Geofrey K. Gathungu

• Associate Professor of Agronomy at Chuka University

Mango and passion fruits are highly perishable and despite the gains in their production, postharvest loss management remain a major challenge. This study therefore sought to identify the determinants of choice of postharvest practices in postharvest loss management of mango and passion fruit in Makueni, Machakos, Embu, Uasin Gishu and Trans-Nzoia...

Population growth has increased demand and diversified use of Irish potato which have increased its demand. The crop has become a major source of food and income for many households across the world. However, despite the high potential of about 30 tonnes per hectare (ha), smallholder farmers in Kenya realize low Irish potato yields ranging from 4-8...

The study assessed the effect of socio-economic characteristics on the management methods of T. absoluta in Mwea, Kirinyaga County. The target population was 2300 open fields and 20 green-house tomato farmers in Mwea. A descriptive research design was used in the study, and a multistage sampling procedure was used to get a sample of 303 respondents...

Irish potato is a significant source of food and income for many households worldwide. The demand for the crop has steadily increased around the globe. Kenyan Irish potato farmers have the potential to produce about 30 tonnes per Ha. However, small-scale Irish farmers in the country realize low output ranging from 4-8 tonnes per Ha due to limited u...

Banana provides food, nutrition security and income for most households and is fourth most popular food crop in the world after wheat, maize and rice. Despite its significance, full potential of banana production in Kenya remains unexploited by smallholder producers due to low technical efficiency especially in the utilization of farming inputs due...

Kenya’s coffee production has been declining over the years leading to decreased yields and making it hard for farmers to benefit from the sector. This has resulted in a considerable yield difference, with actual farmer yields far below the potential yields of station trials. This large yield gap reveals an enormous potential for yield improvement...

Crop diversification is a potential strategy that farmers can employ to address household food insecurity and low farm incomes. Smallholder coffee farmers face low and insufficient levels of crop diversification in Kirinyaga East and Central Sub-Counties, Kirinyaga County, Kenya. This study examines those factors that influence household decisions...

Sorghum stands as a fundamental food and cash crop in Tharaka-Nithi, yet its production remains suboptimal due to soil fertility limitations. Globally, sorghum yields hover around 2.5 t/ha, indicating an untapped potential given its maximum yield potential of 5 t/ha. Kenya has witnessed a decline in sorghum yields from 0.95 t/ha to 0.78 t/ha, prima...

Agro-shocks create stochastic disturbances to agribusiness performance, which spills over to the performance of credit markets. Farm loan beneficiaries domiciled in the Mount Kenya Region of the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), have recorded a poor loan repayment rate of 20.33% versus 10%, which is the Central Bank of Kenya benchmark for all...

After harvesting, cowpea leaves have high moisture content which exposes them to microbial growth. Drying is used to reduce the moisture and extend the shelf life. However, dried foods are susceptible to spoilage resulting from many microbial, biological, chemicals and physical reactions. After drying packaging materials used by farmers also expose...

Majority of the farmers in the coffee-growing zones are determined to ensure high production despite the numerous challenges that they face. Though there have been many efforts made by National and County governments with the aim of maximizing coffee production in terms of quality and quantity, farm productivity has remained low and, in some cases,...

Smallholder common bean commercialization is a critical factor for rural development as it provides a pathway for improving productivity, food security and alleviating poverty. However, common bean sector is dominated by subsistence farming which is not economically efficient as the level of commercialization is low at 0.4. Therefore, the study int...

Aims: Mango and passion fruit farming is one of the lucrative enterprises in the areas where they are grown and marketed. However, there is need for stability in the market outlets choices made by farmers due to the negative influence of brokers and fear of postharvest loss. This study sought to identify the determinants that influence the choice o...

Crop production increases food security and nutrition, and enhances livelihoods of rural populace in Kenya. There is a low levels of crops productivity in Kirinyaga County, and there is need to increase the production to feed the expanding population. This study aimed to analyze the effects of crop diversification on smallholder coffee farmers' sel...

