Allocation of Labour
Compared to food crops, farmers give low priority to the management of forage production (e.g. fertilizing and weeding of forages). For example, during the project, most farmers seemingly had difficulties in appreciating that improved forages are like any other crop that requires good agronomic practices, including fertilization, in order to be productive. Additionally, because of labour shortage, farmers are not able to manage the forages as recommended, which results in their low productivity. More work needs to be done on encouraging farmers to grow high-quality feed for their livestock and to educate farmers on other benefits of the legumes, for example, the potential use of Leucaena as a multipurpose tree for firewood and the benefits of legumes to soil.
Allocation of Land among Different Cropping Systems
Maize and horticultural crops are planted on the fertile part of the farm, while the rest is left for other activities such as forage production. Coconut and cashew nut trees are planted all over the farm without any pattern and in some farms the forages are planted under them, reducing forage productivity because of shading and competition for nutrients.
Availability of Planting Materials
Each species differs in its requirements for planting materials. Napier grass is not a major problem because cane cuttings and splits are abundant in the wet season. The Ministry of Agriculture and RRC-Mtwapa used to multiply Napier grass for distribution to farmers for free but now the Ministry sells it for a nominal fee. The Agroforestry Centre at Mtwapa and the Ministry also used to give out Leucaena and Gliricidia seedlings for free but now farmers are charged for them. Farmers willing to multiply Gliricidia seeds have expressed disappointment because Gliricidia flowers poorly in the region. The only major source of the Clitoria seeds is RRC-Mtwapa and only small quantities are available. If methods of accelerating seed production of Clitoria are developed, these systems will most likely become more popular. Clearly, the above-mentioned projects improved the availability of planting material, which fostered the adoption of the technologies. In addition, some farmers have multiplied their own seed, which they have sold and sometimes given free to their neighbours. At present, the Legume Research Network Project, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, is bulking legume seeds mainly for green manuring to alleviate the shortage in the region.