Abstract
Impact of DroughtTEGO® maize hybrids on agricultural productivity and poverty reduction among small-scale maize farmers were analyzed using 642 households in Kenya. The Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project coordinated by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) developed the varieties. While on-farm production output and farmers’ testimonies indicate significantly high productivity over other varieties, a rigorous assessment of impacts at household level is missing. Direct comparison of maize income, total household income and poverty indices shows significant differences between adopters and non-adopters. However, since the observed estimates can be due to differences in both observable and non-observable characteristics between adopters and non-adopters, we cannot have any causal interpretation. This study, therefore, utilized the counterfactual outcome framework based on propensity score methods (PSM) to control for such differences. The results of PSM showed that adoption of DroughtTEGO® maize varieties led to significant increase in maize income by 82%, total income by 75%, and reduced the depth of poverty by 46-point margins. The study recommends formulation and implementation of appropriate policies to improve the adoption of DroughtTEGO® hybrid maize varieties across the country. Key words: DroughtTEGO® hybrid, poverty reduction, impact assessment, maize, Kenya.
Highlights
Our findings demonstrate a direct causal link on total household income, maize income and poverty status from adoption of DroughtTEGO® maize varieties in rural Kenya
The propensity score methods (PSM) techniques used in the analysis allowed us to construct an adequate counterfactual for the comparison of farmers according to their adoption status
The causal impact estimation from PSM showed, among other things, that the use of DroughtTEGO® seeds had the potential to increase maize income by 81%, total household income by 75% and reduce the depth of poverty by 46-point margins
Summary
The main maize producing basket includes Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Nakuru, Narok and Uasin Gishu counties. Other areas that grow maize include Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu, Nyeri, Meru, Embu, Machakos, Kitui, Tana River, Murang‟a, Bomet and Isiolo counties. The growing trend in maize consumption is partly explained by rapid population growth estimated at 2.6% per annum, an indication that the country needs to take robust measures to increase maize productivity. Such measures cannot be taken unless farmers use high yielding and stress tolerant varieties that have positive impact on productivity. There are many maize hybrid varieties grown in Kenya – the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) lists about 338 maize varieties grown in Kenya by 2017 (Kephis, 2017)
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