Farmers’ perceived pathways for further intensification of push-pull systems in Western Kenya
Push-pull technology provides farmers in East Africa with an eco-friendly strategy that increases crop yield and household income in smallholder cereal systems by controlling pests and improving soil health. Though promising for a sustainably intensified production, push-pull has been used at limite...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1191038/full |
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| author | Sylvia Imbuhila Buleti Shem Kuyah Adewole Olagoke Adewole Olagoke Moses Gichua Samuel Were Frank Chidawanyika Frank Chidawanyika Emily A. Martin |
| author_facet | Sylvia Imbuhila Buleti Shem Kuyah Adewole Olagoke Adewole Olagoke Moses Gichua Samuel Were Frank Chidawanyika Frank Chidawanyika Emily A. Martin |
| author_sort | Sylvia Imbuhila Buleti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Push-pull technology provides farmers in East Africa with an eco-friendly strategy that increases crop yield and household income in smallholder cereal systems by controlling pests and improving soil health. Though promising for a sustainably intensified production, push-pull has been used at limited scale, primarily in maize-and sorghum-based production systems. Expanding the scope, applicability and acceptance of the practice in smallholder farming systems, will leverage the full potential of push-pull as a widely applicable sustainable farming practice. Using key informant interviews and focus group discussions, we explored farmers’ needs and perceived pathways for integrating push-pull and other sustainable intensification practices in synergy with existing cropping systems in Kisumu, Vihiga and Siaya Counties in Western Kenya. We found that farmers in the region typically grow and intercrop a variety of crops, with maize being the most common crop. Farmers commonly practice crop-livestock farming, intercropping, crop rotation, manure and fertilizer use, and use improved varieties to increase maize production. Across the counties, integration of food legumes, agroforestry and crop-livestock farming, were identified as fundamental pathways for stretching the benefits of push-pull. Limitations to farmers’ aspirations and key enablers for facilitating spontaneous adoption of identified sustainable intensification practices for push-pull farming systems are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:51:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b1e8fc203647400a84e3212884f1f64c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:51:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-b1e8fc203647400a84e3212884f1f64c2023-08-31T07:48:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2023-08-01710.3389/fsufs.2023.11910381191038Farmers’ perceived pathways for further intensification of push-pull systems in Western KenyaSylvia Imbuhila Buleti0Shem Kuyah1Adewole Olagoke2Adewole Olagoke3Moses Gichua4Samuel Were5Frank Chidawanyika6Frank Chidawanyika7Emily A. Martin8Department of Botany, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Botany, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, KenyaInstitute of Geobotany, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Lower Saxony, GermanyDepartment of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Giessen, Giessen, GermanyDepartment of Botany, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Botany, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, KenyaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South AfricaDepartment of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Giessen, Giessen, GermanyPush-pull technology provides farmers in East Africa with an eco-friendly strategy that increases crop yield and household income in smallholder cereal systems by controlling pests and improving soil health. Though promising for a sustainably intensified production, push-pull has been used at limited scale, primarily in maize-and sorghum-based production systems. Expanding the scope, applicability and acceptance of the practice in smallholder farming systems, will leverage the full potential of push-pull as a widely applicable sustainable farming practice. Using key informant interviews and focus group discussions, we explored farmers’ needs and perceived pathways for integrating push-pull and other sustainable intensification practices in synergy with existing cropping systems in Kisumu, Vihiga and Siaya Counties in Western Kenya. We found that farmers in the region typically grow and intercrop a variety of crops, with maize being the most common crop. Farmers commonly practice crop-livestock farming, intercropping, crop rotation, manure and fertilizer use, and use improved varieties to increase maize production. Across the counties, integration of food legumes, agroforestry and crop-livestock farming, were identified as fundamental pathways for stretching the benefits of push-pull. Limitations to farmers’ aspirations and key enablers for facilitating spontaneous adoption of identified sustainable intensification practices for push-pull farming systems are discussed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1191038/fullpush-pull technologycrop-livestock farminglegume integrationagroforestrysustainable intensificationeco-friendly farming |
| spellingShingle | Sylvia Imbuhila Buleti Shem Kuyah Adewole Olagoke Adewole Olagoke Moses Gichua Samuel Were Frank Chidawanyika Frank Chidawanyika Emily A. Martin Farmers’ perceived pathways for further intensification of push-pull systems in Western Kenya Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems push-pull technology crop-livestock farming legume integration agroforestry sustainable intensification eco-friendly farming |
| title | Farmers’ perceived pathways for further intensification of push-pull systems in Western Kenya |
| title_full | Farmers’ perceived pathways for further intensification of push-pull systems in Western Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Farmers’ perceived pathways for further intensification of push-pull systems in Western Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Farmers’ perceived pathways for further intensification of push-pull systems in Western Kenya |
| title_short | Farmers’ perceived pathways for further intensification of push-pull systems in Western Kenya |
| title_sort | farmers perceived pathways for further intensification of push pull systems in western kenya |
| topic | push-pull technology crop-livestock farming legume integration agroforestry sustainable intensification eco-friendly farming |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1191038/full |
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