Effects of Regenerative Agriculture Technologies on the Productivity of Cowpea  in the Drylands of Embu County, Kenya

Hezron Mogaka

doi:10.18006/2023.11(1).190.198

Authors

Hezron Mogaka University of Embu, P.O.Box 112, Nairobi, Kenya https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1375-5739

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18006/2023.11(1).190.198

Keywords:

Technology uptake, Regenerative Agriculture (RA), Cowpea Production, Kenya

Abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an important indigenous multi-purpose crop grown in arid and semiarid areas of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The cowpea has nutritional and economic value, especially for smallholder farmers in dry lands. However, poor farming practices have declined cowpea productivity over the years. Low soil nutrient replenishment exacerbates the situation, leading to low soil fertility. Uptake of regenerative agriculture (RA) technologies is critical to building more resilient ecosystems that improve soil fertility and agricultural productivity while mitigating climate change effects. This study was carried out to evaluate the impact of the uptake of RA technologies on the productivity of cowpea in the dry lands of Embu County, Kenya. A survey involving 400 farming households was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and a stochastic log-linearized Cobb-Douglas production function were used for the data analysis. The study results showed that RA technologies commonly used by farming households were: cereal-legume intercrop, mulching, minimum tillage, crop rotations, pasture cropping, organic agriculture, and compost manure. The findings also revealed that inputs, farm size, labour cost, and used manure amount positively influenced cowpea productivity. The results also showed that cereal-legume intercrop, crop rotations, pasture cropping, and organic agriculture significantly influenced cowpea productivity, while minimum tillage showed a negative relationship. Therefore, the current study's results recommend that the uptake of RA technologies should be scaled to scale up cowpea productivity in dry lands. The study contributes to determining appropriate technologies for cowpea production in arid and semiarid areas. These results will help the government, policymakers, and other inventors to make the right decisions while disseminating or introducing innovations in dry areas.

References

Cougnon, M., Durand, J. L., Julier, B., Barre, P., & Litrico, I. (2022). Using perennial plant varieties for use as living mulch for winter cereals: A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 42(6), 1-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-022-00844-x

Darai, R., Sarker, A., Aryal, L., Gaur, P., & Neupane, R. K. (2021). Adoption and Impact of Pulses Research and Development Strategies for Nepal. Journal of Horticulture and Forestry, 3, 104.

Dissanayake, C. A. K., Jayathilake, W., Wickramasuriya, H. V. A., Dissanayake, U., Kopiyawattage, K. P. P., & Wasala, W. M. C. B. (2022). Theories and Models of Technology Adoption in Agricultural Sector. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9258317 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9258317

Durham, T. C., & Mizik, T. (2021). Comparative economics of conventional, organic, and alternative agricultural production systems. Economies, 9(2), 64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/economies9020064

Elrick, W., Luke, H., & Stimpson, K. (2022). Exploring opportunities and constraints of a certification scheme for regenerative agricultural practice. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 46(10), 1527-1549. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2022.2121950

FAOSTAT (2019). Food Agriculture and Organization (FAOSTAT). Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC

Gewa, C. A., Stabile, B., Thomas, P., Onyango, A. C., & Angano, F. O. (2021). Agricultural Production, Traditional Foods and Household Food Insecurity in Rural Kenya: Practice, Perception and Predictors. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/19320248.2021.1994083. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19320248.2021.1994083

Gupta, R. K., . P., Arya, M., Kumar, A., & Kumari, P. (2019). Study on Genetic Variability in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]. Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 2019, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.9734/cjast/2019/v33i230057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/cjast/2019/v33i230057

Ikehi, M. E., Ejiofor, T. E., Ifeanyieze, F. O., Nwachukwu, C. U., & Ali, C. C. (2022). Adoption of agricultural innovations by farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Technology, 18(1), 123–140.

