Agricultural production for local consumption and export in East Africa plays a critical role in national economies. The sector employs nearly 80% of the people who are mostly sm all -scale farmers and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Agricultural information is a key component in improving small- scale agricultural production and linking increased production to remunerative markets, thus leading to improved rural livelihoods, food security and national economies. The paper discusses the dynamics of using portable phones among smallholder farmers to link them with market outlet and other service providers who contribute in one way or te other into agricultural productivity . The paper isolate strength, weakness and threats while analysing insights associated with results patterns. Research f indings show ed that use of phone was appreciated by rural communities as easy, fast and convenient way to communicate and get prompt ans wers of respective problems. F armers were more excited about the use of phone than other information and communication technologies. U se of mobile phones to access information differ ed from one parish to another . Information on market ing is on higher demand (100% ). There is generally more use of phones by male than female farmers , yet more female farmers request ed information on NRM and agri culture as compared to male farmers . Despite some obvious challenges the use of phone in the study area was accompanied by positive outcomes and opened opportunities such as emerging of strong collective action among social groups . Farmers are coming together to market their produce. Based on these results the increased mobile penetration rate in the country provides opportunities for actors along commodity chain to look into possibilities of using mobile applications to boost agricultural development that accounts for 30.2 % of the county’s GDP.
Tag: computers
The forest of information: beating paths through the jungle
In this article an outline is given of the history of information and publishing in forestry, communications technology is described (including mobile computing, GIS and satellite observations), and the future exchange of information via the Internet and web-based services is discussed. Two examples show the use of computer technology and decision support systems to prepare a forest management plan and to purchase a hardwood table for the garden. A section is included on The Global Forest Information Service (GFIS), being developed by IUFRO, which is based on a distributed network of metadatabases which catalogue the information resources (digitalized or not) of contributing partners.
Modelling of planted legume fallows in western Kenya using WaNuLCAS. (II) Productivity and sustainability of simulated management strategies
Improved fallow is a technology that can help to raise agricultural productivity in systems of poor soil fertility and low financial capital. Models, once calibrated, can be used to investigate a range of improved fallow systems relatively quickly and at relatively low cost, helping to direct experimental research towards promising areas of interest. Six fallow crop rotations were simulated using the WaNuLCAS model in a bimodal rainfall setting in Kenya over a 10 year period: (A) alternating fallow and crop seasons, (B) one season fallow followed by three seasons crop, (C) one season fallow followed by four seasons crop, (DF) 13 seasons fallow periods followed by 35 seasons cropThe strategies were tested using a number of fallow growth rates, soil clay contents, and rainfall amounts to determine the interaction of fallow rotation and biophysical vari- ables on maize (Zea mays (L.)) yield and sustainability (organic matter, N2 fixation, leaching). The best simulated fallow strategies doubled maize yield compared to continuous maize over a 10 year period. Across all biophysical treatments strategy A and B of no more than three consecutive cropping seasons and of one consecutive fallow season yielded the most maize. This was because fallow benefits were largely due to the immediate fallow soil fertility benefit (IFB) rather than the cumulative benefit (CFB). The difference in yield between the two strategies was through a balance between (1) their interaction with the biophysical variables affecting accumulation of organic matter, hence increasing soil fertility and (2) the extra intrinsic soil fertility used for maize productivity by the inclusion of more cropping seasons within the rotation. We propose the following conceptual framework to manage fallows for maximum maize yield: when environmental factors are strongly limiting to fallow and crop growth then fallow strategy A would be the best strategy to employ (less risk but more labour) and when factors are less limiting then strategy B would be the best to employ.