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Farmer managed natural regeneration (FMNR) as a catalyst for land resource restoration: Insights from selected Kenya Counties

2026-08-05T12:13:05Z

Title: Farmer managed natural regeneration (FMNR) as a catalyst for land resource restoration: Insights from selected Kenya Counties Authors: Kimatu, Josphert Ngui; Munyao, Carol Munini; Maithya, Harrison; Musyoka, Sonia Nzilani; Felistus Muriu, Ng'ang'a; Ngei, Lucy Abstract: Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) has emerged as a transformative, community-driven approach for rehabilitating degraded lands, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. This mixed-methods study assessed the impact of FMNR practices across four sites in three Kenyan counties: Osiligi (Kajiado County), Mara (Narok County), and Kalawa and Kitise (Makueni County). Using data from 1,632 lead farmer households, complemented by focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observations, the study evaluated land degradation extent, restoration achievements, household well-being, and FMNR adoption and awareness rates. Results revealed notable regional differences: Osiligi exhibited the highest degraded land area (3,407 hectares) and the largest absolute area under restoration (893 hectares), although Mara achieved the highest restoration-to-degradation ratio (86.6%). A statistically significant association was found between county of residence and household perceptions of ability to provide for family needs (χ² = 203.23, p < 0.0001). FMNR adoption rates varied, with Mara leading at 66% and Kitise lagging at 41%, despite overall high awareness levels ranging from 82% to 97%. ANOVA tests confirmed significant differences across the four sites regarding land restoration efforts and socio-economic outcomes (F (3,4) = 18.74, p = 0.0045). The findings affirm FMNR’s potential as a scalable, low-cost restoration strategy that simultaneously enhances ecosystem health and rural livelihoods. However, they also highlight the need for context-specific interventions that address adoption gaps, strengthen community institutions, and align land restoration efforts with broader climate adaptation and sustainable development goals.

Gender roles and participation in farmer managed natural regeneration practices in selected areas of Makueni, Narok, and Kajiado Counties, Kenya

2026-08-05T12:02:53Z

Title: Gender roles and participation in farmer managed natural regeneration practices in selected areas of Makueni, Narok, and Kajiado Counties, Kenya Authors: Mbuthia, Kezia; Maithya, Harrison; Munyao, Carol Abstract: Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is an important conservation strategy for restoring soil fertility and vegetation cover in Kenya's arid and semi-arid regions, where land degradation continues to threaten livelihoods. However, little is known about how gender influences participation, resource access, and decision-making in FMNR. This study utilised the FMNR Theory of Change, which views empowerment as a path from participation → access → agency → leadership, to look at gender roles and engagement in FMNR across four wards: Mara (Narok County), Osiligi (Kajiado County), Kalawa, and Kitise (Makueni County). Using a cross-sectional mixed-methods approach, 1,628 respondents were selected from FMNR beneficiaries. Structured questionnaires were used to gather quantitative data, which were then analysed using chi-square tests (α = 0.05) and descriptive statistics. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data from focus groups and key informant interviews to enhance understanding and interpretation of gender roles and decision-making in FMNR. The results indicated that engagement in the FMNR initiative was predominantly by lead farmers (82.2%), with both men and women actively engaged across the study areas. A statistically significant correlation between gender and role distribution was identified exclusively in Mara Ward (χ² = 25.34, p < .001), whereas other wards exhibited no significant disparities. There were, nevertheless, gender differences in access: women had comparatively better access to firewood and pasture (47–48%), whereas men dominated access to timber (56.7%) and building poles (54.4%). Training access was considerably different in Kalawa (p =.003) and Mara (p =.043), indicating differential exposure to technical capacity building. Qualitative data demonstrated that women's ascent to leadership was hampered by high workloads, cultural norms, and restricted mobility. The study concludes that structural inequality is sustained by participation that lacks agency. It suggests that in order to facilitate women's shift from participation to decision-making, FMNR implementers and county governments ought to incorporate gender-responsive training, flexible scheduling, and equitable resource governance.

Economic benefits of farmer managed natural regeneration practices in selected semi-arid counties of Kenya

2026-08-05T11:51:34Z

Title: Economic benefits of farmer managed natural regeneration practices in selected semi-arid counties of Kenya Authors: Kiruki, Harun; Kimatu, Josphert N.; Munyao, Carol Munini; Maithya, Harrison; Muriu, Felistus Abstract: Land degradation driven by unsustainable land use practices is a serious concern, especially in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands, and it has led to soil erosion, loss of vegetation cover, and reduced agricultural productivity. The consequences include declining crop yields and increased vulnerability to climate change impacts like droughts and floods. Famer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is one of the low-cost agroforestry practices being promoted in land restoration. Data collected from a cross-sectional baseline study conducted by World Vision Kenya in July 2024 in the counties of Makueni, Kajiado and Narok was used to demonstrate the economic benefits of FMNR to farmers practising it. The study analyses (1) FMNR’s association with crop and livestock yield improvements and resulting income changes; (2) its contribution to enhanced soil fertility and water retention, which bolster agricultural resilience and reduce the cost of regeneration. A total of 1628 farmers from four areas within the three counties were sampled for the study and interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. This information was complemented by focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The benefits of FMNR accruing to farmers were categorised into increased crop yields, increased pasture yields, improved soil fertility and reduced costs of regenerating land. The benefits were compared between FMNR and non-FMNR farmers. The data was then analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results show that more than 50% of the farmers reported high crop yield, indicating the potential of FMNR to increase crop productivity. Furthermore, there are significant differences in pasture yields (χ² = 72.05, p0.05 < 0.05), soil fertility (χ² = 237.76, p0.05 < 0.05) and cost of land regeneration (χ² = 20.72, p0.05 < 0.05) between FNMR and non-FMNR farmers. There were significant differences in soil fertility perceptions across the study sites (p 0.05 = 0.029568), with Kajiado farmers perceiving the highest soil fertility attributed to the practice of FMNR. It was concluded that tangible economic benefits in terms of increased crop yield, pasture yields and soil fertility are realised by farmers who have embraced FMNR at the onset of the project. These benefits are attributed to increased environmental services associated with complex interactions between trees, crops, animals and the abiotic environment. It was recommended that longitudinal data over the life of the project should be collected in order to quantify the actual benefits accruing to farmers adopting FMNR practice.

Antibiotic residues in cattle manure increase greenhouse gas emissions during solid storage in Kenya

2026-07-27T11:50:43Z

Title: Antibiotic residues in cattle manure increase greenhouse gas emissions during solid storage in Kenya Authors: Leitner, Sonja Maria; Moodley, Arshnee; Chebet, Arusey; Kebeney, Syphyline; Zhu, Yuhao; Ng'etich, Wilson; Oduor, Collins O.; Muloi, Dishon M.; Keino, Ludy Abstract: The increasing use of antibiotics in livestock farming raises concerns about environmental impacts. This study examined the effects of three commonly used veterinary antibiotics – Tylosin, Enrofloxacin, and Oxytetracycline – on manure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fertilizer quality during solid manure storage. Aliquots of fresh cattle manure (10 kg) were either spiked with high or low concentrations of each antibiotic, or left untreated as Control, then incubated in open buckets for 110 days to simulate manure heaping. Emissions of CO2, CH4, and N2O were measured using a static chamber with a laser spectrometer. Tylosin (High and Low) treatments and High-dose Enrofloxacin significantly increased manure N2O emissions (2.1 ± 0.2 to 2.5 ± 0.4 %), exceeding the IPCC default values of 1 % manure-N. All antibiotic treatments increased CH4 emission factors (6.4 ± 0.7 to 14.2 ± 1.1 g CH4 kg