Indicators of Relative Sustainability in smallholder potato Farming in Kenya
Abstract
A key challenge facing the growth of agricultural sector in Kenya is the achievement of sustainable agriculture in the face of climate change. The impact of climate change has triggered smallholder farmers to resort to numerous adaptation strategies; collectively referred to as Climate Smart Agricultural Practices (CSAPs). Despite the continued use of CSAPs, climate change continues to threaten sustainability of potato farming. Partly, this is due to challenges in methodologies used in sustainability evaluations. One of the most important steps in policy interventions that are geared towards enhancement of relative sustainability of smallholder potato farming is the development of smart indicators. This study sought to develop smart indicators for relative sustainability in CSAPs related evaluation. This study adopted a qualitative research design. A total of 12 key informant interviews and four focus group discussions (each comprising of 10 members) were conducted. Data was organized and analyzed using NVivo (version 12) software. The study results revealed that four sub indicators are key in developing a composite indicator for relative sustainability in the assessment of contribution of CSAPs in smallholder potato farming. These included economic sustainability, enterprise sustainability, social sustainability and environmental sustainability. The main components of the four sub indicators are as follows: economic sustainability (farm productivity, profitability and economic stability); enterprise sustainability (farm management); social sustainability (social and institutional factors); and, environmental sustainability (use of organic fertilizers, use of agrochemicals, practice of crop rotations, practice of organic farming, practice of conservation agriculture and resource conservation technologies, practice of cover cropping and, use of certified seeds). This study recommends that evaluation research on farming sustainability should at least include four sub indicators of relative sustainability (economic sustainability, enterprise sustainability, social sustainability and environmental sustainability).
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