Cowpea is one of the most important vegetable that ranks third among pulses and top five leafy vegetables consumed in Sub Saharan Africa. In Kenya cowpea contributes to cheap supply of nutritious food, revenue and food security. Despite its importance, cowpea production levels are a fraction of the potential due to low technical efficiency of produ...

Perception of climate change has been one of the important factors that enables or hinders the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices (CSAPs) among farmers worldwide. Nevertheless, little in-depth analysis and information exist in Kenya on how ⁠ Irish potato farmers perception influence their adoption to CSAPs. It is crucial to understand...

Cowpea leaves are lost annually due to infestation and spoilage when being transported to clients and the losses at the local markets are brought on by inadequate postharvest handling procedures and market glut, particularly during peak seasons. High moisture content from the cowpea leaves at harvest stage may contribute to increased spoilage hence...

Nematodes are a major constraint to agricultural production worldwide. For sustainable food production, effective management of plant parasitic nematodes is essential. The assault on the environment through the use of synthetic agrochemicals and unreliable results from crop rotation systems has necessitated the search for sustainable, effective and...

Farming communities who borrow agribusiness credit from Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) require efficient access to credit. Lender behaviour and decisions exhibited in credit supply dynamics influence agribusiness loan default rate. Mount Kenya region has registered a high default rate of 20.33% compared to a standard of 10% for all types of...

Kenya has experienced effects of climate change because most of the arable land is rain-fed yet the economy is dependent on agriculture. Climate change greatly affects crop production and has constrained legume yield globally. Green gram is an important and appropriate legume for Arid and Semiarid Lands (ASALs) as a source of livelihood yet climate...

Kenyans in Arid and Semiarid Lands (ASALs), rely heavily on green gram as a source of nutrition, earnings, and soil improvement, but yield has not kept up with growth in demand. Due to this, the Kenyan government's declared goal of improving food access, diversity, and nutritional status has been hampered in these areas. In comparison to the worldw...

Cowpea leaves are enjoyed as vegetables in many parts of Africa as they contain a lot of antioxidants, micronutrients and nutraceuticals whose deficiency is prevalent among people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Cowpea leaves undergo several physiological and metabolic changes during their maturity stages which may affect their nutritional content. However,...

There is low soybean production due to poor agronomic techniques, such as sub-optimal application of fertilizer among other factors. There are limited studies on the effects of potassium fertilizer application which is crucial in productivity, quality, and drought resistance. A study was conducted at the Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Or...

Farming projects funded using Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) capital are successful due to input of effective and efficient decisions. Farmer decisions have been observed to affect the loan default rate. The default rate for these loans has been reported to be 20.33%, which by standards is high since the yardstick for all types of loans in...

Groundnut yields are relatively very low in Kenya compared to other countries due to the use of poor agronomic practices and low soil fertility, with phosphorous (P) being the most limiting factor. This study aimed at determining the effect of the rate and time of phosphorous application and planting densities on yield and net benefit of groundnut...

Okra farmers use inorganic fertilizers which are expensive, they result to water pollution, increases the soil acidity, which affects soil nutrients availability and uptake as well as reducing microbial activity. Organic manure improves soil physical, chemical and biological properties, and are environmental friendly. However, farmers have limited...

Globally, green gram is a significant legume particularly in Arid and Semiarid Lands (ASALs), as a source of food, income, and soil enhancement. Despite this importance, green gram yield in Tharaka South Sub County is still too low at 560 kg/ha far below the crop’s estimated national potential of 1500 kg/ha and compares unfavorably with the global...

Background: Agribusiness loans advanced by Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) in Mount Kenya Region have high default rate of 20.33% which compares unfavourably with 10% benchmark for all types of loans in Kenya. This is a challenge, given the strategic importance of agribusiness credit in mainstreaming livelihoods to alleviate poverty by offer...

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) yields are far below the potential yield on most smallholder farms in Kenya. This necessitates suitable interventions to bridge this yield gap and result to profitable soybean production. An experiment was conducted in Chuka University demonstration farm, Chuka Sub County to determine the effect of integration of...

