely to be controlled by men, while other decisions—including those related to hiring of labor and maize end uses—were more likely to be made by women. The prevalence of joint decision-making underscores the importance of ensuring that both men's and women's priorities and needs are reflected in design and marketing of interventions to support maize production, including those related to seed systems, farmer capacity building, and input delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing agricultural productivity while ensuring environmental sustainability are two important targets in achieving the sustainable development goals under climatic shocks. In this regard, different climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices have been recommended and promoted to meet these goals and targets. However, the adoption of these practices remains low and variable. For the most part, low adoption has been attributed to external factors. Behavioural and psychological factors also matter but have received little empirical and policy attention. In this study, we examine the relationship between aspirations, aspiration gaps, and the adoption of CSA practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, fallowing, and organic soil amendments. Employing parametric and non-parametric estimation techniques on a pooled farm household survey from Cameroon and Kenya, we show that aspirations are associated with the use of crop rotation and organic soil amendments. We also investigate the theorized non-monotonic inverse U-shaped relationship between aspiration gaps and investments. We find evidence of this relationship for the adoption of these CSA practices, suggesting an aspiration failure for smallholder farmers. These results imply that aspirations that are ahead but not too far ahead of the current state serve as the best incentives for stimulating the adoption of CSA practices. Employing the multivariate probit model, we further highlight interdependencies in the use of these CSA practices. Specifically, we underscore significant complementarities, suggesting the bundled use of these practices. Overall, the analysis demonstrates that aspirations matter for farmer decision-making with many implications for agricultural, food, and environmental policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been observed that Africa is one of the fastest-urbanising continents. Over the last two decades, many rural areas in Central Kenya have witnessed considerable shifts towards urbanisation, which has affected many rural areas. This study explores the impacts of rapid urbanisation in rural Chaka town and its environs in Central Kenya, thus triggering the transformation of the entire landscape. The aim is to highlight the drivers shaping the transition to urbanisation in the case study town area. Using a qualitative research approach that used rapid rural appraisal techniques like transect walks and key informant interviews to collect data, the study reveals a trend towards increased land sub-division and real estate development in the Chaka area, which poses a challenge to traditional agricultural practices and an increase in non-farm activities, which indicates diversification of livelihood strategies by the residents as agricultural practices continue to face challenges, thus causing frustrations with farm-based activities and a decline in productivity. These findings reveal that the changing socioeconomic and environmental landscape in Chaka aligns to some extent with regional and national trends in the complex interactions between urban and rural areas. These findings imply that there is a need for policy interventions focusing on sustainable and balanced agricultural and urban development, the need for integrated land use planning, and skill development for liveable urban living in emerging urban and transformed rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Identifying factors that may influence aflatoxin exposure in children under 5 years of age living in farming households in western Kenya. Design: We used a mixed methods design. The quantitative component entailed serial cross-sectional interviews in 250 farming households to examine crop processing and conservation practices, household food storage and consumption and local understandings of aflatoxins. Qualitative data collection included focus group discussions (N 7) and key informant interviews (N 13) to explore explanations of harvesting and post-harvesting techniques and perceptions of crop spoilage. Setting: The study was carried out in Asembo, a rural community where high rates of child stunting exist. Participants: A total of 250 female primary caregivers of children under 5 years of age and thirteen experts in farming and food management participated. Results: Study results showed that from a young age, children routinely ate maize-based dishes. Economic constraints and changing environmental patterns guided the application of sub-optimal crop practices involving early harvest, poor drying, mixing spoiled with good cereals and storing cereals in polypropylene bags in confined quarters occupied by humans and livestock and raising risks of aflatoxin contamination. Most (80 %) smallholder farmers were unaware of aflatoxins and their harmful economic and health consequences. Conclusions: Young children living in subsistence farming households may be at risk of exposure to aflatoxins and consequent ill health and stunting. Sustained efforts to increase