Introducing Chinese rainfed agricultural system to Kenya: a promising strategy to cope with climate change and food security

摘要

Arid and semiarid areas comprise 82％and 52％of the total land area in Kenya and China,respectively.However grain yield per unit area and rainwater use efficiency in Kenya are less than 35％and 30％of China,respectively.China and Kenya are also among the countries that are highly suffering from global warming; however China's integrated rainfed agricultural system produced sufficient food and considerable biomass to enhance carbon sequestration.Comparative experiments were carried out with maize crop at Katumani research centre,Kenya,in the long rainy season of 2012,where water harvesting technologies derived from Chinese rainfed systems were used.The treatments tested included maize planted in ridge and furrow system(RFS)with transparent and black plastic film,RFS with mulch applied,RFS without any mulch,and on flat ground.The results showed that there was greater potential of RFS with plastic or grass straw mulching in Kenya than China.Grain yield,rainwater use efficiency and biomass accumulation of maize in Kenya were increased by 100-300％as a result of introducing Chinese rainfed farming techniques.This farming system would provide sufficient food and soil carbon sequestration for Kenya and accordingly act as a strategy to cope with climate change.Our study provides a novel understanding on the role of dryland agriculture in mitigating strategies for climate change and a practical approach for a solution for food security in dry lands worldwide.