Environmental conservation and restoration : an assessement of the impact of bio-intensive agriculture in enhancing capacity of small holders farmers in Meru, Kenya to improve food security

Abstract

Bio- Intensive Agriculture (BIA) is a type of organic agriculture which aims at obtaining highest yields from small pieces of land and ensures increased biodiversity. For BIA to achieve its objectives, that is maintaining soil fertility, through a closed loop system type of agriculture. This study was conducted among small holder farmers in Meru, Kenya and examines how the introduction of Bio-Intensive Agriculture improves food security and capacity of small holder farmers in Meru, Kenya; while conserving and restoring the environment. I used qualitative research approach for the study because I wanted to get detailed and concentrated verbal explanations from individual small holder farmers. I obtained this through well-structured questionnaires requiring their opinions, ideas, and views as well as experiences regarding Bio-Intensive Agriculture. I have used capacity enhancement and her determinants as the theory for this research. The determinants are an enabling environment at the organizational and the individual level. I have synchronized these determinants of capacity enhancement with the activities and practice those small holder farmers in Meru, are doing to improve food security while conserving and restoring the environment to form the discussion chapter. The small holder farmers in this study are involved in: Deep soil preparation, composting, intensive planting, companion planting, open pollination breeding and are doing intensive mixed farming. Moreover, they are involved in conservation and restoration of the environment. This study has found out that BIA has enhanced the capacity of small holder farmers by helping them improve food security, increase income, obtain skills and knowledge as they conserve and restore the environment.