Person: Marenya, P.P.
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Marenya
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P.P.
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Marenya, P.P.
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- What's in it for farmers? Farm level advantages of Conservation Agriculture (CA) in Kenya(CIMMYT, 2016) Micheni, A.N.; Kassie, M.; Marenya, P.P.; Nyarindo, W.Conservation agriculture (CA) consists of three principles: reduced tillage, retaining crop residue on the soil surface year round, and crop diversification (either intercropping or rotational systems). This practice is important to sustainably increase crop productivity through improving soil organic matter, conserving moisture, weed control, pests and diseases management, and enhancing farmers’ resilience to drought and climate change and variability. A four year (2010–2014) experiment was established on farmers’ field sites in eastern region (Embu, Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties) and western region (Siaya and Bungoma counties) of Kenya. The experiments included conventional tillage (CVT) or farmers’ average practices, and two CA-based practices involving no or zero tillage (ZT) and a system of tillage involving construction of furrows and ridges (FR) rather than full tillage (although furrows and ridges were not established in the western Kenya sites). Beans in eastern and Desmodium in western regions were incorporated as intercrop in maize cropping systems. The experiments were carried out both in the short rain (SR) and long rain (LR) seasons. The financial analysis of the various treatments was carried out based on average village grain and crop residue prices and daily labour wage rates. For inputs (fertilizer and herbicides) the prevailing market prices were used.
Publication - Sustainable Agricultural Intensification in Eastern and Southern Africa: evidence, lessons and imperatives for scaling up and out.(CIMMYT, 2016) Marenya, P.P.; Mwale, C.; Beshir, B.; Nkonge, C.; Dias, D.; Sariah, J.; Dagne Wegary Gissa; Nyagumbo, I.; Misiko, M.T.; Setimela, P.Both field experiments and household analysis show that conservation agriculture (CA) can have a strong value proposition for farmers in terms of cost reduction, yield enhancement and risk mitigation. CA can contribute to the provision of eco-system services such as soil loss mitigation. To achieve CA, diffusion will require continuous demonstrations beyond experimental plots. The information delivery system for CA should involve government extension, innovation platforms and other information providers.
Publication - The benefit package: the promise of conservation agriculture in maize-based systems of Malawi and Mozambique(ACIAR, 2016) Jaleta, M.; Nyagumbo, I.; Siyeni, D.; Kamalongo, D.; Ngwira, A.R.; Cachomba, I.; Nhantumbo, A.; Cumbane, A.; George, C.; Chowa, S.T.; Mutenje, M.; Marenya, P.P.In addition to the long-term ecological benefits, conservation agriculture (CA) is attractive to farmers due to its short-term resource saving effects with little, if any, yield penalty. Compared to conventional practices, CA reduces labor demand for land preparation and weeding activities in maize production. Labor saving in land preparation under CA is associated with the shifting from soil banking in conventional practices to basin and dibble stick planting under CA in Malawi and Mozambique. Use of herbicides before planting maize reduces labor demand for weeding.
Publication - Seed value chains to support Sustainable Intensification in Tanzania(CIMMYT, 2016) Madulu, R.B.; Gregory, T.; Mbapila, S.; Marenya, P.P.This brief is based on a value chain survey carried out on the maize and legume seed sectors in Tanzania. The results showed that the majority of maize farmers in the surveyed districts are still using recycled seed. An important development is that the seed sector has opened up in recent years and there is growing private sector participation. Nevertheless, inefficient supply chains and low purchasing power were the two main challenges of seed markets in Tanzania. In the long-term, increasing the supply of these key inputs through greater participation of the private sector players is important. Second, strengthening the role of the public sector by focusing on the issues of sector governance, training, and research and foundation seed production will be crucial for success. On farmers’ weak purchasing power, a strong credit system is inevitable. Innovations to deliver such credit to smallholder farmers are needed.
Publication - Going to scale: How do Conservation Agriculture practices spread among farmers in Kenya?(CIMMYT, 2016) Odendo, M.; Micheni, A.N.; Kassie, M.; Marenya, P.P.; Ayaga, G.; Nkonge, C.; Muricho, G.; Obare, G.Demonstration sites will continue to be centers of experimentation and learning for farmers. The results presented in this brief, demonstrates the efficacy of the demonstration approach to agriculture extension. It is emerging that group cohesion and multi-stakeholder methodology approaches have the potential to be effective and efficient. Field days were found to be effective in awareness creation of conservation agriculture (CA) technologies.
Publication - From few to many: taking Conservation Agriculture practices to scale in Malawi(CIMMYT, 2016) Tione, S.; Marenya, P.P.; Mutenje, M.; Mwale, C.; Ndambuleni, K.; Kassie, M.In the sample of the farmers who were in the vicinity of the farm trial sites and who were contacted for this study, 90 percent reported that they were aware of technologies being promoted. Approximately 63 percent had actually tried the technologies. Farmer preference voting showed that zero or minimum tillage under maize as a sole crop were viewed favorably by most farmers. This was followed by zero/ minimum tillage in maize/legume rotation. The reduction in labor use seem to be a major driver of these preference leanings.
Publication - Are structured value chains possible or necessary? some highlights from Ethiopian and Kenyan maize and legume markets(CIMMYT, 2016) Marenya, P.P.; Bekele, A.; Odendo, M.A core pillar of sustainable agricultural intensification is the farm level financial viability of such intensification. This will (almost surely) be mediated by well-functioning agricultural markets and value chains. This brief highlights four important principles for policy on value chain and for further research. The near absence of key elements of structured value chains in Ethiopian and Kenyan maize and legume markets imply limited profitable business opportunities in these more formalized market activities.
Publication - Tracing the path: What happens to maize and legumes from research to farm and market in Central Mozambique?(CIMMYT, 2016) Nhantumbo, A.; Cachomba, I.; Quinhentos, M.; Dias, D.; Mutenje, M.; Marenya, P.P.Maize is Mozambique’s staple, grown by 95 percent of smallholder farmers. Legumes are the most important sources of proteins for rural Mozambicans, especially cowpeas and common beans. Additionally, common beans are a cash crop in Angonia, Manica and Sussundenga. To improve the market for these important crops, it is imperative to capitalize on opportunities and to address challenges along the value chains of each of crop. Equally important is identifying key actors in the seed and fertilizer sectors. Such information is crucial for the government and other development agencies to appropriately prioritize interventions to tackle the crippling problems along the maize and legume value chain presented in this brief, as well as to seize and build on the opportunities. This socio-economic research was undertaken through the Sustainable Intensification of Maize–Legume Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) Project.
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