Innovative approaches to integrating gender into conventional maize breeding: lessons from the Seed Production Technology for Africa project.

The integration of gender concerns in crop breeding programs aims to improve the suitability and appeal of new varieties to both women and men, in response to concerns about unequal adoption of improved seed. However, few conventional breeding programs have sought to center social inclusion concerns. This community case study documents efforts to integrate gender into the maize-focused Seed Production Technology for Africa (SPTA) project using innovation history analysis drawing on project documents and the authors' experiences.

Does the adoption of soil carbon enhancing practices translate to increased farm yields? A case of maize yield from Western Kenya.

Improving agricultural productivity to improve food security and feed the future generation is needed. One of the ways to achieve this is by adopting low-cost solutions such as soil carbon enhancing practices (SCEPs). Given the complexity of adoption decisions, technologies are either adopted as substitutes or complements.

Prospects and constraints in smallholder farmers' adoption of multiple soil carbon enhancing practices in Western Kenya.

Most smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are adversely affected by low soil fertility, land degradation and climate change-related shocks such as drought. These problems lead to low productivity and low household income. In addition, the adoption of soil carbon enhancing practices remains low in Western Kenya.

Survey data on factors that influence the adoption of soil carbon enhancing practices in Western Kenya.

The data described in this paper were collected in Western Kenya, specifically in Kakamega and Vihiga Counties. The data were collected from 334 households with the aim of assessing factors that facilitate or constrain the adoption of practices that enhance the sequestration of soil carbon. The data were collected through a structured questionnaire that was designed in SurveyCTO.