Assessing the factors underlying differences in achievements of farmer groups: methodological issues and empirical findings from the highlands of central Kenya

This paper examines the performance of rural-based community groups in Central Kenya and addresses the methodological issues and challenges faced in doing this. Performance measures included subjective and objective ratings of success, including more objectively verifiable measures at household and group levels, derived from a survey of 87 groups and 442 households within four sites. Empirical evidence regarding explanatory factors for relative performance levels is presented using a special sample of 40 groups involved in tree nursery activities, with both descriptive analysis and regression models. Collective action is desired and practised for many tasks. The incredible number, diversity and dynamic nature of groups make it difficult to standardise and measure achievement. Choice and level of performance measures matters in explaining differences in group achievement. Focusing on groups undertaking similar activities allows deeper analysis of performance drivers. Examining different types of groups engaged tree nurseries found that performance was not linked to any easy-to-measure group characteristic, implying that for this task dissemination need not be targeted towards particular types of groups. Assessing the factors underlying Differences in Achievements of Farmer Groups: Methodological Issues and Empirical Findings from the Highlands of Central Kenya

Smallholder Cotton Production in Tanzania: Emerging Issues on Accountability in Kilosa District, Morogoro

Traditional cash crop production in Tanzania has been declining with time. While some natural, infrastructure and marketing factors have been known to contribute to low agricultural productivity, reasons related to accountability on the part of officials managing different organs have been little known. This paper discusses emerging accountability issues on the part of government and other service providing institutions as far as cotton production in Kilosa District and more specifically in Malui Village is concerned. A cross-sectional research design that allows collection of information at one point in time was adopted covering several cases. Data for the study were collected through interviews of key informants and farmers, physical observations, documentation and meeting with village government. The emerging findings show that limited access of smallholders to sufficient and fertile land, appropriate farm inputs and reliable markets due to lack of effective accountability on the part of local government, cotton board, cooperatives and private traders has been among the responsible factors for the declining production of cotton. Establishing the right structures and enforcement mechanisms for accountability can disentangle smallholder agriculture from persistent, chronic dissatisfactions of farmers. Eastern African Social Sciences Review Vol. 23 (1) 2007: pp. 15-3

Assessing the factors underlying differences in group performance: Methodological issues and empirical findings from the highlands of central Kenya

This paper examines the performance of rural groups in Kenya and addresses the methodological issues and challenges faced in doing this, and presents the empirical evidence regarding various hypothesized explanatory factors for relative performance levels. Eighty-seven groups and 442 households were surveyed using several approaches. Various performance measures were tested. Both descriptive analysis and regression models were used to gain a better understanding of the group-level and household-level factors that explain performance. Collective action is desired and practiced for a large number of tasks. The findings highlight the incredible number, diversity and dynamic nature of groups in the highlands of Kenya (and we suspect this finding is not terribly unique to this region). Assessing and comparing performance across a range of group activities is wrought with difficulties related to measurement and standardization. Focusing on groups undertaking similar activities makes it easier to delve more deeply into performance drivers. The empirical analysis focused on the effect of group structural variables (e.g. its size) on performance. We found that choice of performance measure and level at which it is measured (e.g. household, group) matters when it comes to trying to explain the variability in that measure. An analysis across different types of groups engaged in exactly the same activity (tree nurseries) found that predicted group performance was not linked to any easy-to-measure group characteristic, implying that for this task dissemination need not be targeted towards particular types of groups. Looking more broadly at a range of activities, we found that structural factors had varied results