Farmers In Kenya Research Articles

Impact of integrated fruit fly management strategy on food security among smallholder mango farmers in Kenya

Adoption of agricultural innovations is perceived as a key avenue for poverty reduction and improved food and nutritional security in developing countries. The International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) has developed and implemented a set of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies in several sub-Saharan African countries aimed at controlling mango infesting fruit flies (Bactrocera dorsalis). Although positive returns from the use of fruit fly IPM have already been documented, the impact of these technologies on food security is not well understood. This study evaluated the impact of the IPM strategy on food security with the help of a two-wave panel household survey data collected in Machakos County in Kenya. A difference-in-difference model was fitted to the data of a randomly selected sample of 600 mango growing households. A seven-day recall was used to elicit per capita calorie intake, while a 30-day recall was used to measure household dietary diversity. A before-and-after intervention and with-and-without (treatment and control) study design was utilized. The regression estimates indicate that fruit fly IPM use had a positive impact on per capita calorie intake but no significant effect on Household Dietary Diversity Index (HDDI) in comparison with the IPM non-users. This suggests that farmers using the fruit fly IPM technology benefit from income gains, and higher incomes improve the quantity of food consumed but not the diversity of the foods. This could be explained by a large share of the expenditure on food that was devoted to cereal staples such as maize, wheat, and rice as reported during the qualitative study. Other factors that had an effect on per capita calorie include the level of farm income, access to the extension services, wealth category and distance to agricultural input market and household size. This study recommends wider dissemination and upscaling of the fruit fly IPM strategy in mango producing regions to facilitate broader impacts on household-level food security.

Do food certification standards guarantee small-sized farming enterprises access to better markets? Effectiveness of marketing contracts in Kenya

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of GLOBALGAP standards certification on farmer's preference for marketing contract choices including written contracts, oral contracts and spot contracts, as well as to establish the impact of marketing contracts on net returns from snap bean production in Kenya.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, we use a data collected from 446 Snap bean farmers in Kenya. Using a two-step selection Bourguignon Frontier and Gurgand (BFG) model and Propensity Score Matching (PSM), we analysed determinants of Global Gap Certification and other farming characteristics that influence smallholder farmers preference for marketing contracts and net returns from snap beans venture.FindingsResults indicate that attending GLOBALGAP training, GLOBALGAP subsidy support, membership to GLOBALGAP farmer's groups, and selling beans to GLOBALGAP certified GLOBALGAP buyers would significantly influence better returns underwritten marketing contracts. Producing snap beans underwritten marketing contracts would get farmer's net returns of between 1.8 and 8% while producing under oral and spot market contracts would earn farmer net returns of between 0.2 and 0.08 %.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to examine the influence of GLOBALGAP standards certification on marketing contract choices and net returns from snap bean production, while accounting for selectivity biasness.

Health and environmental effects of adopting an integrated fruit fly management strategy among mango farmers in Kenya

Integrated pest management (IPM) has been promoted globally as an alternative approach to the widespread broad-spectrum chemical insecticidal application for the control of pests and diseases in agricultural production to minimise the harmful effects of the chemicals on humans and the environment. This study examines the impact of an IPM strategy developed to control mango fruit flies on humans and the environment. Using a random sample of 371 mango farmers from Meru County in Kenya, health and environmental outcomes were measured using the environmental impact quotient (EIQ) field use and causal impacts, which were estimated using the endogenous switching regression (ESR) model. The results indicate that the adoption of the IPM strategy reduced pesticide use and pesticide toxicity. Policy efforts therefore should focus on promoting and disseminating fruit fly IPM to improve the livelihoods of rural mango farmers, but also reduce human health and environmental threats as a result of pesticide use.

