Enhancing the Capacity for Dissemination of Site-specific Maize Production Intensification Technologies under Variable Farm, Climatic and Soil Fertility Conditions in Kenya and Zimbabwe
IPNI-2014-SSAP-03
Summary Food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) results from low crop productivity linked to very little nutrient inputs used by farmers. High uncertainty in returns to investment in fertilizer associated with variable soil fertility conditions and rainfall variability is a major factor limiting investment in fertilizer by farmers. Current fertilizer recommendations were mostly developed to maximize production and ignore the financial limitations faced by various categories of farmers. Read more
Interpretive Summary
| 2017 | Maize is the most important food crop in Kenya and many other countries in Africa. However, its productivity has remained low mainly due to climatic conditions and soil constraints. Conservation agriculture (CA) based on reduced tillage, surface retention of crop residues, and crop rotation can help in the amelioration of these constraints. |
| 2015 | This project was implemented in collaboration with the International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT) and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO-Embu) to address knowledge gaps on the influence of farm, soil fertility variability and tillage system on maize production intensification potential in Eastern Kenya. |
Updates & Reports
| 2015 | Project Description |
Project Leader
Shamie Zingore, International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI)
Project Cooperators
Alfred Micheni, Embu
Isaiah Nyagumbo, CIMMYT
Regis Chikowo, Univ of Zimbabwe
Monica Mucheru-Muna, Kenyatta Univ
IPNI Staff
Location
Africa \ Eastern Africa \ KEN