Farmers In Kenya Research Articles

The influence of women’s empowerment on poverty reduction: A case of smallholder sugarcane farmers in western Kenya

This study uses primary data from smallholder sugarcane farmers in Kenya to investigate how women’s empowerment affects household poverty. Instrumental-variable tobit (IV tobit) was used to determine the causality between women’s empowerment and household poverty. The results reveal that poverty levels in households with empowered women are low compared to households without such women. Besides, education level, credit access, market access, land size, and crop and income diversification contributed positively to women’s empowerment and to the reduction in household poverty. The domains that contribute significantly to women’s disempowerment in sugarcane farming are income, work balance and leadership. These results suggest that strengthening women’s control over income and their leadership position in society are vital domains that should be targeted by rural development interventions to improve the livelihoods of smallholder women sugarcane farmers. In addition, there is a need to intensify crop diversification and increase women’s access to markets.

Using technology acceptance model to understand fish farmers’ intention to use black soldier fly larvae meal in Nile tilapia production in Kenya

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to identify the underlying socio-psychological factors that influence pond and cage farmers’ intentions to adopt Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) in Kenya. Based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study empirically investigated the relationship between TAM constructs, namely Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), Perceived Usefulness (PU), Attitude towards Use (ATT), and Behavioral Intention (BI) to use BSFL. The study used a cross-sectional survey design to collect primary data from 211 randomly selected cage operators (98) and pond farmers (113) in Kenya’s Siaya, Kisumu, and Homabay Counties. A structural equation model was employed to examine hypothesized paths in the uptake of BSFL meal with the aid of SmartPLS 3. The inner model path coefficients suggested that ATT had the strongest effect on farmers’ intentions to adopt BSFL (0.411). Further, PU had a greater relative influence on intention to adopt BSFL than PEOU based on the model path coefficients of 0.319 and 0.178 respectively. This indicates that the more respondents believe BSFL is useful in their fish farm's production conditions, the more likely they are to adopt BSFL. Consequently, these findings have direct implications for policy development and the potential use of BSFL in aquaculture.

Environmental Upgrading and Downgrading in Global Value Chains: A Framework for Analysis

A key concern of the global value chain (GVC) and global production network (GPN) literature relates to whether and how actors, especially in the Global South, upgrade by generating and capturing more value. To date, such research has predominantly focused on the economic and social aspects of upgrading. In this article, we leverage selected insights from economic geography to advance our understanding of the environmental dimensions of upgrading and downgrading in GVCs and GPNs. We develop an analytical framework that distinguishes the processes of environmental upgrading, in terms of value creation and appropriation, from the resultant outcomes (biophysical manifestations, impacts on market access, and reputation). Furthermore, the framework is considered from the upgrading perspectives of multiple actors instead of focusing only on lead firms and other powerful actors. We illustrate how to apply this framework through a case study of the Kenya–UK horticulture value chains. We show that despite the uptake of environmental upgrading practices, as required by UK supermarkets and transmitted by Kenyan export firms with the facilitation of government agencies, Kenyan farmers have mostly experienced environmental downgrading, with some negative effects also affecting farmers and other resource users beyond the value chain.

Impacts of climate-smart crop varieties and livestock breeds on the food security of smallholder farmers in Kenya

This paper analyses the impact of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies on household dietary diversity and food insufficiency as indicators of food and nutrition security in Kenya. Using a combination of Propensity Score Matching and endogenous treatment effect approaches, we found that adoption of stress-tolerant varieties of several crops (such as bean, pigeon pea, cowpea, maize and sorghum) improved household dietary diversity score by 40% and reduced food insufficiency by 75%. Adoption of improved and resilient livestock breeds (including Red Maasai sheep and Galla goats) improved household dietary diversity by 38% while reducing household food insufficiency by 90%. We also found that stress-tolerant crop varieties were more effective in improving food security outcomes among households with large landholdings and with more educated and younger to middle-age heads. Effects of resilient livestock breeds on household food security were much stronger for households with large landholdings and with young and/or much older heads that have low levels of education. Given the large, demonstrated benefits from the use of the CSA technologies, policies and programs aimed at their promotion should apply appropriate targeting to ensure wider uptake of the technologies and maximum returns on investment.

"How Are My Age and Cows Related?" Cognitive Interviewing as a Tool to Pretest Survey Questions in Two Limited Resource Settings.

