Characteristics of improved technologies that affect their adoption in the semiarid tropics of Eastern Kenya

Abstract

In 1986/87 a farmer survey was conducted, and yields sampled on plots laid out on farmers' fields shortly before harvest, on 18 farms in E. Kenya. 16 of the farmers had participated in pre-extension trials in 1980-82these farms were compared with 2control farms to assess the influence of having participated in the earlier trials. The adoption of techniques such as terracing, use of FYM, dry planting of crops, improved cultivars, oxplough weeding and improved fodder grasses was assessed. In generalimproved techniques were most likely to be adopted if they involved low risk and cost. Most farmers had extended their area of improved grasses but almost all farms were overgrazed. Yields of crops including maize, cowpeas and pigeonpeas were generally very low. The on-farm trials conducted in 1980-82 had little effect on farmer practices in 1986/87.