Arid and semi-Arid Lands

The ASAL-APRP was an EU project funding agricultural research activities in KALRO. Its 4 result areas were improving food and nutrition security, improving livestock productivity, up-scaling and out-scaling agricultural technologies, and strengthening KALRO capacity for ASALs. Through ASAL-APRP funding KALRO Katumani undertook research to develop and promote improved dryland crop technologies to increase productivity and enhance food, income and nutrition security in the dry lands of Kenya. The Project activities undertaken in KALRO-Katumani were:

• Evaluation of sorghum elite lines to develop varieties for hot dry lowlands and cold dry highlands for commercialization

• Evaluating growth enhancer and zinc micronutrient for increasing sorghum production in semi-arid lands of eastern Kenya

• Evaluation of legume-sorghum rotations for increased sorghum grain yield and improved soil qualitymaintenance

• Testing and adapting bird menace management on white sorghum in eastern Kenya

• Availing improved green gram technologies for eastern Kenya

• Participatory evaluation of micronutrient rich, drought and heat tolerant beans adapted in low and medium potential zones

• Smallholder upgrading in cassava value chain

• Improving food and nutritional security among vulnerable groups in the arid and semi arid lands of Kenya through commercialisation of grain amaranth

• Utithini Women Orphan Child Care Group gives hope to destitute children through grain amaranth production

• Up-scaling grain amaranth production and consumption in semi-arid Kitui County, eastern Kenya 

• Enhancing the competitiveness of smallholder farmers for effective participation in white sorghum production and marketing integration with other commodity markets in Kenya SMART LOGISTICS