Which type of producer organization is (more) inclusive? Dynamics of farmers’ membership and participation in the decision‐making process

AbstractProducer organizations (POs) provide benefits to smallholders by alleviating market access challenges. However, whether all farmers benefit from a PO is still a question. Limited evidence is available on whether POs are inclusive of poor farmers. Even if the poor join, do they participate in decision‐making? We conducted interviews with 595 smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya. We distinguish three groups; members of a bargaining PO, members of a processing PO and non‐members. We show that membership is related to the structural characteristics of the organization: processing POs favor membership of farmers that are wealthier, more educated and more innovative. As to participation in the decision‐making process: older, male and specialized farmers have a higher chance of being involved than poor farmers. Factors distinguishing farmer participation in decision‐making between bargaining and processing POs are highlighted. We find that a bargaining PO is more inclusive of all groups of farmers, while women and poor farmers are excluded from decision‐making in a processing PO. Our findings contribute to policymaking on inclusive development.

Metagenomic Analysis of Plant Viruses Associated With Papaya Ringspot Disease in Carica papaya L. in Kenya.

Carica papaya L. is an important fruit crop grown by small- and large-scale farmers in Kenya for local and export markets. However, its production is constrained by papaya ringspot disease (PRSD). The disease is believed to be caused by papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). Previous attempts to detect PRSV in papaya plants showing PRSD symptoms, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedures with primers specific to PRSV, have not yielded conclusive results. Therefore, the nature of viruses responsible for PRSD was elucidated in papaya leaves collected from 22 counties through Illumina MiSeq next-generation sequencing (NGS) and validated by RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Viruses were detected in 38 out of the 48 leaf samples sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of four viruses: a Potyvirus named Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus (MWMV) and three viruses belonging to the genus Carlavirus. The Carlaviruses include cowpea mild mottle virus (CpMMV) and two putative Carlaviruses—closely related but distinct from cucumber vein-clearing virus (CuVCV) with amino acid and nucleotide sequence identities of 75.7–78.1 and 63.6–67.6%, respectively, in the coat protein genes. In reference to typical symptoms observed in the infected plants, the two putative Carlaviruses were named papaya mottle-associated virus (PaMV) and papaya mild mottle-associated virus (PaMMV). Surprisingly, and in contrast to previous studies conducted in other parts of world, PRSV was not detected. The majority of the viruses were detected as single viral infections, while a few were found to be infecting alongside another virus (for example, MWMV and PaMV). Furthermore, the NGS and RT-PCR analysis identified MWMV as being strongly associated with ringspot symptoms in infected papaya fruits. This study has provided the first complete genome sequences of these viruses isolated from papaya in Kenya, together with primers for their detection—thus proving to be an important step towards the design of long-term, sustainable disease management strategies.

Understanding Alternatives to Tobacco Production in Kenya: A Qualitative Analysis at the Sub-National Level.

Tobacco is a key cash crop for many farmers in Kenya, although there is a variety of challenges associated with tobacco production. This study seeks to understand alternatives to tobacco production from the perspective of government officials, extension officers, and farmers at the sub-national level (Migori, Busia, and Meru) in Kenya. The study analyzes data from qualitative key-informant interviews with government officials and extension officers (n = 9) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with farmers (n = 5). Data were coded according to pre-identified categories derived from the research aim, namely, opportunities and challenges of tobacco farming and alternative crops, as well findings that illustrate the policy environment that shapes the agricultural context in these regions. We highlight important factors associated with the production of non-tobacco agricultural commodities, including the factors that shape the ability of these non-agricultural commodities to serve as viable alternatives to tobacco. The results highlight the effect that several factors, including access to capital, markets, and governmental assistance, have on farmer decisions. The results additionally display the structured policy approaches that are being promoted in governmental offices towards agricultural production, as well as the institutional shortcomings that inhibit their implementation at the sub-national level.

The Impact of Household Wealth on Adoption and Compliance to GLOBAL GAP Production Standards: Evidence from Smallholder farmers in Kenya

