Abstract:
Agroforestry Systems (AFS) are integrated land use systems involving trees/shrubs and
agricultural and/or animal crops, simultaneously or sequentially, with the objective of
sustainably increasing the total productivity of plants and animals per unit area. However,
despite strong evidence describing the benefits of agroforestry to livelihoods, there is little
information as such in Kericho/Nyanza sugar belt border where sugarcane is a major cash
crop. Thisstudy aimed at classifying agroforestry systems, evaluating their socio-economic
benefits and constraints in Soin Ward, Kericho County, Kenya. The study adopted
qualitative research design through administration of pre- tested questionnaires on types of
agroforestry systems, scale of production, land utilization, preference of trees and sugar
cane varieties and their interactions to 384 respondents in lower, upper and midland parts
of Soin Ward. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.0. Four (4) classes of
agroforestry systems were identified in Soin Ward that comprised; (48.2%
agrosilvopastoral and 31.6% agrosilvicultural and 20.2% silvopastoral); (16.2% protective
and 83.8% productive); (45.7% subsistence and 54.3% commercial) and Integrated farm-
based agroforestry 47.4%, homestead (6.8%), animal farm (31.4%), dairy farm (1.4%) and
forest land (13%) respectively. Majority of the respondents (42.7%) preferred Grevillea
tree species for blending with sugarcane in a tree-sugarcane agroforestry system in
comparison with cypress (29.4%), eucalyptus (15.1%), casuarina (12.6%) and calliandra
(0.2%) respectively. Sixty (61.7%) plant trees along the boundary, as woodlot (24.0%),
hedge row (8.9%), intercropping/mixed (3.1%) and as alley cropping (2.3%). The preferred
sugarcane species in the tree-sugarcane agroforestry system was CO 617 (46.9%), CO 412
(25.4%), CO 945 (12.4%), CV 38-22 (10.9%) and KEN 83-737 (4.4%) for low land
(altitude of 1200-1400m) ecosystems. For midland ecosystems (altitude 1400-1600m) CO
617 (20.9%) and CO 412 (20.9%) were preferred. For lower highland ecosystems (altitude
of 1600-1800m) CO 617 (39.4%), CO 412 (22.4%), CO 945 (15.9%), CV 38-22 (11.4%)
and KEN 83-737 (10.9%). Direct benefits from the identified agroforestry systems include;
income (67.6%), food (8.3%) and employment (24.1%). Indirect benefits include provision
of biofuel (21.9%), enhanced soil fertility (21.1%), bio drainage (20.4%), biodiversity
conservation (19.4%) and carbon absorption (17.2%), improvement of social amenities
such as roads (27.2%), markets (25.8%), hospitals (19.3%), schools (18.5% and electricity
(9.2%).Constraints faced by the agroforestry systems include; long waiting payback
(39.2%), limited possibilities to sell product (28.3%), labour intensive (27.8%) and
knowledge and technology gap (4.7%). Such results are useful for policy making decisions
towards afforestation and improved livelihoods in Kenya.