Antimicrobial resistance is a complex topic requiring interdisciplinary solutions embedded in One Health thinking. Currently, many surveys are underway in low- and middle-income countries to study how antimicrobial use in the livestock sector is driving resistance. In a survey, the respondents must understand and answer the questions correctly to produce accurate and valuable results. Pretesting survey questions is therefore important but sometimes not performed due to limited time and resources. Cognitive interviewing is a pretesting method to give insights into the respondent's way of interpreting and mentally processing the survey questions to identify problems and finding ways to improve the questions. It has previously been suggested that cognitive interviews may be difficult to use in some cultural settings. This study aimed to use cognitive interviews in a respondent-adjusted way to study how survey questions related to antimicrobial use are understood and answered by 12 small-scale farmers in Kenya and Uganda. The results show that even a small number of interviews and using interviewers with limited knowledge of cognitive interviewing can identify many problems in survey questions and the survey tool. Cognitive interviews may provide a feasible and affordable way of pretesting questionnaires in situations where time and resources are limited, for example, during a disease outbreak.

Cross-sectional study of cow comfort and management factors associated with subclinical mastitis in smallholder dairy farms in Kenya

A number of environmental and contagious factors have been associated with subclinical mastitis (SCM), which is a common and costly problem for smallholder dairy farmers (SDF). We conducted a cross-sectional study on 118 cows in their first two months post-calving on 109 SDF in Kenya. The study objective was to investigate the relationships among various cow and farm management parameters and SCM specific to SDF. The stall floor comfort level was assessed through knee impact and wetness tests, and cleanliness on the leg and udder were also scored. Various mastitis prevention measures were also assessed (e.g., milking protocols, and use of teat dip and dry cow therapy). Individual quarter SCM was assessed on each cow using California Mastitis Test (CMT). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were fit to determine management factors associated with cow-level SCM. Farm-level, cow-level and quarter-level prevalence of SCM was 45.9% (50/109), 43.2% (51/118) and 21.9 % (103/471), respectively. The proportion of stalls scored as dirty was 33.1% while 49.1% of cows had dirty legs. Only 10.1% of farms were using either disinfectant teat dip or dry cow therapy (or both) to prevent mastitis. Low parity and poor stall hygiene were significantly associated with occurrence of SCM. At high daily milk yield, the probability of having SCM was higher in cows housed in a shed with a dirty versus clean alleyway, with no significant difference at low daily milk yield. From the study findings, we concluded that certain cow characteristics and comfort measures were associated with SCM and need to be incorporated in education plans for farmers in SDF.

Assessment of the Impact of Climate Resilient Agricultural Practices on the Livelihood of Smallholder Cereal Farmers in Kenya: The Case of Embu County

Assessment of the Impact of Climate Resilient Agricultural Practices on the Livelihood of Smallholder Cereal Farmers in Kenya: The Case of Embu County

Maize grain yield responses to realistic biochar application rates on smallholder farms in Kenya

Despite efforts to increase agricultural production sustainably in sub-Saharan Africa, large gaps remain between actual and potential yield of food crops. Adding biochar to degraded cropland soils in the African tropics has significant potential to enhance crop productivity. Biochar-based farming can also mitigate climate change, through soil carbon storage. This study involved six smallholder farms at sites in eastern, central, and western Kenya that are characterized by different pedo-climatic conditions. We examined the response of non-fertilized and fertilized maize monoculture to three dosages of biochar that are realistic for domestic production by farmers at each of the sites over four growing seasons. Commonly available biomass wastes in each agro-ecosystem (coconut shells, coffee husks, maize cobs) were used as feedstock for biochar, which was applied at 1, 5, and 10 Mg ha−1 at the start of the experiment. Across seasons and fertilizer treatments, maize grain yield (dry matter) showed consistently positive responses, with an average increase of 1.0, 2.6, and 4.0 Mg ha−1, respectively, above the control for the three biochar application rates. Absolute responses of maize grain yield to specific biochar doses were similar across the four investigated seasons and replicate farms within sites, and uncorrelated to yield levels in the control treatment. Here, we show for the first time that yield response to biochar decreased with increasing application rate, indicating that it may be better to spread a given amount of biochar over a large area rather than concentrating it to a smaller area, at least when biochar is applied along plant rows at rates ≥1 Mg ha−1, as in our experiment. This study demonstrated that application of biochar, locally produced from available biomass residues, is a promising approach to enhance agricultural production and carbon storage on smallholder farms under a wide range of pedo-climatic conditions in Kenya.