Horticultural production for the export market has been credited for rural community growth and employment in Sub-Saharan Africa. To make the agri-enterprises competitive and profitable, smallholder farmers are now required to invest in food safety and production standards such as GLOBAL Good Agricultural Practices (GLOBAL GAP). Most often, the inability to afford capital has affected compliance with food safety production standards. However, farmers can use household assets to finance the agri enterprise ventures. The purpose of the study is to explore the impact of household wealth on the adoption of food safety certification standards. The study used cross-sectional data collected from 479 smallholder farmers in Kenya. The findings reveal that 49% of the households are categorized as wealthy and 51% as poorly endowed. The empirical findings on the willingness to adopt GLOBAL GAP certification reveal that membership to GLOBAL GAP affiliated farmers groups significantly influence on wealthier farmers to attain GLOBAL GAP certification status. Farmers groups facilitate joint investments that reduce the cost of investing in GLOBAL GAP assets such as grading shed, protective gear, shower rooms, disposal pits, incinerators, hessian coolers, packaging crates, soil testing kits and establishing food traceability systems. In comparison to poor endowed farming households, the well-endowed farmers have a relatively significantly better wealth index, an indication that they can easily raise capital investments to finance GAP certification. Finally, we observe that selling beans to GAP certified buyers significantly enables farmers to comply with the expected certified production standards.

Effects of Calliandra and Sesbania on Daily Milk Production in Dairy Cows on Commercial Smallholder Farms in Kenya.

There is a growing interest in protein supplementation of dairy-cow diets using leguminous shrubs. The study objective was to ascertain the association between diet supplementation with Calliandra calothyrsus and Sesbania sesban and milk production in dairy cattle on commercial smallholder farms. This trial involved 235 cows from 80 smallholder dairy farms in Kenya randomly allocated to 4 intervention groups: (1) receiving Calliandra and Sesbania and nutritional advice; (2) receiving reproductive medicines and advice; (3) receiving both group 1 and 2 interventions; and (4) receiving neither intervention. Farm nutritional practices and management data were collected in a questionnaire, and subsequent physical examinations, mastitis tests, and milk production of cows on the farm were monitored approximately monthly for 16 months. Descriptive and univariable statistical analyses were conducted, and multivariable mixed-model regression was used for identification of factors associated (P < 0.05) with daily milk production. The mean milk production was 6.39 liters/cow/day (SD = 3.5). Feeding Calliandra/Sesbania to cows was associated (P < 0.0005) with an increase in milk produced by at least 1 liter/cow/day with each kg fed. Other variables positively associated with ln daily milk production in the final model included feeding of Napier grass, amount of silage and dairy meal fed, body condition score, and appetite of the cow. Other variables negatively associated with ln daily milk production in the final model included amount of maize germ fed, days in milk, sudden feed changes, pregnancy, and subclinical mastitis. In conclusion, our field trial data suggest that use of Calliandra/Sesbania through agroforestry can improve milk production in commercial smallholder dairy farms in Kenya. Agroforestry land use systems can be adopted as a way for dairy farmers to cope with feed shortages and low crude protein in farm-available feeds for their cows.

Social networks and household food consumption smoothing in the presence of idiosyncratic shocks: insights from rural Kenya

ABSTRACT Idiosyncratic shocks are among the major shocks affecting smallholder households. Social networks have been widely used by households as an informal strategy to smooth consumption. This article uses panel data from 719 smallholder farmers in Kenya and a fixed effects panel data regression model to evaluate the effect of social networks on food consumption smoothing in the presence of health shocks. Fixed effects estimates show that financial credit networks have a positive and significant effect on insurance of purchased food consumption against health shocks, indicating that the networks play an insurance role against health shocks.

Factors Influencing Smallholder Farmers Participation in Collective Marketing and the Extent of Participation in Improved Indigenous Chicken Markets in Baringo, Kenya

Smallholder farmer collective action not only provides a solution to farmer’s constraints such as lack of market accessibility and inability to take advantage of available market opportunities but also holds the potential to diversify their incomes and increase agricultural productivity translating to enhanced food security and poverty eradication. This research aimed at investigating the role of farmer marketing groups in smallholder market participation using a sample of 198 farmers, sampled from a population of 395 smallholder improved indigenous chicken farmers in Baringo, Kenya, using Probit and Tobit models. The study findings established that farmers' involvement in collective action is predominantly determined by; Education level, household size, distance to extension, cost of transport, and the price per chicken. The extent of participation in improved indigenous chicken markets was positively related to; education level of the household head and farm size while negatively and significantly influenced by off-farm income and the cost of farming. The results of this study provide evidence that farmer collective action has the potential of strengthening market participation among smallholder farmers.

