Agronomy

Agronomical aspects of coffee are an important part of coffee production for the coffee industry. General production of coffee is dependent on better farming practices and technologies. Hence development of sustainable farming techniques and technologies that result in better crop production are necessary for a sustainable coffee industry for the nation.

The Agronomy section exists within the Coffee Research discipline of the Research and Grower Services Division. The section is an amalgamation of Agrophysiology, Breeding and Soils and Plant Nutrition research disciplines. Research activities conducted by the section aims to conduct systematic collection and transfer of coffee information and adaptive research technologies leading to improved coffee quality and sustainable and/or increased crop production. All research programs implemented revolve around this aim.

Research projects that the section undertakes include;

• Improved farming technologies
• Multi-disciplinary research activities
• Improved coffee varieties through its Breeding programs
• Participatory research & extension
• Improve crop forecasting
• Soil and plant nutrition improvement
• Mitigation of Climate change and carbon trade
• Variety improvement and mass propagation through biotechnology
• Socio-economic farm productivity audits
• Gender emphasis on farm productivity
• Impact of HIV aids on farm productivity
• Farming systems
• Integrated farming
• Review and documentation of completed research

All projects are implemented to address farmer needs and are based on adaptive research strategies as outlined by these needs identified from the participatory rural appraisal approach conducted by extension methodologies.

Each research activity conducted is farmer demand-driven which means that farmers, as stakeholders of the industry, have their issues addressed through this approach.

 

 

Updated: May 17, 2010