Farmers' knowledge and perceptions in assessing tropical dryland agricultural sustainability: Experiences from Mbeere District, Eastern Kenya

SUMMARY Sustainability is socially constructed, and striving for a sustainable agricultural system requires addressing ecological, social and economic dimensions simultaneously. The objective of this study was to assess the sustainability of dryland farming systems of Eastern Kenya based on farmers’ perceptions of their farming environment and the implications for rural livelihoods. Farmers’ perceptions were elicited through semi-structured interviews in which questionnaires were administered, on single visits, to 30 selected farm households. The study showed that soil fertility and yields of staple food crops (maize) have declined in the past decade and that current farming systems are not able to produce adequate food and income to the dependent households. Thus, the farming system is showing symptoms of unsustainability. Improving farming system sustainability in this dryland area will ultimately require integration of technical and policy options that take cognisance of farmers’ abilities, opportunities and socio-economic circumstances.