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Browsing by Author "Ashilenje, Dennis S."

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11
  • Agricultural Actors, Networks and Mind-sets: Discovering the predisposition for CAPS in the Mt Elgon region of Uganda and Kenya
    Moore, Keith M.; Lamb, Jennifer Nicole; Laker-Ojok, Rita; Nyachwo, Julian; Sikuku, Dominic Ngosia; Ashilenje, Dennis S.; Mukhwana, Eusebius J.; Bashaasha, Bernard; Norton, James B. (Blacksburg, VA: SANREM CRSP, Virginia Tech OIRED, 2012)
    Scaling up conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS) for smallholders requires
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    Impact of conservation tillage on soil quality under smallholder farming systems in eastern Uganda and western Kenya
    Okeyo, Jeremiah M.; Norton, Jay B.; Omondi, Emmanuel C.; Norton, Urszula; Ngosia, Dominic S.; Odhiambo, Judith A.; Ashilenje, Dennis S. (2014)
    This poster presents a study to evaluate the impact oftillage: conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and notill(NT) combined with 3 cropping systems: intercrop, relay andstrip system on: (i.) Total and labile SOC and N pools and (ii.) Bulk density (BD), penetration resistance (PR) and water in eastern Uganda and western Kenya.
  • Innovation networks and social contagion in East Africa
    Gunter, J.; Rivers, Caitlin; Eubank, Stephen; Moore, Keith M.; Kuhlman, C.; Lamb, Jennifer Nicole; Norton, James B.; Omondi, Emmanuel C.; Ojok, R. L.; Sikuku, Dominic Ngosia; Ashilenje, Dennis S.; Odera, J. (2012)
    This study seeks to understand the pathway by which new technology and the associated knowledge passes through community networks in western Kenya and eastern Uganda. Previous research in the region emphasizes the importance of community support to promote widespread adoption of Conservation Agriculture practices. We will simulate complex contagions of information in these networks using the simulation platform EpiSimdemics. This work complements and expands on the growing body of research that uses network analysis to study the effects of network structure and social contagion on complex health and social systems.
  • Multiple knowledges for agricultural production: Implications for the development of conservation agriculture in Kenya and Uganda
    Moore, Keith M.; Lamb, Jennifer Nicole; Sikuku, Dominic Ngosia; Ashilenje, Dennis S.; Laker-Ojok, Rita; Norton, James B. (2014)
    This article explores the interactions of different agricultural knowledges in order to examine mindset changes related to the adoption of conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS). Farmers in the Mount Elgon region of Kenya and Uganda were presented with 20 statements representing three different agricultural frames: conventional modern agriculture, conservation agriculture, and risk-averse agriculture. Responses were recorded on a five-point Likert scale. Factor analysis was also used for the three separate principles of CAPS. The findings legitimate the diversity in local agricultural knowledge systems, identify a difference in perspectives of farmers and of agriculture service providers and community agents, and demonstrates the role of local networks in influencing farmers’ technological frames. The article demonstrates that the mindset change necessary for farmers to adopt CAPS requires adaptation to the local agro-ecology and social network.
  • Performance of a local open pollinated maize variety and a common hybrid variety under intensive small-scale farming practices
    Norton, Jay B.; Omondi, Emmanuel C.; Ashilenje, Dennis S. (2014)
    Given that the majority of maize farmers in Kenya are small-scale, improvement in maize production must focus on increased production per unit area. While hybrid maize varieties outperform local open pollinated varieties under conventional farming practices, their relative performance has not been tested under small-scale intensive production practices. A study was conducted in 2013 in Kitale, western Kenya, to evaluate performance of ‘Namba Nane’; a local open pollinated maize variety, alongside a high yielding hybrid, ‘Hybrid 614D’ under a small-scale, intensive farming practice that utilizes deep tillage and compost/manure. Each variety was subjected to conventional and diagonal offset close spacing. The grain yield of the hybrid (12.8 tons ha-1) was not statistically different from that of ‘Namba Nane’ (10.2 tons ha-1), even though the number of rows per cobb and number of ears per plant of the former were significantly greater than those of latter. However, yields of both varieites were about twice the published potential yield of imporved hybrid maize (6 tons ha-1) grown with conventional practices. Seed kernels of ‘Namba Nane’ weighed 1.6 times more than those of ‘Hybrid 614D’. Diagonal off-set close spacing under this technology increased the maize grain yield o fboth varieties 1.3 times. The cost of producing ‘Namba Nane’ under the technology was significantly less that producing the hybrid and twice more profitable (gross margin). Growing ‘Namba Nane’ using small-scale, intensive farming practices may be a viable option for most small-scale, resource-challenged farmers to increase economics yields.
  • Seasonal Variability in GHG emissions and soil N in maize/common bean intercropping under inversion-type tillage in western Kenya
    Odhiambo, Judith A.; Norton, Urszula; Norton, Jay B.; Omondi, Emmanuel C.; Okeyo, Jeremiah M.; Ngosia, Dominic S.; Ashilenje, Dennis S. (2014)
    This posters reports on a study which seeks to (1) Assess SOM mineralization in typical maize bean production during long rainy season, short rainy season and a fallow period in double
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    Social network analysis for strengthening conservation agriculture participatory research: A closer look at collaboration in the Mount Elgon Region of Kenya and Uganda
    Lamb, Jennifer Nicole; Moore, Keith M.; Norton, James B.; Omondi, Emmanuel C.; Ojok, R. L.; Sikuku, Dominic Ngosia; Ashilenje, Dennis S.; Odera, J. (2012)
    The poster presents social network analysis as a method to support collaboration in the participatory research process to design strategies to scale up conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS). Objectives of this research project were to identify knowledge and attitudes concerning agricultural production practices held by actors in the network, to describe the structure of information and physical resource flows between these actors, and to determine critical pathways and opinion leaders that facilitate technological change among farmers and their service sector providers. Research presented was carried out in Eastern Uganda and Western Kenya. The poster highlights the feedback provided by farmers during workshops held in four communities. Both scientific and local knowledge were found in the research communities. Findings identified misconceptions about agent misconceptions about the knowledge of others. Findings also identified challenges to conservation agriculture adoption and how local networks can be mobilized to resolve them. Social Network Analysis contributions to overall project management were also presented. The research verified and expanded the network of service sector/community agents involved in the project, encouraged reflexivity in the research process, and empowered project participants to address network conditions which they can control.
