The Intensity of Agro-Biodiversity and its Socio-economic Drivers in Regenerative Agriculture of Mixed Farming Systems in High Potential Farming Areas of Kenya.

Abstract

In the midst of climate change, farm diversity has emerged as a crucial agricultural practice. It has been classified as a principle of regenerative agriculture (RegenAg), which involves farmers engaging in a range of farming enterprises, including keeping different types of livestock and cultivating various crops. Most smallholder farmers have adopted the practice to enhance food production, promote a diverse diet, and support the synergism among farm enterprises, thereby promoting nutrient cycling. However, incidences of inadequate food and malnutrition still exist. Therefore, there is a knowledge gap on the state/intensity of agro-biodiversity, its socioeconomic drivers, and its effect on household food production in mixed farming systems. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate farm agro-biodiversity in the regions considered food baskets in Kenya. The study adopted survey questionnaires to collect data from 479 respondents. A multistage sampling technique was employed, yielding 397 participants with complete data. The study adopted descriptive statistics, Simpson indices to estimate farm diversity intensity, and multiple regression models to determine the drivers of agro-biodiversity and its effect on farm yields and income. The findings showed the livestock and crop enterprises diversity indices were 0.724 and 0.408, respectively, in mixed farming systems. The simple integrated Simpson index was estimated to be 0.46 and was influenced by training, tenure system, subsidy programs, farmers' group membership, and land terrain. It was concluded that, though all farms have diversified their agricultural production, the intensity of agro-biodiversity is moderately low, especially in the crop enterprise of mixed farming systems. This could be the cause of inadequate food production despite the agro-biodiversity index significantly influencing farm yields and profits. The moderately low index could be associated with the expenses of acquiring inputs and incidences of monocropping. Therefore, it is recommended that ongoing initiatives to promote RegenAg focus on strengthening subsidy programs, access to production resources, and knowledge transfer.