Isaboke, H. N., & Musyoka, K. (2022). Analysis of the factors affecting farm-level output of mangoes among small-scale farmers in Mwala Sub-County, Kenya. International Journal of Agricultural Technology, 18(3), 991-1000

Islam, M. R., Jahan, R., Uddin, S., Harine, I. J., et al. (2021). Lime and organic manure amendment enhances crop productivity of wheat–mungbean–t. aman cropping pattern in acidic piedmont soils. Agronomy, 11(8), 1595. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081595

Jena, P. R. (2019). Can minimum tillage enhance productivity? Evidence from smallholder farmers in Kenya. Journal of Cleaner Production, 218, 465–475. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.jclepro.2019.01.278 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.278

Kareem, A., Farooqi, Z. U. R., Kalsom, A., Mohy-Ud-Din, W., Hussain, M. M., Raza, M., & Khursheed, M. M. (2021). Organic Farming for Sustainable Soil Use, Management, Food Production and Climate Change Mitigation. In S.A. Bandh (eds) Sustainable Agriculture (pp. 39-59). Springer, Cham. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83066-3_3

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. (2019). Kenya population and housing census analytical reports. Nairobi: Government Press.

Kephe, P. N., Ayisi, K. K., & Petja, B. M. (2021). Challenges and opportunities in crop simulation modelling under seasonal and projected climate change scenarios for crop production in South Africa. Agriculture & Food Security, 10(1), 1-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-020-00283-5

Kiboi, M. N., Ngetich, K. F., Fliessbach, A., Muriuki, A., & Mugendi, D. N. (2019). Soil fertility inputs and tillage influence on maize crop performance and soil water content in the Central Highlands of Kenya. Agricultural Water Management, 217, 316–331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2019.03.014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2019.03.014

Lal, R. (2020). Regenerative agriculture for food and climate. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 75(5), 123A-124A.. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2020.0620A DOI: https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2020.0620A

Liu, K., Bandara, M., Hamel, C., Knight, J. D., & Gan, Y. (2020). Intensifying crop rotations with pulse crops enhances system productivity and soil organic carbon in semiarid environments. Field Crops Research, 248, 107657. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.fcr.2019.107657 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2019.107657

Luna, I. M., Fernández-Quintanilla, C., & Dorado, J. (2020). Is pasture cropping a valid weed management tool. Plants, 9(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9020135 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9020135

Maitra, S., & Gitari, H. (2020). Scope for adoption of intercropping system in Organic Agriculture. Indian Journal of Natural Sciences, 11(63), 28624-28631.

Martin, G., Durand, J. L., Duru, M., Gastal, F., et al. (2020). Role of ley pastures in tomorrow's cropping systems. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 40(3),1-25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-020-00620-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-020-00620-9

Mfeka, N., Mulidzi, R. A., & Lewu, F. B. (2019). Growth and yield parameters of three cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) lines as affected by planting date and zinc application rate. South African Journal of Science, 115(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/ 10.17159/sajs.2019/4474 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2019/4474

Moronge, J., & Nyamweya, J. M. (2019). Some socioeconomic drivers of agroforestry adoption in Temiyotta Location, Nakuru County, Kenya. Journal of Sustainability, Environment and Peace, 2(1), 9-14.

Mpanga, I. K., Schuch, U. K., & Schalau, J. (2021). Adaptation of resilient regenerative agricultural practices by small-scale growers towards sustainable food production in north-central Arizona. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability, 3, 100067. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2021.100067

Muthee, A. I., Gichimu, B. M., & Nthakanio, P. N. (2019). Analysis of Banana production practices and constraints in Embu county, Kenya. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 9(1), 123–132. https://doi.org/10.18488/ journal.1005/2019.9.1/1005.1.123.132 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.1005/2019.9.1/1005.1.123.132

Mwaura, G. G., Kiboi, M. N., Bett, E. K., Mugwe, J. N., Muriuki, A., Nicolay, G., & Ngetich, F. K. (2021). Adoption Intensity of Selected Organic-Based Soil Fertility Management Technologies in the Central Highlands of Kenya. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 4(3), 570190. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.570190 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.570190

Nelson, W. C., Hoffmann, M. P., Vadez, V., Rötter, R. P., Koch, M., & Whitbread, A. M. (2022). Can intercropping be an adaptation to drought? A model‐based analysis for pearl millet–cowpea. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 208(6), 910-927. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jac.12552

