Description
Book SynopsisScientists at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) have developed powerful new tools to improve the effectiveness of their maize research, enabling the rapid development and successful transfer of maize technology in Kenya. The Kenya Maize Data Base Project (MDBP) was established in 1992 with the help of the Rockefeller Foundation, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the US Agency for International Development. This has allowed scientists to use advanced technology to prioritize and evaluate maize research options more effectively, by taking into account such variables as climatic effects and the socioeconomic conditions of farmers. This book describes in detail the development and application of the MDBP, which uses spatial analysis to integrate data from Geographical Information Systems (GIS) with the results of biological experiments, socioeconomic statistics (including interviews with farmers) and agroclimatic information. This provides a p
Table of Contents1: Introduction and Methods 2: A New Approach to Securing Sustained Growth in Kenya’s Maize Sector, 3: Classifying Maize Production Zones in Kenya through Multivariate Cluster Analysis, 4: The Spatial Sampling Frame and Design for Farmer and Village Surveys, 5: Combining Geo-referenced Survey Data with Agroclimatic Attributes to Characterize Maize Production Systems in Kenya, 6: Ex Ante Research Evaluation and Priority Setting 7: Relevance of Maize Research in Kenya to Maize Production Problems Perceived by Farmers, 8: Estimating Potential Benefits from Research and Setting Research Priorities for Maize in Kenya, 9: Patterns of Maize Technology Diffusion and the Impact of Research 10: Adoption Patterns and Performance of Improved Maize in Kenya, 11: Determinants of Fertilizer Use and the Gap between Farmers’ Maize Yields and Potential Yields in Kenya, 12: Determinants of the Incidence and Severity of Striga Infestation of Maize in Kenya, 13: Availability and Effectiveness of Agricultural Extension Services for Maize Farmers in Kenya, 14: Conclusions Current Challenges and Strategic Future Choices for Maize Research and Policy in Kenya: A Synthesis of the Maize Data Base Project Methods and Results,
