AN EVALUATION OF GENDER AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES IN CHOICE OF SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES FOR MAIZE PRODUCTION IN NANDI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The adoption and diffusion of soil fertility management technologies among smallholder farmers in Kenya lags behind scientific and technological advances thus reducing crop productivity. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate gender and social perspective in choice of soil fertility management technologies for maize production in Kabiyet division of Nandi County. The specific objectives were to; determine soil fertility management technologies in maize production, evaluate social diversities in soil management practices that enhance maize production, determine gender roles that influence the choice of soil fertility management technologies, identify and evaluate socio-economic characteristics that influence choice of technologies in maize production systems and to determine strategies of mainstreaming gender in soil fertility management technologies. This study adopted a descriptive survey method. The sampling frame was drawn from 6,505 households. 100 households were selected by multi-sage cluster sampling from six locations of the study area. Interviews, questionnaires and observation were used to collect data. The study utilized descriptive methods of data analysis which entailed the use of measures of central tendencies such as frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data was summarized and interpreted in line with the research objectives and questions. Results of data analysis were presented in form of figures and tables. The study findings showed that intercropping and terracing were the most commonly used soil management strategies that enhanced maize production where maize and legumes (beans) were mostly intercropped. In addition, most of the farmers acquired soil management technologies from agricultural extension officers and during field days. Moreover, men were the main decision makers in implementation of maize production technologies. Further, men and youth contributed a larger percentage of labour for land tillage in maize production. Use of soil sampling and analysis, mixed cropping and early planting were the most commonly used strategies in enhancing soil fertility management technologies while the least used technologies was use of zero tillage. It was therefore recommended therefore that there was need for agricultural field days to be organized more in the study area to enable maize farmers to obtain more soil management technologies for maize production. It is expected that the study findings will be of importance to maize farmers in Kabiyet Division, Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant Ministries in identifying strategies of soil management technologies.