Agricultural Transition within the ASAL Rural-Urban Continuum in Kenya: a case study of Kajiado County

Abstract

Diversification into intensive livestock and crop production systems is replacing pastoral way of life in peri-urban Kajiado County due to declining land holding sizes. This study assessed the transition in two ways: (1) the causes of declining land size, areas of agricultural transition and the main influences (2) the benefits and challenges due to the transition. Data was obtained from cross section surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The study found out that size of the land owned and origin of household whether indigenous or immigrant influenced livestock and crop production system practised. Intensification in livestock production systems that aim to achieve higher returns from declining land sizes like various types of improved breeds and methods of husbandry have been adopted, whereby 90 per cent of the indigenous and all immigrants have improved livestock breeds. Livestock alien to the area like, fish, pigs and poultry and other emerging ones like ostriches have been adopted. Currently 69.1 per cent of indigenous pastoralists practice crop production to ensure food security while the immigrants practise commercial horticulture under irrigation in greenhouses and along rivers. Competition for resources has culminated into conflicts, degradation and low resilience from natural shocks. The continuous adoption and diversification of agricultural systems including the adoption of alternative income-generating activities needs to be guided through capacity building to enhance and ensure ecosystem sustainability given the fragile nature of the arid and semi-arid area that serves as a wildlife corridor.