Influence of Micro-Finance on Small Scale Wheat Farming Technology in Moiben Division, Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

This paper examined how microfinance institutions have influenced small scale farming of wheat in the adoption of technology. Statistics show that wheat production has declined due to poor technological input as well as environmental factors. This study used descriptive survey design. The target population constituted small scale wheat farmers from Moiben Division. Purposive sampling was first adopted in the choice of study area. This is because most small scale farmers have resorted to microfinance services towards improving wheat production. Simple random sampling was used to select 200 study participants where proportionate strategy was used to get representative samples from the five selected locations. The study found that through microfinance some of the small scale farmers have managed to hire tractors in ploughing of their land, planters for sowing and combined harvesters for harvesting of their produce. Microfinance institutions have enabled some others to: apply adequate fertilizer to their crops and thus increased production; and purchase insecticide and other pesticides to be able to manage their wheat and improve the quality of their production. The study recommends that the government to intervene and assist farmers in terms of wheat harvesting since the technology involved (combined harvester machine) is very costly and the government to increase the number of extension officers to provide training to farmers on the benefits of adopting technology in farming.