awareness of the risks of aflatoxins and control measures among subsistence farmers could help to mitigate practices that raise exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discontent with the undemocratic agricultural food system inspired the emergence of many alternative agri-food systems, including organic agriculture. This study analysed how organic agriculture promotes agri-food system democracy concerning traditional knowledge integration, community and women participation, market, and policy integration. The study found that organic agriculture conversion increases traditional knowledge integration, community and women participation, and market integration. Although, it promotes policy integration by contributing to organic standards and policy development, the policy has remained in draft form for too long. The study implies supporting organic agriculture can promote agri-food system democracy, but its potential is compromised by the lack of an approved policy. Thus, stakeholders should increase their advocacy efforts for speedy organic policy approval and broader policy scope, including compensating organic producers for supplying public goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin contamination of maize is a threat to food security and public health for households that depend on farming in developing countries. The objective of this study was to determine levels of total aflatoxins in maize from farms adopting different artisanal aflatoxin control methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 315 maize farmers who provided maize samples for aflatoxin analysis and additional data on artisanal aflatoxin control methods applied at farm level. Maize grains were ground, and levels of aflatoxins were determined using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed by computing descriptive statistical measures, and binary logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between levels of aflatoxin in maize and artisanal control methods applied in different farms. Aflatoxin was detected in 98% of maize samples with a mean total aflatoxin level of 12.86 μg/kg which was above the maximum tolerable limits. There was a significant difference in total aflatoxin levels in maize obtained from farms which practiced minimum tillage compared to those practicing deep tillage (p = 0.015). Drying maize on bare ground had a higher likelihood of aflatoxin contamination than drying maize on tarpaulin (p = 0.005). One-third of maize samples had aflatoxin levels exceeding the set maximum limit, with maize samples from lowland areas having high proportions of aflatoxin-positive cases as compared to uplands. Artisanal aflatoxin control technologies such as land tillage, types of platforms for drying maize, and sources of maize seed significantly influence the level of aflatoxins in maize samples. We recommend targeted active surveillance for aflatoxins, continuous public education, and adoption of farm-level mitigation measures to reduce the impact of aflatoxin contamination in farming communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High-resolution map illustrates 16.8 TWh/year electricity demand for irrigation, refrigeration, incubation, and crop processing across Sub-Saharan Africa. • Irrigation pumping dominates end uses, with demand concentrated in semi-arid regions with high crop production. • Microgrid system sizing and costs compared for hundreds of off-grid sites across Kenya and Zambia, with and without inclusion of agricultural load. • Microgrid case study shows that serving agricultural end-uses along with community load has minimal impact on cost of energy. The use of advanced energy technologies for agricultural purposes—such as irrigation, refrigeration, crop processing, and egg incubation—has the potential to increase crop yield, reduce vulnerability to changing precipitation patterns, increase shelf life, strengthen income and employment opportunities in rural areas, and reduce emissions by displacing fossil fuel-based technologies. These productive uses of energy (PUE) in remote areas could potentially be powered by microgrids that additionally serve otherwise unelectrified communities, most of which are located in rural Sub-Saharan Africa. In this paper, we use high-resolution geospatial data to estimate the end-use electricity demand for a range of agricultural PUE across Sub-Saharan Africa, and we share these data in an open-access mapping tool. Next, we use REopt®, a techno-economic optimization model of energy systems, to determine the cost and system sizing implications of incorporating agricultural PUE into microgrid designs in Kenya and Zambia. We estimate the upper bound of agricultural PUE demand for irrigation, milling, shelling, refrigeration, and egg incubation across Sub-Saharan to be 16.8 TWh/yr. We find that incorporating local agricultural PUE into microgrid system designs increases the required system sizing while having minimal impact on the levelized cost of energy of these systems. Our analysis is the first to demonstrate the PUE potential in the agricultural sector at a 10x10-kilometer resolution across Sub-Saharan Africa and to show, at scale, how site-specific PUE can impact the cost and sizing of microgrids that are otherwise deployed to serve local household and community load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are facing threats to their livelihoods including climate change, unsustainable farming practices, increasing