Participatory On-Farm Comparative Assessment of Organic and Conventional Farmers' Practices in Kenya

ABSTRACT On-farm participatory research was carried out in low and high potential areas of Kenya to assess agronomic and socioeconomic viability of organic and conventional practices and their prospects at farm level. At each site, 20 farms participated in the study, divided equally between organic and conventional farming systems. Agro-economic study of current organic practices of growing maize using compost and liquid manure top dressing in low potential areas showed a significantly higher performance than those of current conventional farmers' practices of a combined application of manure and mineral fertilizers. Maize grain yields were 11–21% higher than those obtained with conventional practices. Net cash benefits, total net benefits and return to labour were also high. This, however, was the reverse of results obtained from high potential areas, where conventional practices out performed organic practices in major agro-economic indicators. The study further revealed that current farmers' practices of combining compost and liquid manure had a potential of turning partial negative nitrogen balances into positive ones in low potential areas and making them less negative in high potential areas. This was in contrast to current conventional farmers' application rates of manure and mineral fertilizers. The partial phosphorus balances appeared rather balanced under conventional and organic practices and became more positive with nutrient additions through top dressing using mineral fertilizers and liquid manure. Despite these findings, large scale application of manure and compost are constrained by their availability and quality at farm level, while the use of mineral fertilizers is limited by their escalating costs.