Socioeconomic Impacts of Prosopis Juliflora on the People of Salabani Location, Marigat District, Baringo County in Kenya

Abstract

Alien invasive species are a threat to functioning and structure of ecosystems in the world. They affect provision of goods and services of ecosystems and have also ecological and socio-economic impacts on ASAL communities. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine the socio-economic impacts of Prosopis juliflora on the livelihoods of the people of Salabani Location in Baringo County. A survey was carried out on 200 randomly selected households out of the total households living in Salabani using pretested questionnaires. The results were coded captured and analyzed using SPSS computer program. Satellite images of 2012 indicate that Prosopis juliflora covers 8555ha of land as compared to 2906 ha in 1998 representing an annual increment of 66%. Survey results showed that 95% of the households use P. juliflora as the main source of fuelwood and produce 240 bags of charcoal per household per annum. The economic benefits accruing from products associated with P. juliflora is KES 169,400 per household per annum. Economic losses from Prosopis which are associated with its thorns are estimated at KES 128,000 per household per annum. The net present value of Prosopis is 21,244.74 while the benefit / cost ratio is 3.091 hence the study concludes that utilization of Prosopis is economically viable. The study recommends that the Government of Kenya should encourage utilization of the many products and services of the tree since the residents have underutilized it.

Keywords:  Invasive species, Prosopis juliflora, Economic benefits, Economic losses