Fieldwork in Siaya, Kenya: Farming Practices, Biodiversity and Resilience [18.05.26]
Ongoing BRIGHT-Futures research examines how smallholder farming communities navigate food security, biodiversity, and environmental change.
Our postdoctoral researcher Bowy den Braber is currently conducting fieldwork in Siaya, Kenya as part of the BRIGHT-Futures project.
The research focuses on smallholder farming systems in the region, particularly maize–bean intercropping farms, and explores how farmers manage agricultural practices, food security, biodiversity and resilience under changing environmental conditions. Alongside interviews with farmers, the team is also collecting data on insect and bird diversity, as well as soil and maize samples as part of the fieldwork activities.
Although the fieldwork is still ongoing, early observations already highlight the diversity of farming practices in the area and the resilience of farming communities in the aftermath of severe drought conditions.
The fieldwork is being carried out in collaboration with Joseph Kimani from the University of Nairobi, Mourine Onyando from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University, and the team at the Ndaloh Heritage Foundation, a local NGO working in the region.
Special thanks also go to Stephen Odawa, Richard Adwera, John Owino and Bernard Nyadhi for their support throughout the fieldwork process.
We thank all collaborators, local partners and community members involved in the research for sharing their time, knowledge and experiences with the team.
