The Influence of Institutional Factors on the Adoption of Integrated Natural Resource Management Technologies by Small Scale Farmers in South Western Kenya

Isaiah K Okuthe

doi:10.19026/ajas.6.4850

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of institutional factors on the adoption of integrated natural resource management technologies by small scale farmers in Ndhiwa division, Kenya. Soil fertility depletion and the corresponding declining agricultural productivity in Kenya’s Ndhiwa division have led to many attempts to develop and popularize Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) technologies that could restore soil fertility. INRM bridges the gap between high external input agriculture and extreme forms of traditional low external input agriculture. The main components of INRM in Ndhiwa division are chemical fertilizer, animal manure, green manure, stover lines and agro forestry. However the adoption of these technologies appears to be low resulting to probably the low production. It is not understood well why farmers who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, either do not adopt or adopt the technologies and then abandon them. However it is acknowledged that soil depletion is a serious and slow process hence the determinants of the adoption of INRM technologies are critical. An ex-post-facto survey design which utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection was used in the study. For quantitative data collection, a sample of 220 small scale farmers selected using systematic random sampling from the small scale farmers in the Division were engaged. For qualitative data, 40 small scale farmers and 37 Key Informants selected using purposive sampling from the division were used. Results of the study indicated that land tenure, access to credit, access to inputs, access to market, mass media exposure and contact with extension were important variables which had positively and significantly influenced adoption of INRM technologies. The overall finding of the study underlined the high importance in strengthening social groups to enhance adoption of INRM technologies. The study will be significant to planners, policy makers, researchers, extension and farmers to build the case for interventions on INRM within the development sector for improved and sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Highlights

The continued threat to the world’s natural resources is exacerbated by the need to reduce poverty and unsustainable farming practices
Food insecurity is most acute in sub -Sahara Africa., where the attainment of food security is intrinsically linked with reversing stagnation and safeguarding the natural resource base (IFAP, 1995)
A total of 40 small scale farmers were purposively selected to participate in the four Focus Group Discussion (FGD)

Summary

Introduction

The continued threat to the world’s natural resources is exacerbated by the need to reduce poverty and unsustainable farming practices. Recent estimates indicate that by the year 2020, the SSA annual cereal imports will rise to more than 30 million metric tons, as the per-capita food production continues to decline against a background of rapidly growing population estimated at 3% per annum. This failure to match food supply to demand is mainly attributed to soil nutrient depletion following intensification of land use without proper land management practices and inadequate external inputs (Sanchez et al, 2001).

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Results

Conclusion