Newton, P., Civita, N., Frankel-Goldwater, L., Bartel, K., & Johns, C. (2020). What Is Regenerative Agriculture? A Review of Scholar and Practitioner Definitions Based on Processes and Outcomes. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 4(194). https://doi.org/ 10.3389/fsufs.2020.577723 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.577723

Njonjo, M. W., Muthomi, J. W., Mwang'Ombe, A. W., & Carozzi, M. (2019). Production Practices, Postharvest Handling, and Quality of Cowpea Seed Used by Farmers in Makueni and Taita Taveta Counties in Kenya. International Journal of Agronomy, 14(8),1-12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/1607535 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/1607535

Nyaga, J. W., & Njeru, E. M. (2020). Potential of Native Rhizobia to Improve Cowpea Growth and Production in Semiarid Regions of Kenya. Frontiers in Agronomy, 2, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/ fagro.2020.606293 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2020.606293

Owade, J. O., Abong’, G. O., Okoth, M. W., & Mwang’ombe, A. W. (2020a). Trends and constraints in the production and utilization of cowpea leaves in the arid and semiarid lands of Kenya. Open Agriculture, 5(1), 325–334. https://doi.org/10.1515/ opag-2020-0038 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2020-0038

Owade, J. O., Abong’, G., Okoth, M., & Mwang’ombe, A. W. (2020b). A review of the contribution of cowpea leaves to food and nutrition security in East Africa. Food Science and Nutrition, 8(1), 36–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.1337 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.1337

Rosário, J., Madureira, L., Marques, C., & Silva, R. (2022). Understanding Farmers' Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Innovations: A Systematic Literature Review. Agronomy, 12(11), 2879. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112879

Saidaiah, P., Rao, P. S., Geetha, A., Kumar, A. K., & Kamala, V. (2021). Assessment of genetic diversity based on principal component analysis in vegetable cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] germplasm. Annuals of Phytomedicine, 10(1), 208-214. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21276/ap.2021.10.1.22

Schreefel, L., Schulte, R. P. O., de Boer, I. J. M., Schrijver, A. P., & van Zanten, H. H. E. (2020). Regenerative agriculture – the soil is the base. Global Food Security, 26,100404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100404 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100404

Schulte, L. A., Dale, B. E., Bozzetto, S., Liebman, M., Souza, G. M., Haddad, N., & Arbuckle, J. G. (2022). Meeting global challenges with regenerative agriculture producing food and energy. Nature Sustainability, 5(5), 384-388. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-021-00827-y

Shah, K. K., Modi, B., Pandey, H. P., Subedi, A., Aryal, G., Pandey, M., & Shrestha, J. (2021). Diversified crop rotation: an approach for sustainable agriculture production. Advances in Agriculture, 2021(7), 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8924087

Soni, R., Gupta, R., Agarwal, P., & Mishra, R. (2022). Organic Farming: A Sustainable Agricultural Practice. Vantage: Journal of Thematic Analysis, 3(1), 21-44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52253/vjta.2022.v03i01.03

Wafula, J. N., Mugendi, F. N., Nthakanio, P. N., Mosioma, J. O., & Onyari, C. N. (2022). Effects of Variety, Spacing and Nitrogen Application on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Growth and Yield in Embu County, Kenya. Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences,10(1) page 32 – 47 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18006/2022.10(1).32.47

Weih, M., Karley, A. J., Newton, A. C., Kiær, L. P., Scherber, C., Rubiales, D., & Tavoletti, S. (2021). Grain yield stability of cereal-legume intercrops is greater than sole crops in more productive conditions. Agriculture, 11(3), 255. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11030255

Worku, A. A. (2019). Factors affecting diffusion and adoption of agricultural innovations among farmers in Ethiopia case study of Ormia regional state Westsern Sewa. International Journal of Agricultural Extension, 7(2), 137–147. https://doi.org/10.33687/ ijae.007.02.2864 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33687/ijae.007.02.2864

Zhao, J., Chen, J., Beillouin, D., Lambers, H., et al. (2022). Global systematic review with meta-analysis reveals yield advantage of legume-based rotations and its drivers. Nature Communications, 13(1), 1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32464-0