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The use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in literacy education is critical to ensuring that Kenya is able to create individuals with raised self-esteem, equipped with skills that will enable them to derive socio-economic benefits of greater workforce productivity as well as those associated with lifelong learning. Consequently, incorporating ICT in literacy education may help to develop the kind of citizenry required in the information society; improve learning outcomes in education; and enhance the quality of life in general. However, despite the enthusiasm exhibited in exploiting ICTs potential in education use in Kenya, the acquisition of learning outcomes in literacy are still low. Key impediments include access, funding, inadequate ICT facilities, high cost of development of interactive e-learning content, high Internet costs in the region, as well as unaffordable infrastructural maintenance costs occasioned by the dynamic natures of ICTs. In addition, the inadequate capacity of teachers has been an obstacle to making ICT a medium of instruction or a tool to support management processes. As well, the absence of ICT Curriculum at Early Childhood Development (ECD) and primary levels does not help cultivate a computing culture early in life. Thus, in order for meaningful impact on literacy education to be realized, the ICT investment programmes in education in the country should be refocused and redirected to the ECD and primary levels of education as the starting point, and henceforth be concentrated on some five variables identified widely as likely to create the desired results, namely: enhancement of teaching and learning; raising access to literacy education; training of teachers; localizing content; and creating a literacy-conducive environment. This paper explores how ICT can contribute to making literacy education more effective and the challenges that require to be overcome in order to achieve this.

African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) hold potential to address food security and nutrition in Africa. Their production and consumption remain constrained by lack of quality seed. Efforts to promote commercial seed production lack information about the effective demand of AIV seed. This study estimated derived demand for input seed in central Uganda using trans-log production model. Own-price and cross-price elasticities for production inputs were estimated using marginal approach. Seed demand analysis showed that farmers would utilise seed from market sources of approximately 32 tons per year, against current formal supply of 4.4 tons. Estimated price elasticities showed that purchased seed was less sensitive to its own price, implying less significant effect of price change on the quantity of seed demanded over time. Seed production exhibited higher gross margins and returns to labour day compared to vegetable production, suggesting prospects of profitability and sustainability of farmer-seed enterprises as an alternative source of quality seed for farmers.

Introduction and scopeuf0b7 Silence on menstruation, taboos, beliefs and myths constitute a denial of freedom ofwomen and girlsuf0b7 According to the situation analysis carried out by Ministry of Health (2016), 46% of therespondents used disposable pads, with only 6% using reusable pads and 7% relying onold cloths, pieces of blanket, chicken feathers, mud and even newspapersWith such and many more disturbing statistics, my work and involvement on matters MenstrualHygiene Management (MHM) is through education, sensitization and orientation sessionsengaging and facilitating breaking the silence sessions that target participation and inclusion ofmen and boys in MHM.Engaging in bold conversations that weigh in on the topic by demonstrating the various avenueswhere men and boys can support menstruation including but not limited to:uf0b7 As ambassadors or change makers who challenge the status quo of myths,misconceptions, taboos and cultural beliefs that promote; shame, fear, lack of dignity anddiscomfort for women and girls during menstruation. Including advocating for best MHMpractices and spreading awareness.uf0b7 Psychosocial support, mostly, by understanding and appreciating vulnerabilities broughtabout by hormonal imbalance during menstruation.uf0b7 Infrastructure/financial support through ensuring that women and girls have access tosafe spaces that provide privacy and security to enable them change menstrualproduct/option during the entire period of menstruation as well as ensuring adequateprovision of water and soap to wash their bodies as required. Additionally, men and boyscan support women and girls in purchasing/making menstrual products.uf0b7 As researchers/entrepreneurs who can be part of environmentally friendly innovations onsafe and hygienic disposal/reuse of used menstrual product.Therefore, it is a duty and responsibility for men and boys to be authors of strategies that willenable women and girls find empowerment in menstruation or at least ensure dignity duringmenstruation through Good Health and Well-Being (SGD 3), Quality Education (SDG4), GenderEquality (SDG 5), Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10).Attending the conference will ultimately promote exchange and experience sharing for learningpurpose in order to advance the MHM agenda within the broader WASH scope in Kenya andbeyond.

