Classification of Agroforestry Systems, Their Socio- Economic Benefits and Constraints In Soin Ward, Kericho County, Kenya

Abstract

Agroforestry Systems (AFS) are integrated land use systems involving trees/shrubs and agricultural and/or animal crops, simultaneously or sequentially, with the objective of sustainably increasing the total productivity of plants and animals per unit area. However, despite strong evidence describing the benefits of agroforestry to livelihoods, there is little information as such in Kericho/Nyanza sugar belt border where sugarcane is a major cash crop. Thisstudy aimed at classifying agroforestry systems, evaluating their socio-economic benefits and constraints in Soin Ward, Kericho County, Kenya. The study adopted qualitative research design through administration of pre- tested questionnaires on types of agroforestry systems, scale of production, land utilization, preference of trees and sugar cane varieties and their interactions to 384 respondents in lower, upper and midland parts of Soin Ward. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.0. Four (4) classes of agroforestry systems were identified in Soin Ward that comprised; (48.2% agrosilvopastoral and 31.6% agrosilvicultural and 20.2% silvopastoral); (16.2% protective

and 83.8% productive); (45.7% subsistence and 54.3% commercial) and Integrated farm- based agroforestry 47.4%, homestead (6.8%), animal farm (31.4%), dairy farm (1.4%) and

forest land (13%) respectively. Majority of the respondents (42.7%) preferred Grevillea tree species for blending with sugarcane in a tree-sugarcane agroforestry system in comparison with cypress (29.4%), eucalyptus (15.1%), casuarina (12.6%) and calliandra (0.2%) respectively. Sixty (61.7%) plant trees along the boundary, as woodlot (24.0%), hedge row (8.9%), intercropping/mixed (3.1%) and as alley cropping (2.3%). The preferred sugarcane species in the tree-sugarcane agroforestry system was CO 617 (46.9%), CO 412 (25.4%), CO 945 (12.4%), CV 38-22 (10.9%) and KEN 83-737 (4.4%) for low land (altitude of 1200-1400m) ecosystems. For midland ecosystems (altitude 1400-1600m) CO 617 (20.9%) and CO 412 (20.9%) were preferred. For lower highland ecosystems (altitude of 1600-1800m) CO 617 (39.4%), CO 412 (22.4%), CO 945 (15.9%), CV 38-22 (11.4%) and KEN 83-737 (10.9%). Direct benefits from the identified agroforestry systems include; income (67.6%), food (8.3%) and employment (24.1%). Indirect benefits include provision of biofuel (21.9%), enhanced soil fertility (21.1%), bio drainage (20.4%), biodiversity conservation (19.4%) and carbon absorption (17.2%), improvement of social amenities such as roads (27.2%), markets (25.8%), hospitals (19.3%), schools (18.5% and electricity (9.2%).Constraints faced by the agroforestry systems include; long waiting payback (39.2%), limited possibilities to sell product (28.3%), labour intensive (27.8%) and knowledge and technology gap (4.7%). Such results are useful for policy making decisions towards afforestation and improved livelihoods in Kenya.