water scarcity, and crop raiding herbivores, among other challenges. How demographic, economic, and social factors impact farmers' attitudes and responses to such threats and the relationship to conservation initiatives remains an underexplored topic. With the aim of informing policy and management priorities locally, but with broad applications, we developed a set of a priori hypotheses related to the impacts of livelihood threats and alternatives for farmers. To assess these hypotheses, we surveyed 206 farmers across 6 villages in the Kasigau Wildlife Corridor of Kenya. Most respondents believed that climate change had negatively affected their lives and a third of respondents had not been exposed to alternative crop types. However, sociodemographic factors were poor predictors of farmer beliefs and knowledge, suggesting a homogeneity of views. Nearly half (48%) of respondents preferred to continue farming despite other possible means of income, potentially indicating a strong sense of place. Survey questions revealed other disparities such as 55% of respondents had no formal farm training outside of school, and most had never visited the nearby national parks. Compared to other studies, an above average belief in the benefits of wildlife was notable across the villages. Our findings can inform programs that work with local farmers to create specific management priorities that assist stakeholders in building resilience to threatened natural resources and increase food security which could bolster support of conservation programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three brands of NPK fertilizers that contain variable concentrations of natural radioactivity are commonly used in tobacco plantations in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Tobacco plants are known for hyper-accumulation of natural radionuclides, particularly 238U. This study investigated if the elevated radioactivity in phosphate fertilizers could enhance radioactivity in soils and tobacco plant leaves. The 232Th, 238U, and 40K radionuclide levels in NPK-fertilized soils and tobacco leaves were measured using gamma-ray spectroscopy. The research included a one-year reference experiment with tobacco growing in plots, a ten-year semi-controlled experiment in well-managed tobacco farms, and a field survey of radioactivity in soils and tobacco leaves at three traditional tobacco fields in Migori (Kenya), Urambo (Tanzania), and Kanungu (Uganda). The findings demonstrated that soils and tobacco leaves exposed to NPK fertilizers with increased radioactivity had activity concentrations of 232Th, 238U, and 40K that were considerably higher (at all sites) than in the control samples (with no use of NPK fertilizers). As the continued application of NPK fertilizers raises concentrations of 232Th, 238U, and 40K in agricultural soils, the study assessed radiological risks for humans from exposure to agricultural soils enriched with phosphate fertilizers, and it was found to be below the exposure limit of 1 mSvy-1 suggested by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). However, tobacco consumers, both by snuffing and smoking, may face significant radiological risks, as the snuffing and smoking resulted in effective doses that were 2.41 to 6.53 and 1.14 to 2.45 times greater than the average yearly dose that the general public receives from inhalation of natural radionuclides (United Nations Scientific Committee on Atomic Radiations estimates). Furthermore, the results indicate that the lifetime excess cancer risk for tobacco snuffers and smokers ranged from 5 × 10-5 to 24.48 × 10-3 and 2.0 × 10-5 to 9.18 × 10-3, respectively. The influence of phosphorus-derived fertilizer containing relatively high natural radioactivity, potential human radiation exposure, and radiological risk due to gamma radionuclides is estimated and discussed. The results reveal that applying phosphate fertilizers enhances natural radioactivity in soil and is subsequently influenced by soil to tobacco plant uptake. Therefore, the study recommends that countries use fertilizers with lower radionuclide content to conserve soil quality and reduce gamma-emitting radionuclides in tobacco plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the responses of rural land markets to rainfall shocks in Uganda and Kenya. This study matches the panel data on farm households with rainfall shocks constructed using high-resolution precipitation and temperature data. In both countries, access to credit plays a key role in defining households' land market responses to rainfall shocks. Households with access to credit respond to rainfall shocks by acquiring more farmland through increased participation in land rental and sales markets. Pathway analyses suggest that exposure to rainfall shock has an impact on land rental prices. There is some evidence that similar to grain reserves and livestock, land markets can provide an avenue for households to respond to rainfall shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable intensification aims to increase production and improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Many farmers, however, are caught in a vicious cycle of low productivity and lack of incentives to invest in agricultural inputs. Moving towards sustainable intensification therefore requires support such as input subsidies and learning about new options through, for instance, co-learning approaches. Yet such support is not straightforward as agricultural