Political Ecology & Agroforestry – A case-study from Kitale, Kenya
The majority of the people in Kenya are living in poverty and 80 per cent of the population is living in rural areas. For decades the country has emitted problems with land degradation, soil erosion and lack of fertile soil. Agroforestry is a method were different species of trees are planted together with crops to prevent land degradation and to improve productivity for small scale farmers in developing countries.
This thesis use the political ecology approach together with a case study and follow-up from Kenya to present the importance of social, economical and political stability to create a sustainable development from a human- and ecological perspective. With a thesis of agroforestry implementation from 2006 as a background, a follow-up was conducted in 2010. It became noticeable that the majority of the farmers were affected by the political violence in 2007 and that the riot and the unstable situation had negative impact on the farm economy, the production and the food supply in general. The conclusion is that agroforestry is one of many methods for a sustainable human and agricultural development, but stable social, economical and political structure is crucial.
Svantes, E. (2010). Political ecology & agroforestry – A case-study from Kitale, Kenya. Bachelor’s Thesis. Dalarna University.