The effect of sustainable farming practices and soil factors on the technical efficiency of maize farmers in Kenya

The effect of sustainable farming practices and soil factors on the technical efficiency of maize farmers in Kenya

Post-Harvest Loss Modeling of Maize Produce in Kenya

The classical linear model is commonly used to model the relationship between a response variable and a set of explanatory variables. The normality assumption is usually required so as to ease the hypothesis testing for the various linear regression models but it can be misleading for a proportional response variable that is bounded. This makes the ordinary least squares regression inappropriate for a regression model with a bounded dependent variable. This research proposes the fractional beta regression model as an alternative to help examine the determinants of post-harvest loss management of maize produce for farmers in Kenya. The response variable (Post-Harvest Loss Coefficient (PHLC)) is assumed to have a mixed continuous-discrete distribution with probability mass between zero and one. The fractional beta distribution is used to describe the continuous component of the model, since its density has a wide range of different shapes depending on the values of the two parameters that index the distribution. The study uses a suitable parameterization of the beta law in terms of its mean and a precision parameter, the parameters of the mixture distribution shall be modeled as functions of regression parameters. The considered parameters are Agriculture, Storage, Education, Fumigation and Transport. Inference on parameters, model diagnostics and model selection tools for the fractional beta regression is also be provided. Data used for this research was purely primary data which was collected from Uasin Gishu County, Kenya maize farmers through administration of a research questionnaire.

Crop diversification analysis amongst smallholder farmers in Kenya(empirical evidence from Kamariny ward, Elgeyo Marakwet County)

Crop diversification is a predominantly important coping mechanism for income, production and marketing risks in agriculture. This paper examines the determinants of crop diversification and their gross margins. The study drew a sample of 72 smallholder farmers’ through a multistage sampling technique. The primary data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive, gross margin, and logistic regression. Gross margin results revealed a significantly higher value of revenues for diversified cropping systems of farming (KES.54, 583.33) compared to non-diversified (KES.37, 250). The factors that influenced crop diversification were age, education of household head, type of crops, cropping system, amount of credit, and irrigation facilities. Based on our findings, the study suggests the need for the Government to promote the development of agricultural policy that supports the shift from non-diversification to crop diversification through developing guaranteed access to inputs and subsidies on farming input resources with priority given to smallholder farmers. Incorporation of both short and long duration crops. Strengthening of extension services with more training services focusing on cropping systems, viable crop enterprises, return from the different types of crops, needs and access to credit and irrigation facilities, and linking farmers to the market through farmers’ group formation.

FEEM Approach to Supply Chain Analysis The coffee Sector in Kenya

The aim of this study is to identify the bottlenecks of the Kenyan coffee value chain in order to allocate the most relevant inefficiencies of each step and try to find different and innovative solutions to overlap the difficulties that Kenyan coffee is facing. A literature study was conducted during the preparatory stage, in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the coffee value chain. This activity was followed by a field visit to coffee farms in Kenya, between August and September 2019. During this period a number of members in the coffee value chain were interviewed including farmers, wet/dry millers, millers, Coffee Research Institute, Coffee Directorate, Commodities Fund and the representative of these institutions for each coffee grower county.