developments often diverge from the envisaged pathways: extensification may occur instead of intensification and specialization instead of diversification. Understanding of farmers' responses to incentives such as input subsidies and new knowledge is lacking. Our overarching aim was to improve this understanding, in order to better support future pathways for agricultural development in smallholder farming. Over five seasons, we compared the responses of farmers in western Kenya taking part in a novel co-learning program we developed, which included provision of an input voucher, with the responses of farmers who only received a voucher. We also assessed the differences before and during the program. We used diverse indicators that were related to the different agricultural development pathways. Farmer responses were mainly a result of the input voucher. Farmers increased maize yields (intensification) and maize area (specialization) for maize self-sufficiency. Increased farm and maize areas in combination with relatively low N application rates also pointed to extensification coupled with the risk of soil N mining. Diversification by increasing the soybean and groundnut area share was facilitated by the integrated co-learning approach, which thereby supported relatively complex farm management changes. Our results highlight the difficulty of enabling yield and production increases, while also meeting environmental and economic goals. The diversity of farmer responses and constraints beyond the farm level underlined the importance of wider socio-economic developments in addition to support of sustainable intensification at farm level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock production is central to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries, but livestock are often poorly fed which limits their potential for reducing poverty. Efforts to improve livestock nutrition are often driven by supply-push thinking and fail to engage meaningfully with farmers and the realities they face. The Feed Assessment Tool (FEAST) was developed as a way of involving farmers more closely in decision making on livestock feed improvement. FEAST is a participatory tool which uses focus group discussions and individual farmer interviews to develop a broad overview of the livestock farming system. FEAST has been applied in many countries in the last 10 years. Examples of intensive use come from the Accelerated Value Chain Development Project in Kenya and the Rwanda Dairy Development Project in Rwanda. In both cases the tool was used to inform feed options with strong input from farmers. Although the primary purpose of FEAST is to support improved feed strategies at farm level, the data collected through the FEAST app and published in FEAST reports are a rich information resource that can be useful for developing broader system-level understanding of livestock feed issues. FEAST data can be uploaded into a global data repository where they are available for researchers. These data are also used to generate visualizations of key feed metrics further extending the use of secondary data. FEAST is an example of a participatory tool that moves decision making in the direction of farmers, while providing insights to researchers working across farming systems. Its widespread use across many countries is an indication that it fills a gap in in the livestock feed development space. Its novelty lies in bridging the knowledge gap (both ways) between livestock researchers and small-scale livestock keepers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses barriers to women's economic empowerment and opportunities for households headed by women to diversify incomes in the rural parts of Kenya. The study analyzes the full range of income-generating activities at the household level and also accounts for the different types of female-headed households, each of which face different constraints. The findings show that not only do female-headed households diversify and combine their incomes differently than male-headed households but also that there are differences among different groups of female-headed households. HIGHLIGHTS Increasing women's economic empowerment requires identifying barriers to and facilitators of women's opportunities to diversify income. In rural Kenya, female-headed households (FHHs) are heterogeneous when it comes to how they diversify their incomes. FHHs in rural Kenya are more reliant on income from transfers than male-headed households. FHHs receive a smaller share of their earned income from the nonagricultural sector. FHHs are more dependent on work on own farm than MHHs. It is important for future research to account for all types of FHHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smallholder farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are highly diverse and heterogeneous in terms of biophysical and socio-economic characteristics. This study was conducted in upper Eastern Kenya (UEK) to categorize farm households and determine the influence of socio-economic characteristics (SeC) and soil fertility management practices (SFMP) on soil fertility across farms. Conditioned Latin hypercube sampling (cLHS) was performed to determine 69 soil sampling sites within Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties. From each household (whose field soil sample was obtained), data relating to resource endowment and soil fertility management were collected through a household questionnaire