Experiences of Agricultural Research in Kenya: From Research

to Implementation of Extension Service

Dr. Festus Murithi

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)

Presentation given during the UN Expert Group meeting on SLM and Agricultural Practices in Africa: Bridging the Gap between Research and Farmers, 16-17 April 2009, University of Gothenburg,

Sweden

Outline of Presentation• Introduction

• Kenyan NARS: Role of research in Development

• Approaches for Linking agric research- extension for impact

• Conclusions: Reasons for success of SA projects

Flagship projects identified for agric. sector development in next 5 yrs

– Agricultural policy reforms– Three-tiered fertilizer cost reduction– Branding Kenya farm produce– Establishment of livestock disease free zones and

processing facilities– Creation of publicly accessible land registries– Development of agricultural land use master plan– Development of irrigation schemes

• STI recognized to be important in all the flagship projects and across the sectors

Role of Research in Agric. Development

• Productivity impact

• Livelihoods impact

• Environmental impact and sustainability

=> Calls for impact orientation where agric R&D contributes to development impact

technology design & development

- HYV seeds - trade-offs

- policy options- training sessions

- reports

- increase in yields- decrease in costs

- improved soil fertility- new knowledge, skills- attitudes and values

NARS

inputs and activities

outputs

outcomes

impact

-improved food security

-poverty reduced- sustainable NRM

- awareness- availability of:

seeds, inputs, marketsgood roads

-private agents:extension, input dealers

- public depts:extension, roads, trade,

quality control

-private agents:extension, input dealers, millers,

- public depts:extension, roads,

trade, quality control, electricity,

Source: Waithaka and Minde, 2006

super seed

more bread, ugali

Impact orientation

yields costs

nutritivevalue

aez

National Agric. Research System- Kenya

• Consists of approx. 30 institutions:– Public agric. research institutions, KARI being the largest– Public and private university faculties and departments– Private companies– NGOs

• Human capacity > 800 fte, 50% in KARI• Partners include:

– CGIAR Centres (ILRI, ICRAF, ICRISAT, CIMMYT, CIP, CIAT, ICIPE)

– Regional networks (ASARECA)

• NARS policy being finalized to facilitate joint priority setting, planning and resource sharing among NARS institutions

Role of NARS R4D: Case of KARI

• Core function is to generate improved agric. technologies, information and knowledge as public goods through conducting strategic, applied and adaptive research

• Secondary role is to catalyze the adoption of the improved technologies, information and knowledge to create people level impact through establishment of effective partnerships

• Also provides specialized services (e.g. lab analysis, digital mapping)

Contribution of KARI to Productivity

• Works with other partners to provide the necessary STI framework in agriculture required to transform Kenya into a a knowledge based society.

• Generates technologies and promote use of information/knowledge to respond to clients demands

• Contributes to income generation, poverty reduction, social equity, good health, security due to better use of NR, global/regional competitiveness and better governance

Overall purpose

• To contribute to the modernization of the agricultural sector by increasing agricultural productivity, promoting investment in agricultural enterprises and agribusiness

KARI’s Research programmes

1. Food crops (Cereals, root and tubers, grain legumes, crop health)

2. Horticulture and industrial crops (vegetables; fruit and nuts; oil and fibre; and flowers, botanicals, medicinal and aromatics)

3. Animal production (Ruminant livestock improvement, non ruminant livestock improvement and emerging livestock)

4. Animal health research (disease diagnostics; vaccines and drugs; disease control and epidemiology)

5. Range resource mgt

Programmes (Cont..)

6. Natural Resource Management (Land use planning, Soil and water mgt, Integrated soil fertility mgt, Irrigation and drainage)

7. Biotechnology (Crop and livestock biotechnology)

8. Genetic resources management (GenebanK)

9. KARI Seed Unit

10. Socio-economics and Applied Statistics

11. Adaptive research, outreach and partnerships

These programmes are supported by ICT, HR, Procurement and Finance services

Research Approach • KARI has adopted the APVC approach to

effectively contribute to generation of technologies and knowledge, their dissemination, adoption and impact

• APVC calls for shift from focusing on commodities to differentiated agric. products responding to market demands

• Research activities conducted thro’ a network of 23 centres across the country with specific regional or national mandates

Network of KARI Centres

Approaches used to improve Research-Extension linkages for impact

• Joint planning at research centre level (Centre Research Advisory Committee – CRAC annual meetings)

• Adopted Farming Systems approach to research and extension, and now the value chains approach• Multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary partnerships key

• Joint research priority setting involving key stakeholders in different value chains• Social, cultural, economic, gender, institutional and technical

issues considered

Approaches used to improve Research –Extension linkages for impact

• Implementation of joint research extension activities• Planning/review meetings, on-farm trials, field days,

demonstrations, agric. shows, M&E

• Development and implementation of joint research and extension projects (e.g. the Kenya agricultural Productivity and Agric-business programme)

• Establishment of KARI Seed Unit (KSU) to avail planting materials to farmers

• Initiation of the Agric. Technology and Information Response Initiative (ATIRI) in KARI to strengthen capacity of farmers to demand technologies

• Research getting more involved in policy formulation

Examples of Successful SA Initiatives• Soil and water conservation project

supported by Sida and Gok• Agroforestry projects • Smallholder irrigation projects, incl drip

irrigation • Cover crops/green manure projects• Conservation agriculture – minimum/zero

tillage projects• Use of farm yard manure, esp. in vegetables

and cash crops

Successful SA (Cont’d)

• Smallholder dairy zero grazing systems => manures easily directed/applied to crop land

• Indigenous poultry projects• Smallholder horticultural gardens• Napier grass/desmodium push-pull

technologies for control of striga in maize (western Kenya)

• Organic farming projects

Some reasons for success• Involvement of key partners, including beneficiaries

in design and implementation of the projects => high appreciation of need to create impact

• Clear social and economic benefits=> appropriate incentives

• Compatibility of the technologies with the farming systems

• Availability of input/output markets• Supportive policies• Good collective action among the beneficiaries

Thank you