Abstract
Several studies have been done to determine factors affecting adoption of new technologies. However, few or no studies have been carried out to determine factors believed to affect use level of recommended technology packages. Majority of farmers in the study area had used farmyard manure in crop production. Framers however used suboptimal levels resulting in low crop yields. This happens despite the fact that farmers are aware of the recommended levels needed for appreciable yields to be realized. Studies need to be done to determine why farmers use suboptimal levels of farmyard materials in the study area. The study analyzed the factors believed to affect intensity of use of farmyard fertilizers with the aim of identifying the role each factor plays in determining level of use of farmyard fertilizers among smallholder farmers. Stratified random sampling was used to select respondents. A total of 120 farmers were selected to provide data needed for the study. Data was collected from three out of six divisions of Vihiga County. At least 30 farmers were selected from each division. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and data collected was analyzed using regression analysis. The results of the analysis indicated that a number of factors were significant in determining use levels of farmyard manure. Out of the ten factors believed to affect use intensity of farmyard manure, five were statistically significant at 95% confidence level. The results of the regression analysis showed that education level of decision-maker, farm size, income of household, availability of labor and access to manure were significant at 95% level in explaining use intensity of farmyard manure in the study area. The study recommended that factors affecting use levels of farm yard manure be addressed with the aim improving the amounts used in order to bridge the gap between the current use level and the recommended level of farmyard fertilizers among smallholder farmers. Keywords: Factors affecting, Use Levels, Farmyard Manure, Kenya DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-24-05 Publication date: December 31 st 2021
Highlights
Several authors such as Mengistu and Siegfrie (2011), Yuan, Hong, Hans-Joachim and Abbaspour (2010), Waithaka, Thornton, Shepherd, Keith and Ndiwa (2007) and Feather and Gregory (1994) noted that technologically sound practices able to improve soil fertility and at least as profitable as practices in place are preferably chosen by farmers
Chemical fertilizers are required in small amounts (50 kg per ha) while farmyard materials are required in large amounts (5 tons/ha) to meet plant nutrient requirements
The results showed that variables included in the model accounted for 71.8% of the variation in use level of farmyard in farmers’ fields
Summary
Several authors such as Mengistu and Siegfrie (2011), Yuan, Hong, Hans-Joachim and Abbaspour (2010), Waithaka, Thornton, Shepherd, Keith and Ndiwa (2007) and Feather and Gregory (1994) noted that technologically sound practices able to improve soil fertility and at least as profitable as practices in place are preferably chosen by farmers. The challenge is for researcher to conduct research and fill information gaps on technical efficiency and on determinants of use levels of promoted technologies. If used in the right amounts can be as effective as chemical fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers are required in small amounts (50 kg per ha) while farmyard materials are required in large amounts (5 tons/ha) to meet plant nutrient requirements. Chemical fertilizers contain soluble mineral salts that plant roots can absorb quickly explaining why they are needed in small amounts. Two animals producing high quality manure would be needed to supply a 2t maize crop but 8 animals are needed if the quality is low (Yuan et al, 2010; Probert et al, 1993). Selected factors were analyzed to determine how they affected use level of farmyard manure in the study area. The factors postulated to determine use level of farmyard manure were hypothesized not to significantly affect use levels of farmyard manure
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