This document summarizes a research project studying the multifunctional benefits of agroforestry systems for smallholder farmers. The project aims to assess and quantify the multiple functions of agroforestry including food production, ecosystem services, and livelihood benefits. Researchers are combining on-farm studies with simulation modeling at different scales (field, farm, landscape). The project involves partnerships between researchers, educators, and extension agents. Studies are examining topics such as maize yields, nutrient cycling, water dynamics from different tree species, and soil requirements for an oil tree crop. The project involves monitoring farms over time in two sites in Kenya to understand impacts on productivity from different management practices.

1. Multifunctionality of
Agroforestry Systems
Can integration of trees on smallholder farms
contribute to enhance agricultural productivity,
resource utilization and livelihood?
Research and Capacity Development

2. Project team
Ingrid Öborna,b, John Nyagab,c, Ylva Nyberga,d, Edmundo
Barriosb, Sigrun Dahlina, Mattias Jonssona, Bo Lagerd,
Viviene Matiruc, Catherine Muthurib,c, Fergus L Sinclairb
aSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala
bWorld Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Nairobi
cJomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)
dVi Agroforestry, Kenya
Funded by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD40),
Formas-Sida and participating institutions

3. How to meet the global challenges?
• Increase the productivity
• Sustainable intensification
• Diversification and multi-functionality
• Enterprise development
• Linking agriculture and rural development

4. Challenge of Agricultural Research
Need to address complex problems in order to suggest
integrated solutions benefitting smallholder farmers

5. Challenge of Agricultural Research
Need to address complex problems in order to suggest
integrated solutions benefitting smallholder farmers

6. Agroforestry: Integration of trees on
farms and in agricultural landscapes

7. Trees and shrubs for fodder, food, fuel, fence,
shelter, construction, medicine, green manure, etc

8. Forestry – agriculture – agroforestry
Changes in functions, e.g. carbon stocks

9. Overall aim
To assess and quantify some of the
multiple functions of agroforestry and
identify synergies and trade-offs at field,
farm and landscape scale
Add photos of the 3 scales

10. Multi-functional agricultural system
Produce and provide multiple products and functions -
food, other products and services
Ecosystem services (MA, 2005) ;
provisioning (e.g. food, fresh water, wood, fuel),
supporting (e.g. nutrient cycling, soil formation,
primary production),
regulating (e.g. carbon sequestration, biological pest
control, water purification), and
cultural (aesthetic, spiritual, educational, recreational)

11. Combine on-farm
biophysical and
participatory studies with
simulation modelling at
different scales; field-plot,
farm, landscape
In the project we

12. Partnership between research,
education and extension
• Training of Trainers on Sustainable Agriculture Land Use Management
(SALM) and Food Security. Nov. 12–15, 2012, Kisumu. 30 participants from
Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya. Farmers organizations, field advisors
• Training of Farmers on Productive and Sustainable Farming in Trans Nzoia,
Kitale April 22-25 2013. 40 participants from 20 study farms. Vi
Agroforestry/SLU
• Research Training – Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project (World Bank). Assess
the effects on productivity (maize yield 4 years), etc, based on farm
monitoring data. Two Vi Agroforestry staff and SLU/ICRAF
• Minor Field studies, MSc and PhD students. SLU, Uppsala Univ, Stockholm
Univ, Lund Univ, Amsterdam Univ, JKUAT

13. Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project
Effects of management practices on productivity
Maize,
kg/ha
Yield 1
Yield 1
Yield 2
Yield 2
Maize,
kg/ha
Kitale
Kisumu
Kitale
Kisumu
Caro Musee, Emmanuel Wachiye, et al

14. Farm study focusing on productivity, nutrient cycling and other
ecosystem services in small-holder systems of different
complexity (crops with and without trees and livestock)
Ylva Nyberg, PhD student, SLU/Vi Agroforestry (see poster)

15. Field study of impacts of different tree species on water and
nutrient dynamics in smallholder’s maize-based systems
John Nyaga, PhD student, JKUAT/ICRAF (see poster)

16. Allanblackia – an oil tree
crop under domestication
What are the soil requirements
and symbionts?
Helena Ströma, Kajsa Alvum-Tollb, A Sigrun Dahlinb, Petra
Franssona, Daniel Oforic, Ramni Jamnadassc
Depts. aForest Mycology and Pathology & bSoil and
Environment, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden, cWorld Agroforestry
Centre (ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya
Pilot project with 2 MSc students (see poster)

17. Thank you for your attention!
Asanteni sana!
Welcome to the posters

18. The geographic project
area divided into the two
project sites: Kisumu
(southern part) and
Bungoma (northern part)
and further subdivided
into the 28 administrative
locations.
Detailed monitoring of
100 farms (stratified
selection) since 2009. In
an ongoing study 80
control farms in each
project site have been
included.
The Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project (Kacp) - Vi Agroforestry