Browsing by Author "Defoer, T."

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  • Facilitating learning processes in agricultural extension: Lessons from western Kenya
    Baltissen, G.; Wabwile, E.; Kooijman, M.; Defoer, T. (London: International Institute for Environment and Development, 2000)
    Declining soil fertility is a major problem in the highlands of western Kenya, but most farmers cannot afford to buy inputs. Any attempts to improve levels of soil fertility need to take account of the diversity and complexity of farming in western Kenya, where farmers grow a wide variety of crops on small, scattered pieces of land. As they cultivate several types of soil with a number of different qualities, soil fertility technologies for an "average" farmer or "average" field are unlikely to be of much use. A far more productive approach is to involve farmers in developing and fine-tuning the best combinations of soil fertility management practices, combining local knowledge with research-based insights to make the most effective use of locally available resources. Generally known as Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM), this approach can be achieved by stimulating joint learning and experimentation among farmers, supported by research and extension work. In western Kenya, collaborative learning has become popular as part of the Participatory Learning and Action Research approach (PLAR).
  • Managing soil fertility in Africa: Diverse settings and changing practice
    Hilhorst, T.; Muchena, F.; Defoer, T.; Hassink, J.; de Jager, A.; Smaling, E.; Toulmin, C. (International Institute for Environment and Development, 2000)
    This publication is the introductory chapter of the book, Nutrients on the move: Soil fertility dynamics in African farming systems; it summarizes the main findings of soil fertility case studies in six African countries. Key biophysical and socioeconomic constraints on production by smallholder farmers and the possibilities for improving agricultural productivity in Africa are highlighted. The case studies seek to find what is actually happening at farm and field level, how soil fertility management varies between different fields, farmers and locations, and what are the implications for interventions aimed at improving soil fertility management.