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

especially when considered on an ad hoc basis. If the livestock values were decomposed on
an annual basis, it might provide evidence that crop values are still higher.
The mean distance of various plots from the households (DISTH) measures 357
meters in Machakos, compared with 2,066 meters in Taita-Taveta, and these mean distances
are significantly different. This could be because farm sizes are relatively bigger in Taita-
Taveta (approximately 2.5 acres) than in Machakos (approximately 2.0 acres). The mean
farm sizes are also significantly different. The average farm size of 2.0 to 2.5 acres compares
unfavorably to that of a sample from several districts in the high-potential agricultural areas
of Kenya (Jayne et al. 1998), and yet the study sites are located in marginal areas. Since the
household sizes are more or less similar, while the mean farm sizes are significantly different
at the two sites, it follows, therefore, that the mean per capita farm size (FARMCA) is
significantly different. The mean values of FARMCA indicate that Machakos is more densely
populated than Taita-Taveta.
The mean terrace length (TERRACE) in Machakos is significantly higher than in
Taita-Taveta. This could be for several reasons: First, soil conservation campaigns have been
more sustained and intense in Machakos than in Taita-Taveta. Second, the higher income
status could have provided an impetus to invest more in terracing. Conversely, it can also be
argued that terracing, and hence soil conservation, has enabled farmers in Machakos to
improve their incomes from agriculture.
The mean household size (HHS) in both sites is six members. The use of manure and
fertilizer to condition the soil and the intensity of use is varied, and the mean values are
significantly different. For example, while farmers in Machakos use fertilizer (FERTUSE) at
a mean rate of 45 kilograms per acre, those in Taita-Taveta use none. To find an area in
Kenya where fertilizer use in crop production is zero or near zero is surprising. Even where
livestock are present, the intensity of manure use in Taita-Taveta, about 480 kilograms per
acre is only a third of that used in Machakos (1,160 kilograms per acre. The fertilizer and
manure use intensity in Machakos is on average comparable to other areas in the highpotential
agricultural regions of Kenya (Obare 2000) and in the rest of Kenya (KARI 1998;
Ministry of Agriculture 1989).
The mean value of wealth index (WEALTH), farm slope index (SLOPE), education
level of the household head (EDUC), and the land tenure system (TENURE) are not
significantly different between the two sites. Although these variables are likely to have an
effect on soil conservation, it would be difficult to indicate the direction of this effect in the
two sites.
5.1. Household perceptions of soil erosion problems in marginal areas
For an individual to make a decision on whether or not to commit resources to mitigate the
effects of a given problem, that person must first appreciate the existence of such a problem.
And the same individual must then evaluate the severity of the problem and rank it
accordingly. In the two study sites, we we presume that the residents recognize that there is a
soil erosion problem. Table 5.2 shows the factors that influence the perception of a soil
erosion problem in farmers’ fields. Five variables are significant for the combined data set:
distance to the crop fields from the homestead, wealth, age of household head, household
size, and cognitive social capital. The slope variable is only positive and significant for
Machakos District. This may be linked to higher education and extension levels in Machakos,
compared with Taita-Taveta. In any case, the higher the slope category in Machakos, the
higher the probability that a farm household will recognize that they have a soil erosion
problem. The combined data set even has an unexpected sign, which perhaps stems from the