Resilient Harvests: Unlocking the Potential of Drought-tolerant Orphan Crops in Kibwezi West Sub-county, Kenya – Production Trends, Farmer Practices and Challenges

Abstract

Food insecurity remains a major challenge for smallholder farmers in Kenya's dryland regions, which are marked by low and erratic rainfall. However, amidst this challenge lies a glimmer of hope-orphan crops. This paper examines the production trends, farming practices, and challenges faced by smallholder farmers in growing orphan crops to combat food insecurity. The study was conducted in Kibwezi West Sub-County, which is in Makueni County in the eastern part of Kenya. Three orphan crops, namely sorghum, green grams, and pigeon peas, were investigated. Data was gleaned from over 200 questionnaires from smallholder farmers, Kibwezi West Sub-County agricultural office records (2014-2023), and interviews with key informants from the Ministry of Agriculture and NGO officers. The data was further supplemented with extensive one-on-one conversations, chama (village group) meetings, and nearly three months of in situ participant observation. Between 2014 and 2023, Sorghum and pigeon pea production decreased annually by 201.7MT and 1094.6MT, respectively, while green gram production increased by 124.4MT every year. The majority of smallholder farmers grew orphan crops during the short rainfall season (October to December), with ratooning common for sorghum and pigeon peas. Planting, weeding, and harvesting were done by hand, save for a few cases where oxen were used. Few farmers applied animal manure, and most did not use either manure or fertilizers. In all three orphan crops, the major constraints to production included low rainfall, pests and diseases, post-harvest losses from weevil infestation, soil degradation, weak seed distribution system, and unstructured marketing systems. Farmers can enhance the resilience of orphan crops by using integrated pest management strategies such as neem-based pesticides, adopting crop rotation and organic fertilizers to conserve soil, and setting up community-managed storage facilities. Additionally, establishing cooperatives and employing rainwater harvesting techniques will improve market accessibility and water management, respectively. To strengthen seed networks, community-based seed bulking and banking should be encouraged. By equipping farmers with this knowledge, the region's food security and the production of orphan crops will be greatly enhanced.