Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Winfred Sila, Charles K. Gachuiri, John W. Recha, James Audho, Julie M. K. Ojango
Summary: The study showed that improved breeds introduced in the Nyando basin have been widely adopted and resulted in offspring that are heavier than local breeds, bringing higher income to smallholder farmers. Goat milk contributes 10% of the total goat revenue. To sustain the productivity gains, a community-based selective mating program should be implemented.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Victoria Garrido, Lourdes Migura-Garcia, Ines Gaitan, Ainhoa Arrieta-Gisasola, Ilargi Martinez-Ballesteros, Lorenzo Fraile, Maria Jesus Grillo
Summary: The presence of Salmonella in free-range pigs is found to be directly related to the accessible natural vegetation, affecting the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Clear differences were observed in the gut microbiota between Salmonella-positive and Salmonella-negative populations.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Stacey Giroux, Patrick Kaminski, Kurt Waldman, Jordan Blekking, Tom Evans, Kelly K. Caylor
Summary: Smallholder farmers in Africa, particularly in rural Kenya, rely on advice from their peers in making decisions about maize seed choices. This study examines the social networks of maize seed advice seeking, as well as the factors influencing farmers' seeking behaviors, using exponential random graph modeling.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Patricia Palma-Granados, Maria Munoz, Miguel A. Delgado-Gutierrez, Cristina Ovilo, Yolanda Nunez, Miguel A. Fernandez-Barrosso, Fernando Sanchez-Esquiliche, Luisa Ramirez, Juan M. Garcia-Casco
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of a set of 26 polymorphisms on premium cuts weights and meat quality in a larger population. The results suggest that these polymorphisms are associated with meat quality traits but may not have undesirable effects on carcass composition. Further research is needed to validate these findings.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Amy Quandt
Summary: This study fills the gap in qualitative research on drought coping strategies by examining narratives from Kenyan farmers, highlighting perceived impacts of drought and various coping strategies used; coping strategies can be classified into four categories, including livelihood diversification, longer-term livelihood strategies, short-term coping activities, and erosive coping strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Rose Nyakemiso Sagwe, Marcell K. Peters, Thomas Dubois, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, H. Michael G. Lattorff
Summary: Avocado production in East African smallholder farms highly relies on insect pollination, and a pollination deficit can result in lower fruit set. Supplementing farms with Western honey bee colonies can help increase fruit yield in avocado production.
BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Victoria Sandilands, Laurence Baker, Jo Donbavand, Sarah Brocklehurst
Summary: This study investigated the effects of four different environmental enrichments on the behavior and feather cover of free-range hens. The results showed that hens were most interested in pecking blocks and pelleted feed, while they showed the least interest in jute ropes. Although ropes were the cheapest option, they did not effectively encourage foraging and other desired behaviors. Changes in hen behavior and feather cover were not consistently affected by the use of different environmental enrichments.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Raffaele D'Annolfo, Barbara Gemmill-Herren, David Amudavi, Hudson W. Shiraku, Mariacristina Piva, Lucas A. Garibaldi
Summary: This study aims to explore the sustainability of agroecological approaches, comparing push-pull and conventional maize production systems, finding that the push-pull system has advantages in social and natural capitals and does not reduce farmers' profitability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Antti Autio, Tino Johansson, Lilian Motaroki, Paola Minoia, Petri Pellikka
Summary: The research findings show a discrepancy in the perceived awareness and utilization of climate-smart agricultural practices and technologies between state actors and farmers. Farmers are constrained by limitations such as market mechanisms, land tenure issues, and lack of resources, making it difficult for them to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices and technologies.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Development Studies
N. T. Krell, S. A. Giroux, Z. Guido, C. Hannah, S. E. Lopus, K. K. Caylor, T. P. Evans
Summary: The study found that a high percentage of Kenyan farmers own mobile phones, with a subset using them to access agricultural and livestock information. Factors influencing the adoption of m-services include smartphone ownership and membership in farmer organizations, while age and income do not significantly affect usage. The results highlight the importance of designing m-services for both smartphone and basic phone users to improve dissemination of agro-meteorological information.
