Soil testing for soil acidity management on smallholder farms in Kenya led by Dr. John Olwande from Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, Egerton University. High soil acidity is a significant cause of low and stagnant agricultural productivity in Kenya, particularly for maize, which is the country’s main staple crop. Few small-scale farmers test their soils to make soil management decisions. The project has launched a comprehensive study to provide the first evidence from a national program on the impact of weather and market advisories on farmers' decision making, including for women and poor families. It includes an estimate of farmers’ willingness to pay for soil testing. The results provide guidance on promoting effective soil management for sustainable agricultural productivity growth in Kenya and across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The project supports the government, development agencies, and private sector investors in promoting and facilitating proper soil management among farmers for sustainable agricultural productivity growth. By addressing widespread soil acidity, this project aligns with Feed the Future and USAID efforts in Kenya to expand economic opportunities for smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs to build the resilience of households, communities and markets to shocks and stresses, and diversify agricultural production. Agriculture is critical across Sub-Saharan Africa considering the challenge of feeding and employing a rapidly growing population in the coming years.
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