Table 1 Crop species grown by smallholder farmers in selected sites of Eastern Kenya and their relative densities

Maize

Zea mays L.

Cereal, subsistence and commercial

6.3

Common bean

Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Grain legume subsistence and commercial

5.8

Sugarcane

Saccharum officinarum L.

Sugar crop, subsistence and commercial

5.1

Kale

Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala

Leafy vegetable, subsistence and commercial

5

Soya bean

Glycine max (L.) Merr.

Oil-seed legume, subsistence and commercial

4.9

Banana

Musa acuminata L.

Fruit, subsistence and commercial

4.7

Cowpea

Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.

Grain legume, vegetable, subsistence and commercial

4.5

Macadamia

Macadamia integrifolia Maiden and Betche

Nut, commercial

4.2

Onions

Allium cepa L.

Root–bulb vegetable, subsistence and commercial

4.1

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum L.

Vegetable, subsistence and commercial

4.0

Cassava

Manihot esculenta (L.) Crantz

Root–tuber, subsistence and commercial

3.7

Cabbage

Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata

Leafy vegetable, subsistence

3.3

Arabica coffee

Coffea arabica L.

Beverage crop, commercial

3.3

Spinach

Spinacia oleracea L.

Leafy vegetable, subsistence

3.2

African nightshade

Solanum nigrum L.

Indigenous food vegetables, subsistence

2.9

Amaranth

Amaranthus dubius L.

Indigenous food vegetables, subsistence

2.6

Ruiru 11 coffee

Coffea arabica L.

Beverage crop, commercial

2.5

Green tea

Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze

Beverage crop, commercial

2.5

Robusta coffee

Coffea robusta L.

Beverage crop, commercial

2.3

Pigeon pea

Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill

Grain legume, subsistence and commercial

2.2

Irish potato

Solanum tuberosum L.

Root-tuber, subsistence and commercial

2.2

Sweet potato

Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.

Root–tuber, subsistence and commercial

2.2

Carrot

Daucus carota L.

Root–tuber vegetable, subsistence and commercial

1.8

Pawpaw

Carica papaya L.

Fruit, subsistence and commercial

1.8

Pumpkin

Cucurbita pepo L.

Indigenous vegetable, subsistence and commercial

1.8

Passion fruit

Passiflora edulis Sims

Fruit, subsistence and commercial

1.7

Yam

Dioscorea villosa L.

Root–tuber, subsistence and commercial

1.6

Avocado

Persea americana L.

Fruit, subsistence and commercial

1.6

Sorghum

Sorghum bicolor L.

Cereal, subsistence and commercial

1.4

Mango

Mangifera indica L.

Fruit, subsistence and commercial

1.3

Miraa (Khat)

Catha edulis (Vahl) Forssk. Ex Endl.

Commercial^a

1.2

Green gram

Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek

Grain legume, subsistence and commercial

1.0

Arrow root

Maranta arundinacea L.

Root–tuber, subsistence and commercial

0.9

Finger millet

Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.

Cereal, subsistence and commercial

0.5

Purple tea

Camellia sinensis L.

Beverage crop, commercial

0.5

Groundnut

Arachis hypogaea L.

Protein oil-seed crop, subsistence and commercial

0.4

Orange

Citrus sinensis L.

Citrus fruit, subsistence and commercial

0.3

Guava

Psidium guajava L.

Fruit, subsistence and commercial

0.2

Khat (Muguka)

Catha edulis (Vahl) Forssk. Ex Endl.

Commercial^a

0.2