TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION
APPROVAL
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv
ACRONYMS
ABSTRACT vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
CHAPTER ONE i
1.0 Introduction and background of the study 1
1 .2 Problem statement 3
1.3 Objectives of the study 3
1.3.1 General objective 3
1.3.2 Specific objectives 3
1.5 Scope of the study 4
1.5.1 Geographical scope 4
1.5.2 Content scope 4
1.5.3 Time scope 4
1.6 Significance 4
1.7 Definition of key terms
1.8 Conceptual framework 6
CHAPTER TWO 7
LITERATURE REVIEW 7
2.0 Introduction 7
2.1 The agricultural activities carried out in wetlands 7
2.2 Factors that influence people to carry out agriculture in wetlands 9
2.3 How agricultural intensification affects the wetland ecosystems 12
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2.4 Measures put in place to ensure wetlands conservation amidst agricultural intensification in
wetlands 15
CHAPTER THREE 18
MATERIALS AND METHODS 18
3.0 Introduction 18
3.1 Description of the study area 18
3.1.1 Location and size 18
3.2 Research Design 18
3.3 Sampling design 19
3.4 Data sources and research instruments 19
3.4.1 Data sources~ 19
3.4.2 Research instruments 19
3.5 Data analysis 20
3.6 Validity and Reliability 20
3.7 Ethical considerations 21
3.8 Limitations to the study 21
CHAPTER FOUR 22
PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA 22
4.0 Introduction 22
4.1 Demographic data of the respondents 22
4.2.1 Nature of agricultural development in the wetland 24
4.2.2 Crops grown in the wetland 26
4.2.3 Crops/items grown near the wetland 27
4.3 Factors that influence people to carry out agriculture in wetlands 28
4.5 Measures put in place for ensuring wetland conservation amidst agricultural .intensification 33
4.5.1 Do you know of any measures put in place to conserve this wetland9 33
4.5.2 Measures that have been put in place to conserve this wetland 34
4.5.3 Measures suggested by the respondents to be implemented to ensure proper wetland
conservation9 36
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CHAPTER FIVE .38
CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS 38
5.0 Introduction 38
5.1 Conclusions 38
5.2 Recommendations 38
References 40
APPENDICES 43
Appendix I: Questionnaire 43
Appendix II: Introductory Letter 50
ABSTRACT Agricultural intensification is defined as “the relation to constant land, the substitution of labour, capital or technology for land, in any combination, so as to obtain higher long-term production from the same area. The objectives of the study were to identify the agricultural activities in wetlands and factors that influence people to carry out agriculture in wetlands, to examine how agricultural intensification affects the wetland ecosystem and explore the measures put in place to ensure wetland conservation amidst intensified agriculture on wetlands. The study was descriptive in nature comprised of both qualitative and quantitative designs and a total of 80 respondents was chosen as the sample size. The sampling techniques were simple random sampling and purposive sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires, observation and document review. The data was mainly analyzed using frequencies and percentages and presented in form of pie-charts and frequency distribution tables. The greatest agricultural intensification activity carried out in R.Kafii wetland was crop farming in form of monoculture and crop rotation while the least activity. The most grown crop in the wetland was maize while the least was sweet potatoes. The greatest factor influencing people to cultivate in the wetland is the reliable water supply while the least was the availability of other products. The greatest agricultural intensification activity affecting the wetland was crop farming in form of monoculture while the least was the use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. The greatest measures used to conserve the wetland are creating awareness or sensitization while the least was capacity building. The measure suggested by the respondents to be implemented to ensure proper wetland conservation was increased sensitization and more capacity building. The study recommended the following; Crops and animals that mature faster and give higher yields should be more promoted, periodic research and inventory should be developed and conducted and finally more funding should be mobilized by the concerned authorities for ensuring proper wetlands conservation.
