aistand south~ern afrkca - (PDF, 101 mb) - USAID

purchased inputs other than labour, of the
quantity and quality ofon-farm feed available for
a zero-grazing system. The agronomic
experiments evaluate the production of Napier
grass (Pennisetumpurpureum) and maize and
any changes in soil composition when they are
intercropped with the leguminous ,>rub,
Leucaena leucacephala, the forage legume,
Clitoris ternatea, and the grain legume,cjwpea,
The experiments also evaluate the responses to
slurry (liquid manure) application. The nutrition
research oflactating uses ows the fed forages 'jasa to diets evaluate
of Napier responses
to local
supplements,including Leucaena foliage
Simultaneously, plans were made with the
Veterinary Department and the International
Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases
(ILRAD) for epidemiological studies of disease
risk on smallholder cattle farms. Another
programme
resources
was to evaluate dairy cattle genetic
through
sets.
the analysis of existing data
Using the detailed protocols as bases for
thesis proposals, the forage agronomist,
nutritionist and veterinarian were registered for
PhD degrees. Later, MSc students in animal
breeding and agricultural economics were
included in Ihe training programme.
Research-extension-farmer
linkages
Concurrent with the development of the stationbased
research, the team arranged farm visits
and informal planning meetings with the dairy
extension (NDDP) staff. These visits and meetings
ensured interaction between researchers,
extension staff and fanmers, made the researchers
more familiar with smallholder farming systems
and their problems and orientated the programme
towards field-based problems and studies,
up The confiden~e research-extension-farmer between the three contacts groups built and
helped develop working relationships.
By October 1988, it had been agreed with the
dairy extension staff to concentrate the first
phase of field studies in Kaloleni Division. In
common with the majority of higher potential
areas at the coast, land ad:udication was already
well advanced in Kaloleni. It was a basic
assumption of the research-extension group
that secure land texure would be a prerequisite
for sustainable dairY development,
The area selected had good access to the
Mombasa market and some smallholder dairy
production, including zero-grazing units started
with the support of the NDDP. Kaloleni
Division's high human population density (over
250 people/km 2 in some areas) and the resultant
land-use intensification were seen as
representing what might well Pxist over much of
the higher rainfall areas of coastal Kenya by the
years 2000-2010. This time horizon was thought
appropriate as it was expected that it would be
38
at least 10 years before research would
contribute significantly to the prodi',tivity of
smallholder farming systems.
Field studies
In accordance with the agreed research pro-
In ar e w a areed out programne,
a survey was carried out jointly by
research and extension staff to characterise the
Kaloleni smallholder farming systems and their
resource bases. The survey covered the two
higher rainfall agro-ecological zones, the semihumid
coconut--cassava zone (CL3) and the
transitional cashewnut-cassava (CL4) zone
(Figure 2) (Jaetzold and Schmidt, 1983). The
latter borders on the semi-arid livestock-millet
zone (CL5).
Subsequent field studies have included a
suseq e eds ndaveoiated a
census of s; cattle nerds and associated small
ruminant jurvey of farm enterprise budgets
and household economies and cross-sectional
and longitudinal cattle disease surveys. The
results of these surveys have been summarised
by Thorpe et al (1992a). The data collection for
these descriptive and diagnostic studies was
completed at the end of 1991, some three years
after the programme was established.
Planning and review of the
research
The designs for and the results from the field
studies and the experiments were and are
reviewed in occasional meetings and monthly
seminars with the extension staff and researchers
from the cooperating institutions
(Figure 1). There are also regular joint visits to
farms by research and extension staff.
In 1991, it was agreed that the RRC would
host a quarterly meeting of research, senior
dairy extension staff (District Dairy Officers and
above) and other invited participants to review
past and current programme activities arid to
consider new proposals. These meetings are now
complemented by research-extension working
groups. For example, a current working group
developed the protocol for, and is supervising the
implementation of, farmer-managed forage
trials. In addition, the results from the
programme and the proposals for the next year's
research are rev(.wed annually through the
normal procedures olwed by KARI and ILCA.
Reports and papers preserting the results ofthe
research are sent to both institutions for review.
Implementation of programme
Planned versus implemented programme
activities
Since the initial planning meeting some four
years ago (April 1988), the implementation of
three aspects has been particularly encour-.ging:
disease risk, carried out mainly on-farm; feed
resources, with on-station experiments and
on-farm studies; and breed evaluation through