Location: InnovAfrica will be conducted in Kangundo and Matungulu sub-counties in Machakos County (Figure 1). The region lies between 1°25’S and 1°05’S and 37° 05’E and 37° 23’E with altitudes ranging from 900 to 1800 m above sea level (asl).

Soil: The predominant soils are Luvisols, Acrisols and Ferralsols derived from the pre-Cambrian ‘basement-complex’ rocks consisting of mainly granites, gneisses and sometimes schist’s sandstones or phyllitic shales often shallow and inherently deficient in N and P and low organic.

Climate: Rainfall is bimodal with two distinct rainy seasons; the long rains occurring from March to May and short rains from October to December with average annual rainfall of 700 mm in the low lying areas to 1150 mm in the hilly masses. Mean annual temperatures vary from 14 C° to 34 C° and evapo-transpiration ranges from 1200 to 1800 mm/year and exceeds annual rainfall.

Farming: Farming systems are characterized by mixed crop-livestock production on land holdings of about 1.2 hectares. Maize is the most important cereal and commonly intercropped with beans, cowpea and pigeon pea. Mangoes, avocadoes, bananas and coffee are important cash crops. 

Livestock: Major livestock kept include cattle, sheep and goats. A large proportion of cattle kept are zebu mainly under extensive grazing system whereas in the wetter areas improved breeds are stall fed. Napier and Rhodes grasses, crop residues are the main feeds.

Infrastructure: The region has moderately good services infrastructure that includes mobile phone connectivity, paved and all weather marram roads and electricity.