Assessment of changes in natural resources: A participatory approach
Abstract
185 words
This study analyzed changes in natural resources in Machakos
District of Kenya using participatory approaches. The results
show that natural resources have decreased since the ranch
became a settlement scheme. Natural forests decreased, vast
land was cleared, rivers dried-up while soil erosion, drought,
temperatures and land degradation increased. Land productivity
declined and most farmers abandoned the traditional crops for
modern high value crops. However, farmers adopted various
coping strategies. Drought resistant crops, early maturing crops
and water harvesting were some of the strategies adopted by
farmers. The results also show that resource base management
at the community level was still a challenge and a lot of
investment needed to be made in this area. As part of the study,
farmers knowledge of changes in natural resource use was
assessed in a resettlement area. Over a period of about 50
years, significant land degradation has occurred as a result of
increased population pressure, poor natural resource
management and climate change effects. This was reflected
in poor/low land productivity and reduced availability of water.
Farmers responded by moving away from growing indigenous
crops to growing short-duration crops.
Subjects
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