Browsing by Author "Bashaasha, Bernard"
Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Adoption and impacts of conservation agriculture: Quasi experimental evidence from E. AfricaBashaasha, Bernard; Laker-Ojok, Rita; Norton, James B.; Owori, M.; Peck, D. (2013)Conservation Agriculture is a recent and evolving concept to land management that seeks to optimise crop yields and farm profits in a manner that balances economic and environmental benefits. The underlying principles include avoiding soil tillage, maintaining soil cover and retaining crop residues, practicing crop rotations and improved fallows, precision placement of appropriate fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides (targeting of inputs), reliance upon integrated pest management (IPM) principles and avoidance of soil compaction, among others.
- Agricultural Actors, Networks and Mind-sets: Discovering the predisposition for CAPS in the Mt Elgon region of Uganda and KenyaMoore, 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
- Agricultural mindsets across social networks in four African countriesMoore, Keith M.; Fornito, M.; Gunter, J.; Lamb, Jennifer; Sikuku, Dominic Ngosia; Shibonji, D.; Bashaasha, Bernard; Marake, Makoala V.; Keita, Moussa; Lambert, Dayton M.; Norton, James B. (2014)This PowerPoint presents research examining agricultural mindsets and social networks in Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, and Mali. It identifies three agricultural mindsets exist which characterize farmer goals, values, and identities. These are: conventional agriculture (market-oriented production involving mechanical implements, agrochemical use and mono-cropping), risk-averse agriculture (livelihood diversification, distribution of risk, avoidance of market dependence), and conservation agriculture (minimal tillage, maintaining a soil cover and crop rotations). Mindsets of farmers and non-farm agents are explored through survey data. Relationships between actors, and mindsets of key actors are displayed in maps of social networks in Kenya and Uganda. The presentation concludes by emphasizing that agro-ecological, socio-cultural, and historical context matters, and calls for the development of an innovation system that is catalyzed by innovation brokers.
- Development and transfer of conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS) for small-holder farms in eastern Uganda and western KenyaNorton, James B.; Arnould, Eric; Norton, Urszula; Peck, Dannele; Press, Melea; Okalebo, Robert; Omondi, Emmanuel C.; Mukhwana, Eusebius J.; Bashaasha, Bernard; Laker-Ojok, Rita; Okeyo, Jeremiah; Odhiambo, Judith A.; Owori, Moses; Oluko, Patrick; Ogonga, Phanice; Chepkurui, Isaac; Sikuku, Dominic (2011)This poster provides an overview of the Long Term Research Activity 10 of Phase IV of the SANREM CRSP in two upland and two lowland areas in Mt. Elgon region of Kenya-Uganda border: Kapchorwa and Tororo Uganda; Trans Nzoia and Bungoma, Kenya. The project aims to assist farmers and other stakeholders in determining whether soil-building practices result in healthier soils and economically higher yields. They will have identified, developed and tested tools for reducing soil disturbance over this 5 year project. The research will also result in defined policy and regulatory constraints to agronomic and market innovation.
- Factors influencing the choice of conservation agriculture practices by smallholder maize farmers in eastern Uganda and western KenyaAsiimwe, J.; Bashaasha, Bernard; Kantungi, E. (2013)Poverty and high dependence on rain-fed agriculture renders smallholder farmers vulnerable to climate change induced disasters. As a measure for climate change adaptation, conservation agriculture was introduced to farmers. Conservation agriculture has both agricultural and environmental benefits which represent a fundamental change in the production system thinking. Conservation agriculture constitutes three principles: minimum soil disturbance, permanent organic soil-cover and diversified crop rotation. This study focused on determining factors that influence the choice decisions for conservation agriculture principles by smallholder maize farmers in Tororo and Kapchorwa districts in Eastern Uganda and Bungoma and Transnzoia districts in Western Kenya. Cross sectional data from 790 randomly selected households were collected to establish socioeconomic and biophysical factors that influence household decisions to participate in conservation agriculture. Data were analysed using descriptive cross tabulation statistics and independent sample t-tests. In modelling choice decisions, a multinomial probit was used. Results revealed that age, gender, household size, credit access, parcel size, geographical location, slope and soil type were significant factors that influenced choice decisions for farmers to participate in conservation agriculture. Farmers who engaged in minimum tillage reported lower labor requirement and input costs in maize production.
- Social networks and smallholder conservation agriculture in East AfricaMoore, 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.