Assessing Status of Agroecological Biodiversity in Smallholder farming: Evidence from FAO TAPE Tool Localization in Busia County, Kenya

Abstract

Agroecological biodiversity is the variety and variability of above ground organisms, that is crops, livestock, trees, and activities considered under agricultural systems. This study investigated the extent of above ground agroecological biodiversity among small-scale farmers in Busia County. Agroecological diversity (above ground) was measured using four indicators of the FAO's Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation-TAPE: crop, livestock, tree, and activity diversity. Administrative wards were purposively selected where a sample size of 210 was sourced. Households were randomly selected, top 35 households, within those administrative wards. For administrative wards with less than 35 households, snowballing was conducted to reach the required number of households. Snowballing was also conducted to households that were unavailable and to those who did not give consent. Data was collected through structured questionnaires and administered to respondents by trained enumerators. The results revealed that the agroecological biodiversity scores recorded: 40.5%, 31.25%, 45.5%, and 41.75%, for crops, livestock, trees, and activities, respectively, with an overall score of 39.75%. This interprets to unsustainable extent of practice, reflecting missed opportunities to harness agroecological biodiversity. Farmer education and technical extension by up to date standardized trained officers on agroecological biodiversity can be strengthened through mass media, agricultural shows, and farmer school centres. Additionally, promoting practical guidance on integrating locally appropriate species and practices can help unlock the full extent and adoption of agroecological biodiversity.