Socioeconomic Factors Influencing the Adoption of Cenchrus ciliaris among the Pastoralist Communities in South Baringo, Kenya

Abstract

Land degradation poses significant threats to food and environmental security globally. In arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), livestock production is an important and significant livelihood. Unfortunately, overstocking and overgrazing have diminished pasture availability, and thus adversely impacting on the sector’s contribution to food security for many ASAL communities. The Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Program in its quest to combat soil erosion, deforestation, and Prosopis juliflora invasion in the Lake Bogoria Landscape, Baringo County, Kenya has supported the establishment of Cenchrus ciliaris (buffel grass) since 2018. Despite its introduction and establishment, the socioeconomic factors influencing its adoption remain undocumented. This study evaluated these factors in three administrative wards, namely: Ilchamus, Mochongoi, and Marigat of Baringo South Sub-County. Data was collected from 103 households using a semi-structured questionnaire, key informant interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Our results revealed that Cenchrus ciliaris adoption has partially reduced soil erosion and deforestation, improved livelihoods and environmental conservation. Nearly 50% of the respondents have established 2 to 5 acres of buffel grass pasturelands on their farms. The level of education of the respondents for had a significant association with the participants’ knowledge regarding the advantages of pasture production for environmental conservation ( χ 2 = 16.93; p < 0.05). Nearly 90% of the respondents linked buffel grass to improved livestock production in the study area ( χ 2 = 77.71; p < 0.05). Adoption of the grass was also correlated with the level of education ( χ 2 = 18.3; p < 0.05) as was Gender ( χ 2 = 3.8; p < 0.05). Tertiary teaching and research institutions have played a major role in the adoption of this grass in the study area, and as per the KIIs and FGDs, the underlying reasons behind increasing adoption of the grass are its tolerance to ecological stress and high productivity under low rainfall amounts. The challenges to the adoption of the grass include lack of certified seeds, damage of the young pastures by livestock due to the communal land tenure system, and extreme dry weather conditions. Provision of certified seeds, community mobilization and capacity building, and strengthening the Cenchrus ciliaris value chain are recommended as practical strategies of enhancing livestock production and environmental conservation in Kenya’s ASALs.