The Impact of Agroforestry-Based Soil Fertility Replenishment Practices on the Poor in Western Kenya

Abstract

Western Kenya is one of the most densely populated areas in Africa. Farming there is characterized by low inputs and low crop productivity. Poverty is rampant in the region.Yet the potential for agriculture is considered good. In the study described here, researchers looked specifically at soil fertility replenishment (SFR) systems as part of a larger IFPRI effort to examine the impact of agricultural research on reducing poverty. Focused on two specific systems—the tree-based “improved fallow” system and the biomass transfer system—the study compared rates of adoption in poor and nonpoor communities and evaluated the extent to which their adoption reduced poverty. Improved fallow refers to the intentional planting of a fallow species. Improved fallows are more efficient than natural fallows, typically achieving the same effect on crop productivity in a much shorter time. Biomass transfer systems are those where organic nutrient sources are grown in one place and then transferred to crops in another place.This system allows farmers to grow crops continuously, an advantage over the improved fallow system.The space available for producing organic nutrient sources onfarm is limited, however