The Dynamics and Role of Gender in High-Value Avocado Farming in Kenya

The Dynamics and Role of Gender in High-Value Avocado Farming in Kenya

Early intensification of backyard poultry systems in the tropics: a case study

Poultry production is an important way of enhancing the livelihoods of rural populations, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). As poultry production in LMICs remains dominated by backyard systems with low inputs and low outputs, considerable yield gaps exist. Intensification can increase poultry productivity, production and income. This process is relatively recent in LMICs compared to high-income countries. The management practices and the constraints faced by smallholders trying to scale-up their production, in the early stages of intensification, are poorly understood and described. We thus investigated the features of the small-scale commercial chicken sector in a rural area distant from major production centres. We surveyed 111 commercial chicken farms in Kenya in 2016. We targeted farms that sell the majority of their production, owning at least 50 chickens, partly or wholly confined and provided with feeds. We developed a typology of semi-intensive farms. Farms were found mainly to raise dual-purpose chickens of local and improved breeds, in association with crops and were not specialized in any single product or market. We identified four types of semi-intensive farms that were characterized based on two groups of variables related to intensification and accessibility: (i) remote, small-scale old farms, with small flocks, growing a lot of their own feed; (ii) medium-scale, old farms with a larger flock and well located in relation to markets and (iii) large-scale recently established farms, with large flocks, (iii-a) well located and buying chicks from third-party providers and (iii-b) remotely located and hatching their own chicks. The semi-intensive farms we surveyed were highly heterogeneous in terms of size, age, accessibility, management, opportunities and challenges. Farm location affects market access and influences the opportunities available to farmers, resulting in further diversity in farm profiles. The future of these semi-intensive farms could be compromised by several factors, including the competition with large-scale intensive farmers and with importations. Our study suggests that intensification trajectories in rural areas of LMICs are potentially complex, diverse and non-linear. A better understanding of intensification trajectories should, however, be based on longitudinal data. This could, in turn, help designing interventions to support small-scale farmers.

Farmer forecasts: Impacts of seasonal rainfall expectations on agricultural decision-making in Sub-Saharan Africa

Seasonal climate variability frequently undermines farm yields, reduces food availability, and lowers income. This is particularly evident among small-scale agricultural producers in both irrigated and non-irrigated agroecosystems in the Global South where maize cultivars constitute a critical component of food production. In these systems, farmers make climate-sensitive decisions that include the selection of late- and/or early-maturing seed varieties, the diversity of seed varieties sown, and when to plant. Farmers’ expectations of future rainfall would therefore seem to be critical determinants of agricultural outcomes and foreshadow climate impacts. However, few studies have quantified the linkages between on-farm decisions and farmer seasonal predictions. We report on detailed household and phone surveys of 501 smallholder farmers in central Kenya based on the 2018 growing seasons and expectations for the 2019 March-April-May growing season. We show that farmers’ expectations of the upcoming seasonal rainfall have important associations with selections of seed maturity varieties and the number of maturing varieties farmers expect to plant and less important associations with the seeds’ planting dates. Furthermore, we show that 79% of the farmers form an expectation of the future seasonal climate and about two-thirds of them formed expectations based on a heuristic that connects the past climate to future seasonal conditions. More problematically, one-third of the farmers formed their rainfall expectation based on the prior season, and we show that no such correlation exists in observational data nor is correlation of seasonal rainfall supported by current understanding of climate variability. These results highlight the challenges farmers face in anticipating seasonal rainfall, which has implications for crop diversification and choices to adopt drought tolerant cultivars. The results suggest that farmers’ expectations of upcoming seasonal climate are important measures of farm decision-making.

Engagement of Out of School Youthin Decision Making During Showcasing of Success Stories byYoung Agripreneurs and Its Effect on Implementation of Agricultural Programmes

Participation of out of school youth in decision making on showcasing success stories by young agripreneurs would act as motivation for them to increase implementation of agricultural programmes for self reliance. However, there is problem of low participation of out of school youth in decision making on showcasing success by young agripreneurs. Out of school youths who have completed secondary school agriculture are scantly exposed in agripreneurship. It is expected that the gap in knowledge and skills would be filled by the youth participating in showcasing success events by young agripreneurs. This research was conducted to establish the influence of participation of out of school youth in decision-making on showcasing success stories by young agripreneurs on implementation of agricultural programmes. The investigation was conducted in three categories of secondary schools offering agriculture subject, spread in five agro-ecological zones typical of Kenyan farm types, and found in Kisii and Nyamira counties region. Cross-sectional survey design was used. Out of school youth are those who studied agriculture subject and are registered with youth groups within their localities engaged in agricultural activities for creation of livelihoods. Stratified, purposive, and simple random sampling procedures were used to select a sample size of 160 out of school youth. Data was collected using questionnaires, analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics at probability level of 0.05 using SPSS version 21. Results show that gender of out of school youth does not make a significant difference in the level of participation in decision making on showcasing events by young agripreneurs. Youth out of school are in concurrence that strategies 5, 4, 3 and 6 are more significantly very important than the rest in increasing their participation in decision making during showcasing success stories by young agripreneurs. Strategy 5 is identified as outstanding out of the four and advocates for the formation of agribusiness clubs at community level where successful agripreneurs can mentor the out of school youth, share ideas, experiences and showcase their successes. There is a positive significant linear correlation between level of participation in decision making during showcasing of success stories by young agripreneurs and the level of implementation of agricultural programmes by youth out of school (R= 0.438762, p = 0.00). These findings will be useful in addressing issues of out of school youth on participation in decision making during showcasing success stories by young agripreneurs to prompt them implement agricultural programmes for independence.