CLIMATE AND DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amos W. Wawire, Adam Csorba, Jozsef A. Toth, Erika Micheli, Mark Szalai, Evans Mutuma, Eszter Kovacs
Summary: This study evaluates soil fertility management among smallholder farmers in Mount Kenya East region and finds that the decision to invest in fertility practices is correlated with farmers' socio-economic, farm-related factors and institutional characteristics. ISFM techniques are divided into 3 sets, including manure, fertilizer use, agroforestry; slash-no-burn, residue burn, fallowing; residue application, minimum tillage.
Article
Environmental Studies
Yahia Mahmoud, Mary Njenga, Cecilia Sundberg, Kristina Roing de Nowina
Summary: Pyrolytic cooking stoves produce biochar to improve soil fertility and act as a carbon sink, offering sustainable solutions for smallholder farmers in Africa. Providing households with these stoves and training on biochar application can effectively address current challenges.
ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Simon Nyokabi, Pieternel A. Luning, Imke J. M. de Boer, Luke Korir, Emmanuel Muunda, Bockline O. Bebe, Johanna Lindahl, Bernard Bett, Simon J. Oosting
Summary: This study investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and adoption of milk quality and food safety practices by smallholder farmers in Kenya. The results revealed low knowledge levels and negative attitudes, highlighting the need for improvement in knowledge and attitudes to implement better hygiene control, disease control, and antibiotic residue control practices.
Article
Agronomy
Thomas Katterer, Dries Roobroeck, Geoffrey Kimutai, Erik Karltun, Gert Nyberg, Cecilia Sundberg, Kristina Roing de Nowina
Summary: Applying biochar to degraded cropland soils in the African tropics has the potential to enhance crop productivity and mitigate climate change. A study conducted in different locations in Kenya demonstrated that locally produced biochar from biomass wastes can improve agricultural production and carbon storage under various pedo-climatic conditions.
AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Francis Oremo, Richard Mulwa, Nicholas Oguge
Summary: This study used choice experiments to assess farmers' preferences and willingness to pay for attributes of on-farm water storage systems. Results showed high preferences and willingness to pay for all year water availability, reduced water resource conflicts, and improved water quality. This suggests that policies should prioritize addressing these factors by incorporating on-farm surface water storage systems.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Maina Ngotho, John M. Kagira, Christopher Kariuki, Naomi Maina, John K. Thuita, David M. Mwangangi, Idle O. Farah, Jann Hau
Article
Parasitology
J. M. Kagira, N. Maingi, P. W. N. Kanyari, S. M. Githigia, J. C. Ng'ang'a, J. M. Gachohi
JOURNAL OF HELMINTHOLOGY
(2010)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Maribel Funes-Huacca, Alyson Wu, Eszter Szepesvari, Pavithra Rajendran, Nicholas Kwan-Wong, Andrew Razgulin, Yi Shen, John Kagira, Robert Campbell, Ratmir Derda
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
John Maina Kagira, Paul Njuki Kanyari, Samuel Maina Githigia, Ndicho Maingi, James Chege Ng'ang'a, John Mwangi Gachohi
TROPICAL ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION
(2012)
Article
Infectious Diseases
John K. Thuita, John M. Kagira, David Mwangangi, Enock Matovu, C. M. R. Turner, Daniel Masiga
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2008)
Article
Infectious Diseases
John K. Thuita, Michael Z. Wang, John M. Kagira, Cathrine L. Denton, Mary F. Paine, Raymond E. Mdachi, Grace A. Murilla, Shelley Ching, David W. Boykin, Richard R. Tidwell, James E. Hall, Reto Brun
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2012)
Article
Parasitology
Naomi Maina, Kagira Joseph Maina, Pascal Maeser, Reto Brun
Article
Zoology
J. M. Kagira, M. Ngotho, J. K. Thuita, N. W. Maina, J. Hau
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY
(2007)