survey. Standard laboratory procedures were used to analyse soil samples. Data reduction was performed using categorical principal component analysis (CATPCA) (for SeC and SFMP) and standard principal component analysis (PCA) (for soil properties). Two-step cluster analysis identified three distinct farm categories or farm types (FT), namely, low fertility farms (FT1), moderately fertile farms (FT2), and fertile farms (FT3). The correlation of clusters against soil properties was significant across pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), available P, plant available K, and exchangeable bases. FT1 had low SOC, pH, CEC and available P (soil characteristics), low usage of fertilizer and manure (soil fertility management), and smaller household size, lower income, and smaller farm size (socio-economic). FT2 had lower SOC (compared to FT3) and available P. In terms of soil fertility management, FT2 had higher cases of fallowing and composting with moderate fertilizer usage. Households in this category had moderate income, family size, and land size (socio-economic). FT3 had relatively high SOC, pH, CEC, and mineral nutrients. This farm type was characterized by high fertilizer use (soil fertility management) as well as larger household size, higher income, and larger farm size (socio-economic). The results indicate the importance of nutrient management in enhancing soil quality. Delineation and characterization of farms based on the various parameters including resource endowment reveal imbalanced farm resource flows, suggesting a need for locally tailored interventions suited for location-specific conditions to facilitate improved targeting of soil fertility-enhancing technologies and sustainable crop production regimes. While fertilizer is one of the most critical inputs for enhancing agricultural production, it is a major contributor to nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture and can have negative environmental effects on soil biota and water sources. Farmers' knowledge on the use of fertilizer is thus necessary in developing strategies (such as integrated approach) to promote its efficient use and minimize its detrimental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the underlying challenges of computer vision adoption in the Kenyan agricultural sector and how to solve these hurdles to commercialize this technology. Technological advancements have revolutionized the agriculture sector, where artificial intelligence enhances yields, mitigates losses, and manages natural resources, leading to increased productivity. Kenya is still lagging in the commercialization of computer vision to improve its agricultural sector, which is the largest source of GDP. Kenya has remarkable skills and expertise in artificial intelligence that can support artificial intelligence implementation; the government policies, data availability, and high cost incurred in starting a computer vision company are problematic. Through better government policies on subsidies and data, research and development investments, and AI forums, Kenya will solve the challenges of adopting computer vision. While computer vision has the potential to revolutionize the agricultural industry by improving crop yield, detecting diseases, and increasing efficiency, there are several barriers to its adoption, including inadequate infrastructure, lack of technical expertise, and limited funding. This study aims to identify the challenges hindering the implementation of computer vision technology in the Kenyan agricultural sector and propose potential solutions to address these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This implementation research study sought to examine the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on adolescent nutrition practices and related behaviors in Nairobi and Uasin Gishu Counties, Kenya. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with adolescents 10–19 years of age, in‐depth interviews with 10 health facility providers, and a combination of FGDs (n‐4) and key informant interviews with government stakeholder and implementing partners (n = 9). During the pandemic, adolescents tended to avoid commonly consumed junk foods, in favor of "immune boosting, protective" foods. Widespread unemployment and reductions in parental income rendered some food items such as meat, eggs, and fruits unaffordable for families of adolescents. Adolescents relayed experiences of skipping meals and reducing the amount and variety of foods consumed. Adolescents also described employing strategies such as working in the informal sector and selling personal items to support families financially, in response to rising food insecurity. School closures mandated during the pandemic likely contributed to reductions in overall physical activity. To improve the diets of adolescents, programs should build on the healthy mindset brought on by the pandemic, while strengthening, targeting, and improving access to social protection measures and agricultural initiatives for vulnerable families with adolescents to cushion them from rising food insecurity as an effect of COVID‐19. Building practical adolescent life skills to encourage healthy nutrition actions will also be key to building forward from the COVID‐19 pandemic in Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the potential for co-operatives to improve smallholder farmers' livelihoods, membership in the co-operatives is low. This study examines factors that