Traditional African vegetables have recently received considerable attention for their contribution to food and nutrition security and opportunities for enhancing smallholder livelihoods. Promoting the production and consumption of traditional vegetables is expected to enhance household nutrition among urban and rural households. The Good Seed Initiative (GSI) program promoted production and consumption of nutrient-dense traditional African vegetables in Arusha region in Tanzania to reduce malnutrition through diet diversification. This study estimated the impact of the program on households, women of childbearing age, and children’s dietary diversity. The study used cross-sectional data from 258 program participants and 242 non-participants households and applied matching techniques to control for problems associated with unobserved heterogeneity, which could otherwise bias the outcome estimates. We compared our findings with the inverse probability of treatment weighting to correct for selection bias. We found that households participating in traditional vegetable promotion program had significantly higher dietary diversity of children under five and women in reproductive age. We found no significant impact of promotion program on households’ dietary diversity. The policy implication is that scaling up promotional activities to encourage consumers to grow and eat traditional vegetables would be an important element in initiatives to increase dietary diversity, particularly for children under five and women of childbearing age in Tanzania.

Farmers need access to certified seed stocks for efficient production of traditional African vegetable seed. However, access to quality certified seed is constrained by several factors. Primary data from four selected regions of Tanzania was analyzed to examine the causal linkages among traditional African vegetable farmers’ decisions to participate in farmer-led seed enterprises and their access to quality certified seeds. The effect of farmers’ access to certified traditional African vegetable seed on revenue generated from their seed sales in the study locale was assessed. This study concludes that farmers’ revenue from traditional vegetable seed sales is positively and significantly influenced by access to certified seed. Indeed, access to certified seed can be increased, if farmers participate in farmer-led seed enterprises, and if they have more frequent contact with village extensionists. Relevant policy actions and recommendations for improving farmer-led seed enterprises are offered., The IFAMR is published quarterly by the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (www.ifama.org)

This paper describes the findings of a study that used a multi-market model to assess the potential impact of improved maize technologies on the welfare of various types of rural and urban households in Kenya. The modelling results indicate that technologies developed for high potential regions are likely to have more profound aggregate impacts on maize production and lead to greater reductions in import demand (if prices are controlled) or maize prices (if maize prices are flexible). Technology adoption in high potential regions is likely to have substantially greater positive impacts on aggregate real incomes, but inferior income distributional outcomes compared to technology adoption in marginal regions. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. Root-knot nematodes in tomatoes cause financial loss to Kenyan smallholders. While soil fumigation appears to be losing effectiveness two bio-control agents (bcas), Pasteuria penetrans and Verticillium chlamydosporium, appear promising. Participatory budgeting is being used to compare the bcas with chemical and other biological controls on commercial and organic smallholdings.

This study uses a multi-market model of maize production to assesses the potential impact of "on-the-shelf" improved maize technologies on the welfare of rural and urban households in Kenya. We find that diffusion of technologies in favored areas is likely to have substantially greater positive impacts on aggregate real incomes.

We develop a conceptual framework for quantifying fixed transactions costs facing semisubsistence households. Using household survey data from a sample of 324 Kenyan maize farmers, we generate estimates of household supply and demand schedules, as well as the price bands that they face. Our econometric results indicate that on average the ad valorem tax equivalent of the fixed transactions costs facing the households in our sample is 28%. Additional analysis indicates that both remoteness and infrastructure quality have significant impacts on the size of the transactions costs facing farm households. To the best of our knowledge, ours are the first empirical estimates of the magnitude of transactions costs.

The objective of this report is to analyze the effects of smallholder commercialization on food crop input use and productivity in rural Kenya. The main research issues were: (1) To examine the determinants of smallholder fertilizer use on food crops, with a focus on the effects of household and regional agricultural commercialization; (2) To examine the determinants of food crop productivity, again with a focus on the effects of commercialization; and (3) To discuss the implications of the findings for policy and additional research necessary to improve the contribution of cash cropping to rural food productivity growth and food security. A main premise of the paper is that the effects of commercialization are not uniform and cannot be generalized. The effects are hypothesized to differ both according to differences in the institutional/contractual arrangements between firms and smallholders, management decisions, and the level of credit and extension support provided to smallholders by the various private and parastatal firms involved in promoting smallholder cash crops.

Maize, the most important food crop in Kenya, contributes 44 percent of the per-capita, calorie intake. Increases in maize production over the past three decades have been attributed to the availability and adoption of modern maize techniques, especially fertilizer and hybrid seed. This paper estimates the rate of return to maize research to be 53 to 61 percent, and reveals that his impact was aided by complementary agricultural extension and seed multiplication and distribution programs. The paper describes the institutional framework that may have led to one of Kenya’s agricultural research success stories. It also poses challenges to the future of maize production in Kenya.