Resource information
An issue which has generated much
concern has been the potential link between low incomes and
resource degradation. This report presents the results of a
study which investigated this question. Machakos District is
a relatively low income and agriculturally marginal district
in Kenya. Before World War II the colonial administration
was concerned that land degradation was becoming severe
under the pressure of population, aggravated by drought. The
report analyzes the changes which have taken place in the
land resources, agricultural systems, and social structures
of the district over the period since 1930. Despite the fact
that there was considerable social turbulence in the period
prior to independence, the people of the district have
managed, building on good market access and periodic
government support, to make substantial changes in their
government support and agricultural systems and bring about
a dramatic increase in the productivity of their land resources.