influence smallholder farmers' decisions to join agricultural co-operatives. Design/methodology/approach: This study involved a survey of 1,274 smallholder chicken farmers. The data were analysed through a two-sample t-test of association, Pearson's Chi-square test and binary probit regression model. Findings: The results suggest that farming as the main source of income, owning a chicken house, education attainment, attending training or accessing information, vaccination of goats and keeping a larger herd of goats are the key factors which significantly influence co-operative membership. However, gender, age, household size, distance to the nearest agrovet, vaccinating chicken and the number of chickens kept do not influence co-operative membership. Research limitations/implications: The survey did not capture data on some variables which have been shown to influence co-operative membership. Nevertheless, the results show key explanatory variables which influence membership in co-operatives. Practical implications: These findings have implications for development agencies that seek to use co-operatives for agricultural development and improvement of smallholder farmers' livelihoods. The agencies can use the results to initiate interventions relevant for different types of smallholder farmers through co-operatives. Originality/value: This study highlights the influence of smallholder farmers' financial investments in farming and the extent of commercialisation on co-operative membership. Due to low membership in co-operatives, recognising the heterogeneity of smallholder farmers is the key in agricultural development interventions through co-operative membership. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-03-2022-0165. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a global problem and involve pathogens which have the potential to move between food producing animals and humans by direct exposure or through the food chain or the environment. The objective of this study was to determine the performance in addressing antimicrobial resistance in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Desk review and in-depth interviews were employed for data collection. Interviews were conducted with national antimicrobial resistance focal officials. Results: The findings indicate that in the four countries there was minimal capacity to conduct AMR surveillance. There were few well-established laboratories in tertiary hospitals, both private and public hospitals. The animal, environment and agricultural sectors in all countries had limited capacity in conducting antimicrobial resistance surveillance. There is limited data on antimicrobial resistance in all the four countries, and regional data sharing was limited. In all the four countries, data from research institutions were not linked using standardized system making difficult to compile the national database. The capacity for microbiological culture, identification and antimicrobial sensitivity testing using standardized protocols was available in the four countries. The interventions adopted by the countries included development of National Action Plans on antimicrobial resistance and setting up of multi-sectoral national coordinating structures. Conclusions: Based on this findings, the countries need improved National Integrated Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance systems to include community settings, involving antimicrobial use and resistance in human, animal, food, and environment sectors. In addition, the region requires clear antimicrobial resistance data sharing protocol for quick comparability of the data across the region. This is important in driving antimicrobial resistance agendas at regional level, which will eventually trigger collective actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author focuses on nonprofit organizations Farmers First Trust and the Verdant Fields Foundation that operate on model for farmers to signup by paying fee. Topics discussed include role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Kenya, South Africa, structural adjustment policies of 1980 and 1990 that saw multilateral aid involving the state government, and role of microfinance for the organizations.

Few studies have explored land access, a structural driver of health, and women's participation in livelihood interventions to improve food security and HIV outcomes. This qualitative study, embedded within Shamba Maisha (NCT02815579)—a randomized controlled trial (RCT) examining the impact of a multisectoral intervention among farmers living with HIV in western Kenya—sought to explore the influence of perceived access to and control of land on agricultural productivity, investments, and benefits. Thirty in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with purposively sampled men and women, 3 to 6 months after receiving intervention inputs; data were deductively and inductively coded and analyzed. Farming practices and participation in Shamba Maisha were dependent on land tenure and participants' perceived strength of claim over their land, with participants who perceived themselves to be land insecure less likely to make long-term agricultural investments. Land tenure was influenced by a number of factors and posed unique challenges for women which negatively impacted uptake and success in the intervention. Data underscore the importance of secure land tenure for the success of similar interventions, especially for women; future