Perception of Farmers’ on Soil Fertility Problems and Replenishment Technologies in the North Rift Region of Kenya

Abstract

This paper investigates the farmers’ perception on soil fertility replenishment technologies in the North Rift Region of Kenya. A survey was conducted in Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu counties of the North Rift Region of Kenya. A total of 108 respondents were interviewed. A two stage random sampling technique was employed in the study. In the first stage, farmer groups growing maize as the main crop were selected. The second stage involved the selection of farmers who were practicing cereal banking for ease of marketing of their produce. A survey and field demonstration plots were adopted. On-farm demonstration were carried out and used to ascertain the farmers’ perception towards the technologies. A structured questionnaire was administered to them to elicit information on their perception on soil fertility replenishment technologies (SFRT). Descriptive statistics and the multiple regression analysis was done using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that farmers perceived that technologies could be used to address the declining soil fertility. The inputs were affordable available, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MOALF) was effective in disseminating the technologies and that the technologies could work on any farm at mean score of 3.5, 4.1, 4.0, 3.4 and 4.6 out of 5.0 respectively. Farmers in Trans Nzoia county identified lack of capital (70.4%) compared to Uasin Gishu (39.9%) as the greatest challenge in the adoption of SFRT technologies. Credit schemes that offer loans with low interest rates should be established to enable farmers have access to credit.