ECONOMICS OF PLANTING PITS UNDER SORGHUM AND PIGEON PEA IN SEMI-ARID AREAS OF EASTERN KENYA

Rebecca Yegon, Hezron Nyarindo Isaboke, Geoffrey Christopher Mrema, Peter Mtakwa
  AGRISE,Vol 20, No 1 (2020),  15-22  
Viewed : 368 times

Abstract


Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is promoted in arid and semi-arid areas for increased yields. Planting pits are RWH systems that are used for collecting rainwater and runoff. Recently, there has been increased interest in economic and environmental benefits of agricultural technologies for sustainable development. To contribute to this knowledge, economics of Chololo and Five by Nine planting pits and sorghum and pigeon pea mulch was investigated at two sites in semi-arid Eastern Kenya for four seasons. The experiments were in a randomized complete block design in three replicates. Returns of planting pits and mulch were calculated by evaluating the benefit-cost (B: C) ratios and net present values (NPV) while considering water as an economic good. Planting pits were profitable for sorghum and unprofitable for pigeon pea production. The outcome differed with sites and seasons depending on rainfall availability. Chololo pits earned US$ 92 to US$ 786 per hectare whereas Five by Nine pits earned US $ 59 to US$ 955 per hectare. Mulches were beneficial for sorghum and pigeon pea production at Nkarini and unprofitable at Machang’a with the yield differing with seasons depending on rainfall availability. This study recommends Five by Nine and Chololo pits for sorghum production at Nkarini where it was economically viable in three out of four seasons.

Keywords


Economics; Planting pits; Profits; Rainwater harvesting; Yield

Full Text:

PDF

References


Amede, T., Menza, M. and Awlachew, S. B. (2011). Zaï improves nutrient and water productivity in the Ethiopian highlands. Experimental Agriculture 47(1): 7-20. http://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479710000803

Ayuke, F. O., Karanja, N. K., Okello, J. J., Wachira, P. M., Mutua, G. K., Lelei, D. K. and Harrison, R. (2012). Agrobiodiversity and potential use for enhancing soil health in Tropical soils of Africa. Soils Food Security 35: 94-134.

Boers, T. M. and Ben-Asher, J. (1982). A review of rainwater harvesting. Agricultural Water Management 5(2): 145–158. http://doi.org/10.1016/0378-3774 (82)90003-8

FAOSTAT, FAO. (2018). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Statistics Division (2016). Production. [http://faostat3.fao.org/browse/Q/QC/S] site visited on 10th December 2018.

GENSTAT 14 Committee. (2011). GenStat for Windows. VSN International Limited.

Hatibu, N., Mutabazi, K., Senkondo, E. M. and Msangi, A. S. K. (2006). Economics of Rainwater Harvesting for Crop Enterprises in Semi-Arid Areas of East Africa. Agricultural Water Management 80(1-3). pp 74–86.

http://doi.org/10.1016/ j.agwat.2005.07.005.

Jaetzold, R., Schmidt, H. and Shisanya, C. (2006). Farm Management Handbook of Kenya Natural Conditions and Farm Information, Sub Part C1, Eastern Kenya (2nd ed. Vol. 2). Nairobi: Ministry of Agriculture. pp 67-78.

Kaboré, D. and Reij, C. (2004). The Emergence and Spreading of an Improved Traditional Soil and Water Conservation Practice in Burkina Faso. EPTD Discussion Paper No. 114.

Kauffman, S., Droogers, P., Hunink, J., Mwaniki, B., Muchena, F., Gicheru, P., Bindraban, P., Onduru, D. and Bouma, J. (2014). Green Water Credits–exploring its potential to enhance ecosystem services by reducing soil erosion in the Upper Tana basin, Kenya. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management 10(2): 133-143.

Liang, X. and Van Dijk, M. P. (2011). Economic and Financial Analysis on Rainwater Harvesting for Agricultural Irrigation in the Rural Areas of Beijing. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 55(11): 1100–1108.

http://doi.org/10.1016 /j.resconrec.2011.06.009

Li, F., Cook, S., Geballe, G. T. and Burch Jr, W. R. (2000). Rainwater Harvesting Agriculture: An Integrated System for Water Management on Rainfed Land in China's Semiarid Areas. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 29(8): 477-483.

Mati, B. M. (2006). Overview of Water and Soil Nutrient Management under Smallholder Rain-fed Agriculture in East Africa (Vol. 105). Colombo: IWMI. pp 28-30.

Mergeai, G., Kimani, P., Mwang'ombe, A., Olubayo, F., Smith, C., Audi, P. and Le Roi, A. (2001). Survey of Pigeon Pea Production Systems, Utilization, and Marketing in Semi-Arid Lands of Kenya. Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement 5(3): 145-153.

Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries (MALF). (2015). Economic Review of Agriculture [ERA] 2015. Nairobi. Government Printer. pp 14-16.

Rockström, J., Williams, J., Daily, G., Noble, A., Matthews, N., Gordon, L. and Smith, J. (2016). Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture for Human Prosperity and Global Sustainability. Ambio 1:1-14. http://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-016-0793-6

Rustamova, I. B. (2016). Evaluation of Economic Efficiency of Using Resource Saving Technologies (Conservation Agriculture) in Irrigated Lands. Journal of Global Economics 4(2): 1-5. http://doi.org/10.4172/2375-4389.1000197

Senkondo, E. M., Msangi, A. S. and Hatibu, N. (2004). Profitability of Rainwater Harvesting for Agricultural Production in Selected Semi-Arid Areas of Tanzania. Journal of Applied Irrigation Science 39(1): 65–81.

Slingerland, M. A., and Stork, V. E. (2000). Determinants of the Practice of Zaï and Mulching in North Burkina Faso. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 16:53–76. http://doi.org/10.1300/J064v16n02.

Smith, R. B. W., Hildreth, L. A. and Savadago, K. (2011). Evaluating the Economic Impacts of Water Harvesting in Burkina Faso. UNEP. Working paper 6. Nairobi. pp 1-14.

Tenge, A. J. and Hella, J. P. (2005). Financial efficiency of major soil and water conservation measures in West Usambara highlands, Tanzania. Applied Geography 25(4): 348-366.

Valenzuela, H. and Smith, J. (2002). Pigeon Pea. Cooperative Extension Service, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. pp 5-6.

www.centralbank.go.ke. Central Bank of Kenya Lending rate. (2016). Accessed on 15th August 2016.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.agrise.2020.020.1.3

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2020 Rebecca Yegon, Hezron Nyarindo Isaboke, Geoffrey Christopher Mrema, Peter Mtakwa

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.