interventions should integrate land security programming for improved outcomes for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some recent research began to shift the focus of development efforts away from income and yield to more diverse concepts that consider people's intrinsic drivers and values, such as aspirations and personality traits. We aim to contribute to the literature by exploring the connections between intrinsic drivers. Hence, we analyze if and how the formation of aspirations relates to personality traits against the background of different socio-economic household characteristics. This research will help us provide practical insights for the successful design of development projects specifi- cally tailored to the unique needs and aspirations of individuals and households. Our analyses are based on a primary data set of 272 smallholder farming households in rural and peri-urban Kenya. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) results show a significant positive correlation of personality traits with aspirations (openness; extraversion; conscientiousness), indicating that personality structures indeed correlate with the formation of aspirations in a rural, agricultural context. Furthermore, we show that household and respondent characteristics are associated with differences in education, income, and social aspirations. Considering intrinsic factors for the prediction of human behavior has the potential to increase the efficiency of agricultural development projects and policies. We conclude that a contextualized understanding of aspirations can provide useful insights for development practice aiming to support smallholder farmers' livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key concern of the global value chain (GVC) and global production network (GPN) literature relates to whether and how actors, especially in the Global South, upgrade by generating and capturing more value. To date, such research has predominantly focused on the economic and social aspects of upgrading. In this article, we leverage selected insights from economic geography to advance our understanding of the environmental dimensions of upgrading and downgrading in GVCs and GPNs. We develop an analytical framework that distinguishes the processes of environmental upgrading, in terms of value creation and appropriation, from the resultant outcomes (biophysical manifestations, impacts on market access, and reputation). Furthermore, the framework is considered from the upgrading perspectives of multiple actors instead of focusing only on lead firms and other powerful actors. We illustrate how to apply this framework through a case study of the Kenya–UK horticulture value chains. We show that despite the uptake of environmental upgrading practices, as required by UK supermarkets and transmitted by Kenyan export firms with the facilitation of government agencies, Kenyan farmers have mostly experienced environmental downgrading, with some negative effects also affecting farmers and other resource users beyond the value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We introduce Rasch modeling to the quantification of a country's readiness to tackle agricultural policy issues. • Rasch modeling provides a fundamental scale that solves the 'mash-up' index problem. • Rwanda has a high degree of policy readiness, Kenya ranks low. • Markets and trade policy, and mutual accountability, are difficult. • Risk and resilience policy is least difficult. Positive agricultural and food policy environments are critically important to the success and inclusiveness of agricultural growth and transformation. Despite the catalytic potential of enabling policies, countries vary in their willingness, capacity, and ability to improve policy: in other words they have varying degrees of policy readiness. The profession has spawned a plethora of 'policy readiness' indices over the past decade. These indices are welcome first steps, but they are non-statistical compilations of a collection of inherently different measures with unclear relationships: to borrow Ravallion's term, they are mash-up indices. In this paper we propose a novel, empirically-based policy readiness index. In contrast to prior literature, we approach the problem from a measurement perspective. This perspective enables us to aggregate items into a multi-component index such that their combination achieves superior statistical properties and assures cross-country comparability, through the application of Rasch modeling. With these empirical qualities, the meaning and robustness of the scores then become clear. We apply the model to a unique data set of policy actions prioritized in 2012/13, and the extent to which these actions were executed by Fall of 2015. The results are statistically- and measurement-valid measures of both country policy readiness and the degree of difficulty of various dimensions of policy actions. The resulting policy readiness scores are a novel index that significantly advances the dialogue on countries' abilities to execute those agricultural and food policy changes that are priorities for accelerating agricultural transformation. Policy implications include continued support for capacity building in low-readiness countries and cross-country support through continental or global processes for lowering the burden across all countries of making progress in the most difficult policy areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home gardening is promoted as an adaptation strategy to ameliorate the increasing food insecurity from climate change impacts among subsistence farming families in rural sub‐Saharan Africa. Yet, the geographic distribution of home gardens, their setup, management, and the effects on nutrition outcomes have not been fully described. