14. agroforestry research in kenya: an overview

14.2 ICRAF, AFRENA and collaborating national institutions

ICRAF

ICRAF was initially established as the International Council for Research in Agroforestry, and was aimed mainly at facilitating research carried out by other institutions. The headquarters had a small staff, and among the initial priorities were to create a documentation centre, to establish field demonstrations and to develop methods for agroforestry research. It was not until the late 1980s that ICRAF began its own research on a significant scale. In 1991 the institution's name changed from International Council to International Centre for Research in Agroforestry. During 1991, ICRAF became a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research with global responsibility for research in agroforestry. These developments marked a shift for ICRAF from being a body that gives advice to being a focal point for agroforestry research.

The institutional goal for ICRAF is "To mitigate tropical deforestation, land depletion and rural poverty through improved agroforestry systems". Research focuses on three agro-ecological zones: the humid, subhumid and semi-arid tropics. Although the mandate is clearly global, work in areas suffering from land depletion will continue to focus on Africa where these problems are most serious. Collaboration with national and other institutions, which has been a main feature of ICRAF's work, will continue. The four existing Agroforestry Research Networks for Africa (AFRENA) will continue receiving support through ICRAF.

ICRAF's own research has so far mainly been on-station, and focused on:

• Agroforestry technology design and management

• Species screening

• Soil fertility and soil conservation

• Fodder.

Most research has so far been applied and descriptive (trying to understand what happens) rather than process-oriented (trying to understand why it happens).

Collaborative research programme in the highlands of eastern and central Africa

Kenya is one of the countries participating in the AFRENA for the highlands of east and central Africa, which was initiated in 1986. The objectives of AFRENA are the development of appropriate agroforestry technologies and development of national capabilities to carry out agroforestry research. The participating countries in this AFRENA are Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. There are several research sites in each country, and the research focuses on the subhumid highlands at altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 2,500 m. The subhumid highlands in those countries have been designated as a zone since they share common features. Population density is high, farm sizes are small and land-use systems are among the most intense in Africa. Agricultural practices have not always kept pace with the increasing pressure on land, resulting in a decline in the natural-resource base.

A key consideration in the design of the research programme has been complementarity among activities in each country. Agroforestry technologies with potential for the zone as a whole are being tested at multiple sites under varying environmental conditions. The choice of technologies to be tested has been based on Diagnosis and Design (D&D), i.e. surveys of existing land use, with associated potentials and problems, have been used as a basis for setting research priorities.

Such D&D studies have been carried out at the national (macro) scale by teams constituted of ICRAF scientists and scientists from national institutions.

The main institutions with which ICRAF is collaborating in Kenya are the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), and the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI).

Figure 14.1 A D&D normally provides a basis for setting research priorities