ABSTRACT
About 80 per cent of the total land area in Kenya is marginal for rain-fed agriculture. These areas are faced with frequent droughts and food shortages, are ecologically vulnerable and receive irregular and low amounts of rainfall. Investments in soil conservation may be undertaken when sufficient returns are expected. The returns to these investments critically depend on what the household can do with the crops. The level of education of heads of households is equally important. Its direct influence on soil conservation investments is positive and significant. Besides the problem of soil erosion, farmers in the semi-arid lands of Kenya face a number of risks. Sources of risk in crop production activities may result from various factors influencing the crop production process. Rainfall unreliability is an exogenous and major source of risk in the semi-arid lands of Kenya and investment in soil conservation is crucial if the land is to support the population.
