Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Poor farmers : agricultural innovation and poverty reduction in Ethiopia and Kenya

Auteur : Verkaart, Simone

Université de soutenance : Wageningen University

Grade : Doctor 2018

Résumé partiel
Despite decades worth of research there is still much debate on the role of smallholder farmers in agricultural development. This research aims to contribute to insights on the potential of technology transfer interventions to contribute to poverty reduction for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on Kenya and Ethiopia. By better understanding how farmers decide whether and to what extent to adopt technology, agricultural development projects can be refined to increase their effectiveness.

Chapter 1 provides a general introduction and overview of the adoption literature, introduces the study areas and outlines the objectives, research questions and methodologies applied to answer them. The other chapters are individual publications that form the core part of this thesis.

Chapter 2 explores rainfed agriculture’s potential as a pathway from poverty through a comparative study of Embu and Kitui districts in eastern Kenya. It concludes that agricultural intensification appears a pathway from poverty in high-potential rainfed agriculture, while income diversification seems a more realistic strategy in low-potential areas. This highlights the importance of agro-ecological context and livelihood strategies for potential uptake and benefits of new technology.

Chapter 3 explores rural aspirations in Kenya to derive lessons for agricultural innovation and transfer. Though few households specialized in farming, many households self-identified as farmers and aspired to increase their agricultural income. However, few households wanted their children to pursue a future in farming. Combining aspirations with potential to invest, we provide suggestions for targeting agricultural interventions. These findings indicate that we need to start listening better to those people we call ‘farmers’ to develop and offer innovations that meet their realities

Présentation

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