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize recent evidence on home gardening for two exemplar countries: Burkina Faso and Kenya. Between June and August 2020, we searched, screened, and extracted evidence about home garden projects in both countries, following the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews. Peer‐reviewed scientific publications, and gray literature in English and French that reported about subsistence horticulture in rural settings of Burkina Faso or Kenya were included. The characteristics of the documents and the data pertaining to our research objectives were extracted into predefined spreadsheets. The data were synthesized in the form of a narrative review. Our search yielded 949 documents, of which 20 documents were included in the synthesis (Burkina Faso: 8, Kenya: 12). While the gardens varied in composition and size, the majority provided green leafy vegetables and indigenous horticultural crops. The challenges for successful home garden implementation comprised unfavorable climatic conditions, access to and affordability of inputs, water and land, and lack of know‐how. We identified trends for improved food security, diet quality, and nutritional status among the target populations. This scoping review found that there is limited evidence on home garden practices in rural Burkina Faso and Kenya. To enhance the sustainability of home gardens, research and resources should be invested in codesigning context‐specific home gardening projects. Pending rigorous impact evaluation, home gardens appear to be a promising tool for climate change adaptation while simultaneously improving food security and the nutritional situation among women and young children in these two exemplar countries of sub‐Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating nutrition communication in agricultural intervention programs aimed at increased food availability and accessibility in resource-poor areas is crucial. To enhance the sustainability and scalability of nutrition communication, the present study piloted the approach of 'nutrition integrated agricultural extension' and tested nutrition-related outcomes with two types of nutrition messages (specific vs. sensitive) and two delivery channels (public sector vs. private sector). The study intervention comprised (i) vegetable seed kit distribution, (ii) ongoing agricultural extension activities by public or private sectors and (iii) nutrition communication with two different messages. The intervention was tested with three treatment arms and reached 454 farmers (>65% female) in rural Kakamega County, Western Kenya. Pre-/post-surveys measured outcome variables focused on farmers' nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and practices in vegetable production and consumption, and household dietary diversity score. Results showed that all treatments increased nutrition knowledge (p  < 0.05). Nutrition-specific communication was more effective than nutrition-sensitive communication. Nutrition communication through either the public or the private agricultural sector was both effective. Before the study intervention, many participants believed that vegetable consumption was beneficial and wanted to increase intake. After the intervention, the number of participants who felt eating more vegetables was challenging decreased slightly. Nutrition communication was found to be especially important in conveying recommended food amounts and promoting increased vegetable consumption. Seasonality affected on-farm crop diversity and vegetable consumption results in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical coordination in agriculture has received popularity in recent years. They have emerged to transform farm enterprises from subsistence farming to commercially oriented production. Despite the importance attached to them, some farm enterprise owners are involved in side selling even though they are committed to specific vertical coordination strategic options. Factors influencing this behaviour are still unclear in the empirical literature. This study intends to bridge this gap by determining the extent of side selling in sorghum supply chains in Kisumu County. A stratified sampling technique was used to collect data from 266 sorghum farm enterprises. Primary data was obtained through interviews using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire administered by trained enumerators. The study used Fractional Response Model to determine the extent of side selling among sorghum farm enterprises. Results from Fractional Response Model reveal that farming experience, better prices from alternative markets, neighbourhood effect, frequency of contacts, low bargaining power and network externalities influence side selling positively. Whereas other forms of income, land size, credit access and trust reduces the probability of side selling. These results indicate that policymakers should generate policies that will strengthen the legal institutions in agriculture regarding breaching of agreements reducing the side selling behaviours of sorghum producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]