Fertilizer and seeds demand in Kenya from 1982 / 83 to 1990 / 91

The paper discusses fertilizer use and demand while taking into account nutrient requirements, variation in application rates by districts and marginal returns to fertilizer use. The paper also addresses the problem of availability and cost of fertilizers and seeds in the rural districts of Kisiia nd Nyeri. It also examines the margins in the distribution of fertilizer and seeds. In addition, the parer discusses policy alternatives to promote fertilizer use and to ascertain adequate seed availability for the most important crops

Dairy marketing and pricing in Kenya: are milk shortages the consequence of drought or pricing policies?

In this paper, production, consumption, marketing and pricing of dairy products in Kenya are examined and discussed. It is argued that there are severe irrationalities in the pricing of dairy products and that these have become an important constraint on the industry. At a uniform price between locations, transport costs are hidden and there is excessive stimulation to production far from the consuming areas. At a uniform price between seasons, the far greater production costs in the dry season are not incurred so that dry season milk shortages (annually, blamed on the drought) are now regular features. Wet season surpluses are in the meantime enormous, involving the necessity for substantial processing capacity that remains idle for a good part of each year. Large financial losses are incurred by the Kenya Cooperative Creamery (K.C.C.) in the flush season when twice as much milk must be purchased at the same uniform price. A large percentage of this milk is then used for manufacturing and sold at a net loss. An excessive consumer price for liquid milk is meanwhile maintained which severely inhibits the growth of milk consumption, especially among the poor who would derive the greatest nutritional benefit from increasing their consumption. A large part of the additional supplies in the smallholder areas are going into local consumption. Only when local demand is met at the supply price to K.C.C. can the surpluses from these areas be expected in the formal market. At a seasonally uniform producer price the supply fluctuations between seasons are particularly severe fro these areas. An alternative milk pricing system is proposed that would recognise that neither the production costs nor the financial or social value of additional milk is uniform between seasons and locations. In this system a floor price would be paid for all seasons with an ex post additional payout depending on the proportion of milk intake that is sold as fluid milk

Gender Patterns in Labor Allocation to Avocado Production: Evidence from Kenya

Farmers face gender differentiated unique social and economic circumstances which may in part determine their time allocation behavior. Using primary survey data from Murang’a County, Kenya, this study employs the double hurdle and Tobit models to investigate gendered patterns of labor allocation in avocado production under contract and non-contract scenarios, non-farm activities as well as the intensity of time use. Results show that while avocado commercialization through contract farming has to some extent altered traditional gender roles in farming, there is still limited participation of women in avocado marketing under contract farming. Hence, interventions aimed at enhancing smallholder avocado production should incorporate mechanisms that will enable women participate at all levels of the avocado value chain

Smallholder Avocado Contract Farming in Kenya: Determinants and Differentials in Outcomes

Avocado is a non-traditional export crop of economic importance in Kenya. Commercialization of the fruit through contract farming is a viable alternative for improving the welfare of majority of smallholder farmers involved in its production. This paper explores factors influencing the participation of smallholder farmers in avocado contract farming and decomposes those contributing to differentials in quality and quantities of fruit harvested and sold by contract and non-contract farmers.  Findings from a probit analysis indicate that adoption of Hass and Fuerte varieties, hired labor, and information on production and marketing significantly influenced participation in contract farming. Results from gap analysis, using Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, showed that differences between contract and non-contract farmers in quality and quantities of harvested and sold were due to endowment and structural differences. The results imply that closing the observed gap will require policies aimed at facilitating better access to land and training of farmers in good agricultural practices among other support services

Smallholder milk production and marketing: opportunities and problems

This paper presents a brief summary of the major problems facing the smallholder dairy producers. Greater attention is given to the factors that determine the net price that the smallholder receives. The role of co-operatives in price determination is discussed. There appears to be great variability in their performance. While some are impressive in terms of their efficiency of operation, their low cost and quality of services to members others represent a source of inefficiency in marketing. Costs are high with concomitant low payouts to producers. The quality of milk does not appear to constitute a major problem. Many co-operatives maintain high quality of milk deliveries while KCC refuses to accept dairy produce that does not measure up to standard. Transportation appears to be a significant and costly problem

Smallholder Avocado Contract Farming in Kenya: Determinants and Differentials in Outcomes

Avocado is a non-traditional export crop of economic importance in Kenya. Commercialization of the fruit through contract farming is a viable alternative for improving the welfare of majority of smallholder farmers involved in its production. This paper explores factors influencing the participation of smallholder farmers in avocado contract farming and decomposes those contributing to differentials in quality and quantities of fruit harvested and sold by contract and non-contract farmers. Findings from a probit analysis indicate that adoption of Hass and Fuerte varieties, hired labor, and information on production and marketing significantly influenced participation in contract farming. Results from gap analysis, using Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, showed that differences between contract and non-contract farmers in quality and quantities of harvested and sold were due to endowment and structural differences. The results imply that closing the observed gap will require policies aimed at facilitating better access to land and training of farmers in good agricultural practices among other support services