Factors Influencing the Extent of Push-Pull Technology Expansion Among Smallholder Maize Farmers in Homa Bay, Kenya

The research is financed by African Economic Research Consortium (AERC)and Egerton University Abstract Dissemination, continued uptake and expansion of the area covered by push-pull technology (PPT), remain critical requirements in addressing the major constraints facing maize production such as infestation by striga weed and stem borers, and declining soil fertility for improved livelihoods. Despite increasing investment and literature on PPT in Homa Bay County, there are still smallholder farmers who for unknown reasons have chosen only to expand a smaller portion of their potential land for PPT or those who have chosen to reduce the area covered by PPT since adoption. This study econometrically addresses this information gap by looking at the rate and factors influencing extent of PPT expansion. A multi-stage sampling procedure was applied to select a sample of 240 smallholder farmers in Homa Bay County. Data were obtained through a face-to-face interviews using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire, and analyzed using censored tobit model. The results revealed relatively low PPT expansion rate of about 48.59%. Tobit results revealed that gender, marital status, access to extension services, dissemination pathways, perception on the stem borer severity, napier seed availability, longevity of PPT use, total size of cultivable land, and distance to the nearest market significantly influenced the extent of PPT expansion. Interestingly, farmer-to-farmer, field days and farmer teachers were found to be the most important and effective dissemination pathways enhancing the extent of PPT expansion. Therefore, the paper recommends policies that seek to ensure equitable access to output and input markets, efficient and effective extension system, as well as those that ensure strengthening of social institutions for extensive use of PPT. Again, such policies should ensure establishment of an integrated input development system which involves all stakeholders in the development and dissemination of PPT inputs such as desmodium seeds. Keywords: Dissemination, Continued Adoption, Extent of PPT Expansion, Censored Tobit Model DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-7-08 Publication date: April 30th 201

Determinants of Common Bean Productivity and Efficiency: A Case of Smallholder Farmers in Eastern Uganda

Agriculture sustains the livelihoods of about 70.8% of Ugandans, while common bean has emerged to be an important cash crop as well as a staple food for the majority of farmers and consumers. Although Uganda’s bean output has more than doubled, average bean yields in the country have been between 0.6 and 0.8 Mt Ha-1, even though yields higher than 1.5 Mt Ha-1 can be realized with improved varieties. Thusthe objective of this study was to determine the factors influencing common beanproductivityand efficiency among smallholder farmers in Eastern Uganda.The study was conducted in Busia, Mbale, Budaka and Tororo districts in Eastern Uganda based on a sample of 280 householdsselected using a multi-stage sampling technique. For the data collection, a personally administered structured questionnaire was used to conduct interviews, with a focus on household heads. In the analyses, descriptive statistics, a stochastic frontier modeland a two-limit Tobit regression model were employed. It was established that bean productivity was positively influenced by plot size, ordinary seeds, certified seeds and planting fertilizers. The mean technical efficiency among bean farms was 48.2%, mean economic efficiency was 59.94% and mean allocative efficiency was 29.37%. Finally, Tobit model estimation revealed that technical efficiency was positively influenced by value of assets at 1% level and extension service and group membership at 5% level; while age and distance to the factor market negatively influenced technical efficiency at 10% and 5% levels respectively. Economic efficiency was positively influenced by value of assets at 1% level and off-farm income and credit at 5% level. However, farmers’ primary occupation negativelyinfluenced economic efficiency at 5% level. Allocative efficiency was positively influenced by value of assets at 1% level and farm size and off-farm income at 10% level; while distance to the factor market negatively influenced allocative efficiency at 5% level.Hence the study recommended on the need for increased provision of extension service and training on correct input application and improved farming technologies to increase bean productivity. It also suggested on the need for policy to discourage land fragmentation, develop road and market infrastructure in rural areas and provide affordable and easily available credit facilities to improve production efficiency of bean farms

Uptake of climate-smart agricultural practices among smallholder sorghum farmers in Busia County, Kenya

AbstractWith global climatic shifts and increase in greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, agriculture is a contributor, but it is largely affected by the effects, particularly affecting the smallholder farmers. Climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices provide the best solution for adapting to climate change and variability. Moreover, some CSA practices act as carbon sinks, thereby helping reduce GHG build-up in the atmosphere. These practices may include conservation agriculture, agroforestry, water conservation, use of tolerant varieties and breeds, as well as the use of risk insurance. Despite the highlighted benefits, the uptake of CSA practices among smallholder sorghum farmers in Busia county is still low. From the foregoing, this study sought to evaluate factors affecting the level of uptake of CSA practices among smallholder sorghum farmers in Busia County. With the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire, primary data were collected from 423 smallholder sorghum farmers selected through multistage sampling technique. Data were analysed using the standard Poisson regression model. The average number of CSA practices adopted by sorghum farmers in the past one year was two, with a minimum of zero and a maximum of thirteen. Age of the farmer, farming experience, ownership and the proportion of land under farming, access to credit, frequency of receiving agrometeorological information, trust in the information, number of farmers’ trainings attended, and exposure to climate shocks, significantly influenced CSA practices uptake level. Findings give insights on provision of agrometeorological information and trainings as possible ways to encourage the uptake of CSA practices at the small farm level

EFFECT OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY ON THE LIVELIHOODS OF SMALL-SCALE MAIZE PRODUCERS

Research background: In Kenya, maize production has been severely constrained by parasitic pests and weeds such as Striga, stem borer, and fall armyworm. The government of Kenya and its partners have developed, disseminated, and promoted the continual uptake of integrated pest management technologies such as Push-Pull technology (PPT) as a way of addressing these constraints. Understanding the effect of these technologies on smallholder livelihoods is crucial, however, it is largely ignored in the literature. Purpose of the article: This study evaluates the effect of continual uptake of PPT as an integrated pest management technology on livelihood outcomes of small-scale maize producers in Homa Bay County. Methods: A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a sample of 240 respondents. Cross-sectional data were gathered through face-to-face interviews using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire, and analysed using descriptive statistics and propensity score matching models. Findings & Value added: Findings were that age, education level, total land owned, perception on Striga weed, stem borer, and fall armyworm severity, and land tenure positively influenced continual uptake of PPT, whereas the distance to nearest administrative centre was negatively associated with it. Propensity score matching results revealed that continual uptake of PPT had a positive and significant effect on household consumption expenditure and household dietary diversity, with a negative impact on poverty. The study, therefore, recommended policies that will ensure efficiency, literacy development, extension training, and resource availability among PPT non-adopters and dis-adopters to the level of the PPT continuous users