Historical background
The National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL) formally known as Scott Agricultural Laboratories was started in 1903 as the first agricultural experimental station in Kenya.  In those early years, several crops such as wheat, coffee, pyrethrum, tobacco and sisal were tested in the center before the establishment of research stations in more suitable areas. The station receives an annual rainfall of 970 mm, occupies approximately 25 ha and lies at 1,740 m.  With time, the experimental station directed its activities to the analysis of soil, plant tissues, water, fertilizer, crop protection research and associated services of plant inspection, pesticide analysis and plant clinic, soil surveys, irrigation and drainage in post independent period.

Due to concerns on the relevance and adoption of technologies that are generated and disseminated to various clients, the centre brought on board socioeconomics research  to complement most of the research that focussed on biophysical science. In addition, biometrics input was incorporated in the research process to ensure that the research being conducted by the scientists was of high scientifc quality.

Mandate
The Centre has the national mandate and responsibility for agriculturally related research and services in Natural Resource Management (NRM) which comprise; land and water management (land resource survey and inventory, soil fertility and plant nutrition research, and irrigation, drainage and problem soils) and crop protection (CP) (entomology, plant pathology, weed science and post-harvest); and socioeconomics and biometrics. In it’s operations, the Centre is guided by the vision, mission, core values and strategic goals of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). Consequently, it’s vision is to be a Centre of excellence in Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Crop Protection (CP). The mission is to undertake specialist research and services in NRM, crop protection, and socioeconomics and applied statistics so as to enhance better land utilization, crop protection and animal production. Its user-friendly products and services are developed in close consultation with clients to ensure their ultimate satisfaction.  In pursuit of this, KARI Kabete utilizes the best-qualified personnel and applies the latest technologies.

Contacts
P.O. Box 14733-00800, Nairobi
Tel.: 4444140-44, 4444029-32, 4444250-56
Fax No.: (254) – 2 – 444144
Email:  cdnarl@iconnect.co.ke