A study was conducted to determine soil organic carbon stocks (SOCs), total nitrogen (TN) and available phosphorous (AP) changes in agricultural land use practices with a focus on maize and coffee based agricultural systems along Kapingazi river catchment in Embu County. Demarcation was done into four agro-ecological zones (AEZ) following the river...

Butternut (Cucurbita moschata) production is constrained by poor agronomic practices such as suboptimal application of fertilizers and lack of appropriate pinching practices aimed at improving the number of female flowers. Moreover, many farmers mix animal manures and inorganic fertilisers in one hill without any recommended rates. The objective of...

Banana farmers in most parts of Kenya have not embraced value addition despite its accrued economic benefits and emphasis by stakeholders. A study was done in Chuka Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County to identify the socio-economic factors affecting uptake of banana value addition by farmers. The study was based on the diffusion of innovations theory...

Africa is under pressure from climate stresses and is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In Kenya, agriculture is the backbone of the economy making it an important contributor to food security of rural households. Currently crop productivity is being affected by continued climate variations and decline in soil fertility. Adaptatio...

The importance of coffee production in the world economy cannot be ruled out due to its contribution in the developing countries in areas such as creation of employment and rise in foreign exchange. Most of the coffee producing countries in the world have come up with strategies to increase their quantity and improve the quality of their produce. I...

The global challenges (climate change, soil and biodiversity degradation) are affecting sustainability of food and agriculture systems, and livelihoods of millions of farmers by threating achievement of the right to adequate food worldwide. Today, hunger remains an everyday challenge for humankind and about 815 million people are still chronically...

In Kenya climbing beans (Phaseoulus vulgaris L.) are mainly grown by small-scale farmers under limited resources, such as limited land and high cost of inorganic fertiliser inputs. These have had led to declining trends and low productivity of climbing beans as well as increasing environmental concerns in cases of excess fertilizer inputs. To mitig...

Since pre-colonial period, the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) on food crop production have played a significant role in enhancing the supply of food in the society. This paper examines the effects of marginalization of Agikuyu Women"s Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AWIKS) on food supply during the colonial period in Kiambu County of Kenya. This...

This study focused on measuring farm level technical efficiency among smallholder Irish potato farmers in Molo Sub County and its determinants. Descriptive research design was applied. Cross-sectional data was collected through multistage sampling from smallholder Irish potato farmers located in Molo Sub County from April to June 2019. A Stochastic...

Coffee production is a crucial economic world activity due to its contribution to foreign exchange and employment creation. Areas in other parts of the world that produce coffee have been increasing their output, but in Kenya, there has been a decline in production since 1987. Despite the emergence of other profitable enterprises such as dairy farm...

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are a major problem in French bean production within the smallholder farming systems. Control of root-knot using synthetic nematicides is not viable due to environmental concerns relating to their toxic residues. There is need to develop alternative control options that will promote soil health and reduce para...

The introduction colonial capitalist economic policies and practices such as land alienation, forced labour and commercial crop production acted as a major catalyst of change on the existing African indigenous subsistence production especially the Agikuyu Women’s Indigenous Knowledge System (AWIKS). This research paper focused on examining the effe...

The cultivation of soybean is increasing in Kenya due to its widespread use in the food and feed industry. Production is, however, constrained by low soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels. A field trial was conducted at Chuka University Research farm to determine effects of integrated application of rhizobium and phosphatic fertilizer on grow...

Inorganic fertilizers have become extremely important in correcting declining soil fertility in seed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production in Kenya. Unreliable rainfall has also limited seed production. Knowledge on water and nutrient use efficiencies in potato grown under different irrigation regimes with different nitrogen and phosphorus level...

Potato has overtime generated special importance in most parts of Kenya and the world as a means of strengthening food security and increasing revenue for farmers. However, potato productivity and industry expansion have been constrained by the poor quality seed tubers being produced in the informal seed sector due to inadequate supply of initial p...