Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewedConventional

Agroforestry trees for improved food security on farms impacted by wildlife crop raiding in Kenya

Amy Quandt

Trees, Forests and People · 2021

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Summary

This qualitative and survey-based study from Isiolo County, Kenya explores agroforestry as a livelihood resilience strategy for farming households affected by wildlife crop raiding. Among 56% of surveyed households that reported agroforestry provides food and income during crop raids, those with greater tree species diversity and harvestable fruit were significantly more likely to report agroforestry benefits (66.4%). The research identifies both agroforestry and social networks as key coping mechanisms that may buffer food security losses from wildlife conflict.

Regional applicability

Whilst this research is from Kenya and reflects East African farming contexts, agroforestry as a diversification and resilience strategy is gaining policy interest in the United Kingdom for soil health and farm productivity. The human-wildlife conflict framing is less immediately relevant to UK temperate farming, though the principle of tree-crop integration for household food security and income diversification may inform UK agroforestry policy, particularly in marginal upland regions.

Key measures

Proportion of households reporting agroforestry benefits for food security; wildlife species frequency reports; tree species diversity; household ability to harvest fruit from agroforestry trees

Outcomes reported

The study assessed household food security outcomes and coping strategies among farmers experiencing wildlife crop raiding, measuring the perceived contribution of agroforestry trees and tree diversity to food and income security.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Agroforestry & intercropping
Study type
Research
Study design
Observational cohort with household surveys and interviews
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Kenya
System type
Agroforestry
DOI
10.1016/j.tfp.2021.100069
Catalogue ID
NRmr1bbstx-001

Topic tags

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