Int. J. Agr. Ext. 03 (01) 2015. 73-81 73 Available Online at ESci Journals International Journal of Agricultural Extension ISSN: 2311-6110 (Online), 2311-8547 (Print) http://www.escijournals.net/IJAE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF WILDLIFE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION MITIGATION STRATEGIES IN INFLUENCING THE EXTENT OF HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT: A CASE OF SMALLHOLDER AGRO-PASTORALISTS IN LAIKIPIA COUNTY, KENYA Ronald O. Nyamwamu*, John G. Mwangi, Justus M. Ombati Department of Agricultural Education & Extension, Egerton University, P.O Box 536-20115 Egerton, Kenya. A B S T R A C T The agriculture sector is critical in the achievement of food security and also important for income generation, employment creation, and provision of raw materials for agro-based industries, economic growth and poverty reduction. This is especially for smallholder farmers, most of who live in rural areas, especially in Sub Saharan African countries such as Kenya. Rangelands occupy 34% of the world’s landscape, 70% of the total landmass in the horn of Africa and 80% in Kenya. Rangelands are mostly occupied by pastoralists and agro-pastoralists besides being used for wildlife conservation. The interaction between humans and wildlife results in human-wildlife conflict which is one of the major problems experienced by farmers in rangelands such as in Laikipia County. Data were collected through document review. Study findings established that despite agricultural extension promoting human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies, human-wildlife conflict is still being experienced among smallholder agro-pastoralists in Laikipia County. Additionally, limited information had been documented on the agricultural extension mitigation strategies used, their effectiveness and sustainability among smallholder agro-pastoralists. It was therefore concluded that despite agricultural extension having the potential for mitigating against human- wildlife conflict, this potential has not been exploited. Consequently, human-wildlife conflict is still being experienced among small-holder agro-pastoralists in Laikipia County. This could be undermining household food security among smallholder agro-pastoralists in Laikipia County. It was therefore recommended that further research be undertaken on factors influencing adoption of human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies promoted by agricultural extension among smallholder agro-pastoralists. Keywords: Agricultural Extension Wildlife Mitigation Strategies, human-wildlife conflict, influence, small-holder agro-pastoralists INTRODUCTION: Agriculture is a vital sector for the achievement of food security, employment creation and economic growth in the world (AGRA, 2013). The agriculture sector is also the backbone for economic growth especially for most of the African countries where it generates about 25% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Sub Saharan Africa (Schaffnit-Chatterjee, 2014). Additionally, agriculture is key to economic growth, poverty reduction and food security. Furthermore, most of the population in Sub Saharan Africa is rural and relies largely on agriculture. Moreover, economic growth generated by agriculture is more effective in reducing poverty than GDP growth in other sectors (Cervantes-Godoy & Dewbre, 2010; AGRA, 2013; Schaffnit-Chatterjee, 2014). Since agriculture accounts for about 25 to 40 per cent of the total GDP in African countries (AGRA, 2013), raising agricultural production therefore boosts income for millions of smallholder farmers who account for about 75 per cent of Sub Saharan Africa’s population (Schaffnit-Chatterjee, 2014). This is possible because smallholder farming accounts for about 80 per cent of all farms in Sub Saharan Africa. Therefore increasing agricultural __________________________________________________________________ * Corresponding Author: Email: ronnyorare@yahoo.com © 2015 ESci Journals Publishing. All rights reserved.