ADOPTION POTENTIAL OF HEDGEROW INTERCROPPING IN MAIZE-BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN THE HIGHLANDS OF WESTERN KENYA 2. ECONOMIC AND FARMERS' EVALUATION

Abstract

Hedgerow intercropping is evaluated both economically and from the farmers' viewpoint, based on four years of experience of 45 farmers in western Kenya. Farmers were able to establish and prune the hedges; however, both activities considerably increased labour use during the busiest period of the year. Women did not generally prune the hedges. The average extra maize yield required each year, beginning in the second year, to cover the added cost of hedgerow intercropping was 10.5% (s.d. 5.5) when based on returns to land and 17.5% (s.d. 6.5) based on returns to labour. Although about half the farmers claimed that hedges improved crop yields, after three years of experimentation only about one-fifth planted additional hedges and only 14% did so to improve soil fertility. It thus appears that the potential for its adoption as a soil fertility practice in this area is low. Control plots were of little use as farmers were more interested in contrasting test-plot yields with past yields than comparing the test and control plots. Different types of trials may be required to obtain reliable biophysical data on yield response and socio-economic data on farmer assessment of complex agroforestry technologies.