Abstract:
This study was conducted to establish the factors influencing the development of farm forestry in
Lugari Division, Western Kenya. Data was collected between December 2007 to January 2008. Structured
questionnaires/schedules, key informant interviewing, and secondary sources of data were used to collect data.
All collected data were entered in SPSS 13.5 to facilitate statistical analysis using descriptive statistics such as
frequency distributions and cross tabulations. Significant differences between expected and observed attributes
were analyzed by non-parametric Chi-square tests.
Farm sizes, species preferences, end use of tree products, access to and availability of preferred germplasm and
planting materials, availability of resources for raising seedlings, access to extension services, and marketing
constraints as well as biological and technical factors such as diseases, pests and planting methodologies were
established as important factors influencing farm forestry and tree planting in general, in the division.
This study has also demonstrated that farm forestry can be a useful tool for enhancing the livelihoods of many
people and contributing to rural development in Lugari, and can be readily adopted if identified challenges can
be comprehensively addressed.
It is recommended that tree propagation techniques and distribution networks should be developed to enable
affordable access to a wide range of appropriate germplasm. Small scale farmers should be assisted, through
extension services, to manage and enhance the value of their tree crops.
Institutional support through incentives such as credits, subsidies, technical support and creation of market
opportunities including forest policy and legislation sensitization and implementation would boost farm forestry
activities in Lugari.