Influence of Participation of School Youth in Decision Making During Showcasing Success Stories by Young Agripreneurs on Implementation of Agricultural Programmes

School agriculture programme was introduced in secondary education curriculum in Kenya in 1965 and has academic objective to transfer scientific knowledge, and a vocational one to impart skills that would enable youth become self reliant. However, the vocational objective is scantly attained and school youth are inadequate in skills necessary for creation of livelihoods. It is expected that school youth would acquire more and specialized skills for independence through implementation of agricultural programmes such as in showcasing success stories by young agripreneurs. Participation in decision making on the showcasing events would act as motivation for youth to increase implementation of agricultural programmes. However, there is problem of low participation of school youth in decision making on implementation during showcasing success stories by young agripreneurs. This research was conducted to establish the influence of participation of school youth in decision-making during showcasing by young agripreneurs on implementation of agricultural programmes. The study was carried out in extra-county, county and sub-county category of secondary schools offering agriculture subject and, spread in five agro-ecological zones typical of Kenyan farm types, and found in Kisii and Nyamira counties region. Cross-sectional survey design was used. School youth are secondary school form fours taking the subject and implementing KCSE agriculture project. Stratified, purposive, and simple random sampling procedures were used to select a sample of 361 school youth. Data was collected using questionnaires, analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics at probability level of 0.05 using SPSS version 21. Results show that school youth are well exposed to showcasing success stories by young agripreneurs for acquiring more and specialized implementation skills. It also confirms that gender of youth in school does not make a significant difference in the level of participation in decision making during showcasing events by young agripreneurs. School youth rated five of the six strategies evaluated as very important, and identified some amongst them as more significantly very important than the rest in increasing their participation during showcasing by young agripreneurs. There is a positive significant and linear correlation between level of participation in decision making during showcasing of success stories by young agripreneurs and level of implementation of agricultural programmes by school youth (R= 0.30, p = 0.00), p = 0.00). These findings will be useful in addressing issues of school youth participation in decision making during showcasing by young agripreneurs to motivate others implement agricultural programmes for self reliance.

Returns to investment in postharvest loss reduction technologies among mango farmers in Embu County, Kenya

AbstractHorticultural production is a source of livelihood for many smallholder farmers in Kenya. However, the potential is hampered by high postharvest losses estimated at 40%–50% in fruit and vegetables. The losses are attributed to various factors including postharvest handling, lack of storage technologies, lack of processing facilities, and poor market access. Consequently, some farmer groups have resorted to aggregation of their mangoes and engagement in small scale processing of mangoes into shelf stable products that cannot be marketed widely. In order to bridge the lack of capacity of smallholder farmers, the University of Nairobi's postharvest project with support from the Rockefeller Foundation's YieldWise Initiative seeks to upgrade two fruit aggregation centers by creating awareness and providing existing, applicable, and proven postharvest loss reduction technologies such as tunnel solar driers, brick coolers, charcoal, and CoolbotTM cold storage technologies. However, the potential economic impact of the proposed investment is not known. Hence, this study aimed at assessing the potential economic returns to investment in postharvest loss reduction technologies among smallholder mango farmers in Embu County of Kenya. A critical overview on methods employed in analyzing returns to investment in agricultural technologies has been provided. The economic surplus model was used to estimate the potential benefits of the investment. Using the cost–benefit analysis (CBA) approach, a maximum adoption rate of 10% over 10 years, and a 10% discount rate, it was found that the investment was worthwhile. The NPV was US $ 1.3 billion. The IRR and BCR were 28% and 4.29, respectively. Sensitivity analyses showed that the investment is viable at higher adoption and lower discount rates indicating the need to promote the technologies even under more difficult macroeconomic conditions.