Determinants of Women Access and the Extent of Access to Land Among Small-Scale Farmers in Machakos County, Kenya: A Double-Hurdle Approach

Veronica Njeri Kariuki ,Oscar Ingasia Ayuya ,John Masani Nduko

doi:10.7176/jesd/10-7-04

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the determinants of women access and the extent of access to land. The study used cross-sectional data from 384 randomly selected small-scale women farmers from Machakos County, Kenya. Using double hurdle (DH) model, we found that marital status, household size, the value of productive assets, credit borrowed, extension contacts, farmers’ groups and social influence from family members had a positive and significant influence on women access to land. However, the spousal age gap, market distance and social influence from friends/peers had a negative influence on the probability of women having access to land. To improve women access to land, the findings imply that women need to be motivated to join and participate in farmers’ groups through which they can gain access to extension information and credit. In addition, women farmers should be sensitized on the need to invest in farm productive assets. Importantly, the government can aid in improving crucial infrastructures and promoting girl-child education since education empowers women and inhibit early marriages. Keywords: Women, small-scale farmers, access to land, double hurdle model, Kenya DOI : 10.7176/JESD/10-7-04 Publication date : April 30 th 2019

Highlights

Land in most developing countries is one of the most valuable natural resource required for the creation of wealth
4.1 Preliminary diagnostics of the variables to be used in the econometric analysis Preliminary diagnostics for statistical problems of heteroskedasticity and multicollinearity were conducted to all variables used in the Double Hurdle model
Conclusion and policy implications The first tier of the double hurdle model revealed that the likelihood of women having access to land is positively and significantly influenced by marital status, household size, the value of productive assets, credit borrowed, number of contacts with extension providers, social influence from family members, and use of farmers groups as the main source of information

Summary

Introduction

Land in most developing countries is one of the most valuable natural resource required for the creation of wealth. Access to land is a crucial issue especially among small-scale farmers because it is a valuable asset that is used for household food production as well as a key factor for shelter and community development. It downgrades their vulnerability to hunger, malnutrition and poverty as well as enhances their participation in productive activities (Gyau et al, 2014; Menon et al, 2014; Doss et al, 2015). Its ownership, allocation, distribution and utilization is of great concern to most Kenyans especially the small-scale farmers This is because the way land is owned, used, and exchanged has extensive implications on the productivity of that land, equity, and overall economic growth (Jin and Jayne, 2013)

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