This paper synthesizes current knowledge on the impacts of the Gibe III dam and associated large-scale commercial farming in the Omo-Turkana Basin, based on an expert elicitation coupled with a scoping review and the collective knowledge of an multidisciplinary network of researchers with active data-collection programs in the Basin. We use social-ecological systems and political ecology frameworks to assess the impacts of these interventions on hydrology and ecosystem services in the Basin, and cascading effects on livelihoods, patterns of migration, and conflict dynamics for the people of the region. A landscape-scale transformation is occurring in which commodities, rather than staple foods for local consumption, are becoming the main output of the region. Mitigation measures initiated by the Ethiopian government—notably resettlement schemes—are not adequately buffering affected communities from food insecurity following disruption to indigenous livelihood systems. Therefore, while benefits are accruing to labor migrants, the costs of development are currently borne primarily by the agro–pastoralist indigenous people of the region. We consider measures that might maximize benefits from the changes underway and mitigate their negative outcomes, such as controlled floods, irrigating fodder crops, food aid, and benefit sharing. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-018-1139-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Managing grain moisture content is important because maximum economic return can be achieved by marketing at a certain moisture level of grain. Post-harvest management dictates that grains must be dried to certain levels to avoid development of fungal and insect problems, respiration and germination. However, over drying can also a lead to economic losses. Most farmers are aware of fungal development in moist grains but few are aware that they make less profit by over drying. Moreover, there are also bean varieties which genetically retain more water than others and hence can be safer and have more economic returns compared to others. But, this also should be matched to the rain pattern in a growing region. We compared six varieties of beans (KAT B1, KAT B9, and Kakunzu (KKZ), Rose Coco (GLP2/RCC), Kenya Tamu and KAT X56) grown in the South Eastern region of Kenya and found significant differences in dry moisture content, physical properties and grain weights. The Rose Coco and KAT X56 varieties had the highest moisture content retention but the KKZ variety the lowest. This explained why KKZ is favoured more by famers in arid areas with less rain during fruit maturation.

Objectives: This paper seeks to present a review of policies relating to agricultural productivity in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS) with a focus on Turkana County, Kenya. Methodology and Results: This paper adopted a qualitative approach and data collection majorly relied on document analysis of policy papers, the Kenyan Constitution, parliamentary proceedings as recorded in the Hansard, academic papers, organizational journals, newspaper articles and government statutes relating to agriculture. Despite the culture of the people being centered on pastoralism, food security in the ASALs is far from adequate. The numerous policy documents reveal the efforts Kenya has made to increase Agricultural productivity. The successive governments though at varying degrees, developed plans that focused on rural areas albeit with little progress in the ASALS. Institutional failures and adverse policies are to blame for the growth of the Agricultural sector in Africa. Conclusions and application of findings: There are numerous overlapping policies due to failure to evaluate existing ones. There is need to involve beneficiaries and to address resource allocation to agriculture to reflect the recommended 10% of overall country budget as per the Maputo agreement of 2003. Proper management of funds and fighting corruption is vital in effective implementation of development programs and realization of economic growth. Investment in both social and physical infrastructure (roads, livestock markets, abattoirs etc.) would ensure effectiveness of the various policies. There is need to prioritize water supply and water use efficiency for dryland agriculture.

In Africa's dry land areas, inappropriate agricultural practices including adoption of ISFWM technologies account for 28 percent of the degraded soils resulting to low land productivity with consequent increased food and nutrition insecurity. The study was carried to establish the factors that affect smallholder farmer's adoption of ISFWM technologies. A multi-stage sampling was used. Two hundred and forty eight households were sampled in both sub-counties; Data collection was done by well-trained enumerators' and analyzed using SPSS software. Regression models (Tobit and logit), as well as descriptive statistics were used to analyze factors that affect smallholder famers' adoption of ISWFM technologies. The cost-effectiveness of the ISFWM structures was analyzed through Cost-Benefit Analysis. Tobit regression results revealed that The variables Age, gender, access to agricultural extension access and agricultural credit were found to influence adoption of ISFWM technologies significantly (P<0-05) whilst Education level, access to inputs, access to radio, Labor, appropriate equipment farm implements, output Market access and farmers' perception on reliability of October-November Short rain season were cited to affect adoption of ISFWM highly significantly (P<0.01). The Cost-Benefit Analysis revealed that among the ISFWM structures practiced in LM AEZ 4 and 5 was Zai pit with CBR of 6.98 and 5.63 in LM AEZ 4 and 5, respectively followed by tied ridges with 5.29 in LM AEZ 4 and 5.14 in LM AEZ 5.

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