Farmer practices influencing sweetpotato – soy bean production and rabbit farming in selected sub-counties in Elgeyo Marakwet and Kakamega, Kenya

Sweetpotato (Ipomea batatas), is a tuber crop that plays a significant role in soil fertility, provides animal protein, improves human nutrition and generates income. Sweetpotato has however remained under low production with little attention on the crop’s contribution to soil fertility improvement through biomass accumulation. In addition, sweet potatosoybean intercropping and the role of the sweetpotato vines in regard to rabbit farming among smallholder farmers is not a common practice. The study assessed the farmers’ perceptions on factors affecting sweet potato – soybean production and their significance as forage and protein source respectively. Instruments for data collection included semistructured questionnaires, observations and interviews of key informants. Results showed high cost of fertilizer, low soil fertility with poor replenishment as well as soil erosion as the major challenges facing their production. Results further indicated the need to promote sweetpotato – soy bean production among the smallholder farmers to cushion against hunger and to research on the contribution of the intercrop on soil fertility improvement and the feasibility of inclusion of sweetpotato vines and soybean cake in development of a ration for rabbit production.