The Future of Smallholder Farming in Eastern Africa - Uganda ...

5.3 Land Productivity
The survey revealed that in Suba, productivity was far much lower than that of Laikipia
district - averaging 2.5 bags per acre as compared to 10.7 bags in Laikipia and the national
average of 9 bags per acre. The yields varied from 0 to 10 bags per acre in Suba and 2 to
23 bags per acre in Laikipia. The low yields in Suba were mainly blamed on non-use of
certified seeds and fertilizer besides the effect of striga (witch) weed. The low yields
have direct impact on food security and poverty levels and could be a pointer to the level
of extension service delivery.
In order to achieve the national objective of poverty reduction, there is need to strengthen
extension service delivery, particularly in the districts that have high agricultural potential
but register extremely low agricultural productivity. The extension staff should endeavor
to establish the reasons for the low yields, provide farmers with alternative options and
help them decide on which farming enterprises to go for, based on the gross margin and
market targeting. Farmers should also be enlightened on the importance of adopting usage
of certified seeds, fertilizer and manure.
The fight against the parasitic weeds should also be stepped up in all the districts where
they pose a problem. As researchers and extension staff look for a lasting solution to the
weed, the study hopes that promotion of manure application will go a long way in
addressing the problem of striga weed and improve the crop yields.
Farmers in Suba district confirmed that tsetse infestation wiped out their oxen used for
ploughing thereby seriously affecting land preparation. This reportedly resulted in poor
land preparation and is suspected to have affected crop yields. Concerted effort should be
made to contain the tsetse infestation in the area. This should be done through
mobilization of the local communities in these endeavors. Techniques such as the use of
tsetse traps should be applied as researchers continue with their effort to come up with
more effective and sustainable ways of controlling the fly. This calls for stepping up the
efforts by research institutes dealing with Trypanosomiasis. Being a devastating problem
in various parts of Africa, Kenya should work closely with neighbouring countries in
controlling Trypanosomiasis.
5.4 Gender issues
The study established that women are more vulnerable to poverty than men and that this
could be arising from gender inequality in terms of access to productive resources such as
land and access to essential services such as education and extension packages. It is
therefore necessary to formulate policies that will specifically go towards alleviating
poverty of women. Gender mainstreaming is therefore important. It is also crucial to
formulate policies that will address gender bias in access to productive resources such as
credit and land. Parents should also be enlightened about the importance of educating
children and particularly the girl child.