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    Social networks and agricultural production knowledge: Findings from the Mt. Elgon Region (Kenya and Uganda)
    Moore, Keith M.; Lamb, Jennifer Nicole; Laker-Ojok, Rita; Sikuku, Dominic Ngosia; Ashilenje, Dennis S.; Norton, James B. (2012)
    Technological change leading to sustained smallholder innovation in conservation agriculture (CA) involves more than just the introduction of new practices by a transforming agent (extension or NGO). Many observers note that conservation agriculture requires a change of mind-set for adoption to occur (Hobbs, 2007; Wall, 2007). Successful cases of CA development have also demonstrated active engagement of a network of producers and their partners throughout the agricultural sector (Coughenour, 2003; Swenson and Moore, 2009). Social networks and their associated local and scientific knowledge systems have been shown to have potential for collective management of natural resources, albeit with variable results depending on the structure of the social network (Crona and Bodin, 2006; Schumann, 2011). Based on farm household and modified snowball surveys of agricultural sector and community agents, this paper examines social networks and technological beliefs in four agricultural communities surrounding Mt. Elgon in western Kenya and eastern Uganda.
  • Social networks and smallholder conservation agriculture in East Africa
    Moore, Keith M.; Lamb, Jennifer Nicole; Norton, James B.; Laker-Ojok, Rita; Nyachowo, J.; Sikuku, Dominic Ngosia; Ashilenje, Dennis S.; Bashaasha, Bernard; Mukhwana, Eusebius J. (2012)
    Scaling up conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS) for smallholders requires facilitating a change in mindset within a supporting network of agricultural production partners. Entering into the dialogue necessary to achieve these changes depends on the capacity of CAPS promoters to interact and communicate effectively with the existing network of farmers, agricultural service sector providers, and community agents. Effectively negotiating these interactions to create innovative ways to integrate the three conservation agriculture principles (reduced tillage, maintaining a permanent crop cover, and crop rotations) into local production practices will require: (1) an understanding of the current (local and scientific) knowledge and perspectives concerning best agricultural norms and practices; and (2) identifying the relevant actors and their resource and communication channels in the local agricultural production network. As a contribution to building this communicative competence, this paper presents findings from the study of four local networks involved in CAPS research in Kenya and Uganda.
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    Using a Social Network Approach to Improve Participatory Research for Conservation Agriculture: Initial Findings from the Mt. Elgon Region Initial Findings from the Mt. Elgon Region
    Lamb, Jennifer Nicole; Moore, Keith M.; Laker-Ojok, Rita; Sikuku, Dominic Ngosia; Ashilenje, Dennis S.; Norton, James B. (2012)
    The presentation reviewed initial findings for a study on social network approaches to improve participatory research for conservation agriculture in the Mt. Elgon region of Kenya and Uganda. Changes in technology transfer and international agricultural research were presented along with the notion of using social networks to study the co-innovation process. The key contributions of the study to project management were the building of trust and improvement of participatory research and the key contributors to CAPS technology development were the revelation of differences between perceived and reported network contacts, ill-informed perspectives about the beliefs of others, and the problems regarding actual agricultural technologies. The study helped to identify challenges to Conservation Agriculture (CA) such as herbicide use in Tororo and CA as a hand technology.
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    Weed Dynamics during Transition to Conservation Agriculture in Western Kenya Maize Production
    Odhiambo, Judith A.; Norton, Urszula; Ashilenje, Dennis S.; Omondi, Emmanuel C.; Norton, Jay B. (2015-08-03)
    Weed competition is a significant problem in maize (Zea mays, L.) production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Better understanding of weed management and costs in maize inter-cropped with beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) during transition to conservation agricultural systems is needed. Changes in weed population and maize growth were assessed for a period of three years at Bungoma where crops are grown twice per year and at Trans-Nzoia where crops are grown once per year. Treatments included three tillage practices: minimum (MT), no-till (NT) and conventional (CT) applied to three cropping systems: continuous maize/bean intercropping (TYPICAL), maize/bean intercropping with relayed mucuna after bean harvest (RELAY) and maize, bean and mucuna planted in a strip intercropping arrangement (STRIP). Herbicides were used in NT, shallow hand hoeing and herbicides were used in MT and deep hoeing with no herbicides were used in CT. Weed and maize performance in the maize phase of each cropping system were assessed at both locations and costs of weed control were estimated at Manor House only. Weed density of grass and forb species declined significantly under MT and NT at Manor House and of grass species only at Mabanga. The greatest declines of more than 50% were observed as early as within one year of the transition to MT and NT in STRIP and TYPICAL cropping systems at Manor House. Transitioning to conservation based systems resulted in a decline of four out of five most dominant weed species. At the same time, no negative impact of MT or NT on maize growth was observed. Corresponding costs of weed management were reduced by $148.40 ha(-1) in MT and $149.60 ha(-1) in NT compared with CT. In conclusion, farmers can benefit from effective and less expensive weed management alternatives early in the process of transitioning to reduced tillage operations.