The ASTI Data in Focus series provides additional background data in support of the 2010 Country Note on Kenya (asti.cgiar.org/pdf/Kenya-Note.pdf) prepared by the Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) initiative and the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). Based on data collected by ASTI and KARI, these two outputs review major investment and capacity trends in Kenyan public agricultural research and development (R&D) since 1971, providing important updates on agricultural R&D trends prepared by ASTI and KARI in 2000–03.
D. Research Allocation across Commodities and Themes
This section provides detailed quantitative information on Kenyan public agricultural research allocation in 2008. Complementary sections of this issue on Kenya present detailed data on long-term trends (Section A), financial resources (Section B), and human resources (Section C). Further supporting information provides macroeconomic trends, a list of agencies included in the study, data sources and estimation procedures, and ASTI’s methodology.
Table D1—Research focus by major commodity area, 2008
This table presents the number of researchers by major commodity area both in absolute terms and in relative terms. In 2008, 381 of Kenya’s 1,012 FTE researchers focused on crop research. Of the remaining researchers, 180 FTEs focused on livestock, 117 FTEs focused on natural resources, 77 FTEs focused on forestry, 63 FTEs focused on fisheries, and 194 FTEs focused on other commodity areas. Large variations were reported across the government agencies. While 70 percent of researchers employed at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and the Kenya Sugar Research Foundation (KESREF) allocated focused on crop research, the remaining four government agencies focused on noncrop areas, such as forestry and natural resources.
Source: Calculated by authors from IFPRI–KARI 2009.
Note: Figures in parentheses indicate the number of agencies in each category.
Figure D1—Research focus by major commodity area, 2008
This figure presents the allocation of FTE researchers across the different commodity areas (see also Table D1). In 2008, 38 percent of FTE researchers in agriculture were involved in crop research. Livestock research accounted for 18 percent, natural resources for 12 percent, forestry research for 8 percent, and fisheries research for 6 percent. The remaining researchers concentrated their efforts on socioeconomic research, postharvest research, or other matters. Notably, research focus varied widely across agencies. For example, 23 percent of the FTE researchers employed at KARI and the higher education agencies focused on livestock, whereas few FTEs at the other government agencies focused on livestock research.
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI–KARI 2009.
Note: Figures in parentheses indicate the number of agencies in each category.
Table D2—Focus of crop and livestock research by major item, 2008
The most researched crops in Kenya in 2008 were maize and fruit, accounting for 67 and 52 FTE researchers, or 12 and 9 percent of the total crop and livestock researchers, respectively. Other important crops included coffee, potatoes, vegetables, and wheat, each accounting for between 5 and 6 percent of researchers. The country’s livestock researchers concentrated primarily on dairy (14 percent), beef (6 percent), and sheep and goats (5 percent).
Source: Calculated by authors from IFPRI–KARI 2009. Note: Figures in parentheses indicate the number of agencies in each category.
Table D3—Focus of crop and livestock research by major theme, 2008
This table shows FTE researchers by thematic area in absolute and relative terms.. Crops are the most important research theme in Kenya accounting for 290 of the 943 FTE researchers in 2008. That year, 12 percent of Kenya’s agricultural researchers focused on crop genetic improvement, 7 percent focused on crop pest and disease control, and another 12 percent focused on other research related to crops. Natural resource research was another important area accounting for 19 percent of the country’s agricultural researchers. Large variations were reported across agencies.
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI–KARI 2009.
Notes: Figures in parentheses indicate the number of agencies in each category.
