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The dry bean,Phaseolus vulgaris(L.) production is constrained by various factors in the environment. A survey was carried out to determine incidence of various foliage diseases and possible influence by whitefly vectors among other environmental factors on bean grain yield. Highest farmer cultivar preference was a tie of improved KAT Bean 1 (B1) and local cultivar (Mwitemia) at 24% as total of each category. Production level was 0.3-1.6 t ha-1per farm. Dominant whitefly species wasBemisia tabaci(Genn.) in over 90% of the farms. Laboratory analyses showed that disease incidence among the varieties showed improved varieties bearing highest incidence of both fungal and viral diseases compared to the local cultivars. Disease incidence showed little influence on bean grain yield. The updated information here is useful to breeding programmes to focus on local cultivars for higher disease-tolerant bean genotypes.

A survey targeting smallholder households was carried out in Mumbuni and Ndovoini sub-locations in the semi arid Makueni County, Kenya, to identify agroforestry types and practices and their level of adoption and socio-economic factors influencing adoption of agroforestry. The study involved a survey of 234 households using a structured questionnaire. The collected data was subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and binary logistic regression model. Results obtained revealed that more than 90% of the households practised agroforestry. It was also observed that significantly (P

The African ebony (Dalbergia melanoxylon) is a tree that is crucial in making of high value wooden traditional artifacts, however its slow growth in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), poor germination and low seedling growth rate, seed pest predation coupled with overharvesting pause a great threat for the future availability of the species. Unscreened natural methods of seed germination might not sustainably solve the problem of low germination. Overharvesting for wood carving, and low natural regenerative ability of the species and lack of the local and national conservation efforts present a serious threat its availability to the future availability of Dalbergia melanoxylon. Availability of viable seed plays a crucial role the establishment of African ebony. There is need for immediate methods for multiple seedling production for propagation of D. melanoxylon. Our studies showed 2% germination without screening but increased to 40% after screening (p< 0.001). Careful moisture monitoring of the seedling seemed to increase the growth rate in the ASAL region. Therefore, selected propagation methods of this species can rescue it from the current extinction trend which is caused by its low regenerative ability when natural methods are used and over exploitation. There is need to support on farm cultivation of the tree to sustain the carving industry.

Managing grain moisture content is important because maximum economic return can be achieved by marketing at a certain moisture level of grain. Post-harvest management dictates that grains must be dried to certain levels to avoid development of fungal and insect problems, respiration and germination. However, over drying can also a lead to economic losses. Most farmers are aware of fungal development in moist grains but few are aware that they make less profit by over drying. Moreover, there are also bean varieties which genetically retain more water than others and hence can be safer and have more economic returns compared to others. But, this also should be matched to the rain pattern in a growing region. We compared six varieties of beans (KAT B1, KAT B9, and Kakunzu (KKZ), Rose Coco (GLP2/RCC), Kenya Tamu and KAT X56) grown in the South Eastern region of Kenya and found significant differences in dry moisture content, physical properties and grain weights. The Rose Coco and KAT X56 varieties had the highest moisture content retention but the KKZ variety the lowest. This explained why KKZ is favoured more by famers in arid areas with less rain during fruit maturation.

Milk consumption in the semi-arid regions of Kenya is not well understood. A study was carried out on consumption of milk and milk products in the semi-arid region of eastern Kenya. A total of 135 rural and 126 urban households were interviewed. Raw milk was the most popular and was consumed by 99% and 84% of rural and urban households, respectively. Generally as degree of processing increased, the frequency of consumption declined from more than once per day to 1-2 times a week and eventually to occasionally. Richer households consumed significantly (p < .05) more milk and milk products than poor households. Raw milk was preferred over pasteurized, ultra high temperature treated, and powdered milk because it was cheaper and widely available. In order to improve consumption of different milk products, there is need to improve availability particularly in the rural areas.

A total of 74 farms were selected from Machakos, Mwingi and Makueni districts in Kenya, using participatory techniques and classified in three categories on the basis of soil fertility management (low level, medium and high level). Soil fertility management was monitored, using the NUTrient MONitoring methodology, which appears a suitable and appropriate tool for the diagnostic phase of Farming System Analysis and Design in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands of Kenya. The participatory inventory and monitoring procedures applied, involving the farmers in the analysis of their own situation, forced the farmers to think about the processes and flows associated with the nutrient balances and the associated consequences for the quality of their soil resource base. Farmers’ performance during the feedback, through farmers’ workshops, of the results of soil analyses and the discussion on possible solutions for the identified problems, creates confidence that in the participatory learning and action phase, farmers will be equally involved and willing to adopt suggested adaptations. The first results of the quantitative analyses of nutrient balances at farm level show that farm balances for NPK are negative. This is in agreement with earlier work in the high-potential areas of Kenya and elsewhere in East Africa, as well as those from semi-arid regions in West Africa. It has been shown that client characterisation, as an emerging component of a research approach towards design of sustainable agricultural production systems, helps in identifying major potential recommendation domains and related research and development problems and opportunities, and potential interventions on which to focus the research agenda.