This paper analyzes the potential collaboration between agricultural research and NGOs in the dissemination of agricultural technologies at the Kenyan coast. An inventory of NGOs working in the region was established, and 11 out of 25 were found to be active in agricultural development. These 11 NGOs were visited and interviewed. They employ 39 trained extension officers, are able to reach 196 farmer groups or 5320 farmers. They typically work with farmer groups and use participatory methods, but also work in other fields, in particular health, water, and micro-enterprise development. The NGO staff is well motivated and enjoys good working conditions and operational budgets. However, they have little technical training, their number is small compared to the 572 extension officers of the MoARD, and they reach only a fraction of the estimated 370,000 rural households. Therefore, NGOs cannot be expected to take over any of the major tasks of the conventional agricultural extension services, but should be included in a larger collaboration between agricultural research, the extension services of the MoARD, and non-traditional partners. To this collaboration NGOs would bring their enthusiasm, proficiency in participatory methods, and close contact with the population; agricultural extension services would bring their technical knowledge and experience; and agricultural research would bring the new technologies to be adapted and tested. Keywords : Agricultural extension, Kenya, non-governmental organization Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 55-64
A Tobit Model was used to establish the relationship among variables that significantly influence the utilization of Artificial Insemination (AI) technology/service by dairy farmers in central Uganda. Crosssectional data were collected from a total of 180 randomly selected dairy farmers in Mukono, Wakiso and Kayunga districts of Central Uganda. The dairy farmers were categorized based on the breeding method used into AI-users and non-users (using natural service). The data included characteristics of the household and household head, farm and farm management and attributes of the AI service itself. Data were summarised to generate means, frequencies and percentages and a chi-square test was applied to test for the significance of the differences observed between means. Five factors positively associated with adoption and use of AI technology include age of the farmer, years of awareness of the AI technology, total farm milk production and sales, extension visits per year, and quality of AI services provided to the farmers. Factors negatively associated with adoption and use of AI technology are farm level cost of AI services, farming experience, herd size, and cattle breed. Intensifying extension in form of farm visits, improvement in the quality of AI service, reduction in the cost of AI services and increased availability of skilled AI technicians are suggested as avenues to enhance adoption and use of Artificial Insemination by dairy farmers in central Uganda: Keywords: Adoption, artificial insemination, Central Uganda, dairy farmersEastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 34-43
This study employs a stochastic frontier model to examine the determinants of technical efficiency of mixed -crop farming in Nigeria using farm-level survey data collected from 240 food crops. The empirical result shows that more than half of the farmers were 87% efficient in allocating their resources. This result was further corroborated by the return to scale (RTS) of 1.115 obtained which shows that farmers practising this form of farming system operate in stage I of production surface (increasing returns to scale).Also determinants of farmers production efficiency show that farmers' socio-economic variables represented by age and experience contributed positively to technical efficiency of the farmers. While the level of schooling and household size however reduces technical efficiency of the farmers. The policy implication of these findings suggests that there is considerable scope for improvements in efficiency levels leading either to increased output or cost savings with emphasising on adequate enlightenment on the benefit of engaging in this system of farming with a view of solving the problems of food insecurity in the country. Keywords : Mixed crop farming, , Nigeria, stochastic frontier, technical efficiency Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 15-22
Sixty percent of the population of metropolitan Lagos falls within the poverty bracket. Poor urban households spend 90% of their meager monthly income on food. Urban agriculture being an individual household micro level strategy directly influences the financial empowerment of urban poor positively. However, the benefit of urban farming is hinged on availability of productive land and water resources for this economic group. In Lagos, the land ownership system makes it rather cumbersome for poor urban farmers to access land. This paper examines potential land and water resources that could accommodate urban agriculture in the metropolis. The study identified 1,197 and 28,890 hectares of potential land resources under the jurisdiction of Federal, State and private ownership respectively. The use of such land resources requires the comprehension of long term primary land use goals and objectives. Such aims will influence the choice of crops and ideal number of farmers for land and economic resources sustainability. Keywords : Ecological carrying capacity, ecological city (eco-city), ecological footprint, urban agriculture, urban planning Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 65-72
People living near Dzalanyama Forest Reserve in Lilongwe District of Central Malawi collect various forest products throughout the year. This paper quantifies the contribution of fuel wood as a non-timber forest product (NTFP) to income and food security of the households surrounding the Dzalanyama Forest Reserve. A sample of 150 migrant exotic fuel wood collectors, migrant indigenous wood collectors and charcoal burners within 25 km radius of Dzalanyama Forest Reserve, were randomly selected using twostage cluster sampling method and probability proportion to size (PPS). The results showed that most women sold head-loads as collected and none traveled to town to sell fuel wood. It is clear from the results that the collectors who sold wood to town earned more revenue than collectors who sold wood within the village. The results further show that mode of transport affected the amount of revenue earned from fuel wood sales, with bicycle being more remunerative than head loads. Women used head load and rarely accessed urban markets, which explain their lower earnings than men. Consequently, men's earnings contributed 12% to food security compared with only 5% for women. Thus, although minimal, the incomes realized assisted communities surrounding Dzalanyama Forest Reserve to reduce the impact of shocks and stress of low yields and crop failure. To ensure economic and ecological sustainability of the Forest Reserve, there is a need for participatory management planning, involving all stakeholders. Keywords: Dzalanyama, food security, fuel wood, Malawi, non-timber forest productsEastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 44-54