Influence of Climate-Smart Agricultural Technologies and Management Practices on Relative Sustainability of Smallholder Potato Farmers in Kenya

Kenya’s economy is largely dependent on rainfed agriculture and hence susceptible to climate change and extreme weather events. Potato (Solanum tuberosum), one of the most important food crops in Kenya is one of the worst hit agricultural systems. Smallholder potato farmers have resorted to Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies and Management Practices (CSA TMPs) as an adaptation strategy. Partly, climate-smart agricultural TMPs are implemented with the goal of reducing the vulnerability of farmers to the harmful effects of climate change such as poor sustainability of agricultural systems. This study sought to contribute to improved food security and livelihood of smallholder farmers in rural areas through enhanced sustainability in potato farming. A cross sectional survey design was employed. The study area was Taita-Taveta, Nyandarua, Nyeri and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties in Kenya. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to get the study sample of 312 smallholder farmers. Primary data was collected using questionnaires, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the collected data using Stata (version 14), DEAP (version 2.1) and NVivo (version 12) software. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the types of climate-smart agricultural TIMPs among smallholder potato farmers. A threefold Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition of the Fractional Response Model was used in analyzing the influence of selected CSA TMPs on the relative sustainability of smallholder potato farming. This study found that the relative sustainability index obtained by adopters of CSA TMPs recommendations in potato farming was 58.1% greater than that of nonadopters. More financial, technical and policy support should be given by the governments at both national and county levels as well as other development partners towards enhancing uptake of CSA technologies in their bid to enhance the relative sustainability of potato farming.

Experience of shocks, household wealth and expectation formation: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Kenya

AbstractWhen faced with uncertain events, decision‐makers form expectations about the events’ likelihood of occurrence. However, the drivers and moderators of such expectations are still poorly understood, especially for farm decision‐makers in developing countries whose incomes are very risky by nature. This article analyses the dynamic shock expectation formation process of farmers in Kenya with regard to a range of shock events using a unique panel dataset. The results suggest that farmers are more likely to update their expectation regarding a specific adverse shock when they have recently been affected by that shock or by more shocks in general. In case of price shocks, farmers are also more likely to update expectations when a larger proportion of fellow village members was affected. However, household wealth moderates the relationship between shock expectation and experience, such that wealthier households are less likely to update their expectations following a shock. A better understanding of the drivers of expectation formation can help in the design of better risk management instruments that increase farmers’ resilience.

Factors Affecting Small-Scale Livestock Farming in Kenya

Purpose: This study aims at examining the factors influencing small-scale livestock farming in Kenya.
 Findings: A majority of the small-scale livestock farmers in many counties were past their youthful years, with most respondents cited at above fifty years. The study found out that 56% of the farmers in some counties showed the most aggression in seeking out livestock farming related information from many other sources other than from their counterpart farmers. These farmers quest for extensive information on dairy farming was also highlighted by their expansive peer to peer networks.
 Unique Contribution to Theory and Practices: Counties should make more commonage land available to the small-scale livestock farmers in order to cope with the increasing population of emerging farmers. Commonage land management should be strengthened. Small-scale livestock farmers should be trained to make reserves such as hay and silage so they can conserve surplus forage in rainy seasons. Government should provide subsidies for purchase of breeding stock and dosing products. Distribution policies that will ensure that all smallholder cattle and sheep farmers at grassroots level benefit should also be put in place.

EFFECT OF INOCULATING Bradyrhizobium liaoningense ON GROWTH, CHLOROPHYLL CONCENTRATION, NODULATION AND YIELD OF SOYA BEANS

Soya bean is important staple food crops in Western Kenya. Legumes play a significant role in agriculture by fixing nitrogen. Currently Kenya is experiencing low yield of soya beans. Approximately 0.8 t/ha is under production and this is due to low soil fertility. This has posed a threat to agricultural productivity. Symbiotic rhizobia inoculation increases crop yields through biological nitrogen fixation. However, the potential of Bradyrhizobium liaoningense in improving yield and productivity of soya beans has not been documented. Rhizobia bacteria are known to improve growth and yield of several other crops but the effect of inoculating soya beans with B. liaoningense on growth, chlorophyll concentration, nodulation and yields has not been determined. This study was conducted at Maseno University under greenhouse conditions. Previously purified local isolates of B. liaoningense (S3) from wild soya beans plants were used to inoculate the soya bean seeds. 4.5 litre plastic pots were filled with 7kg of top soil. Ten seeds of Soya beans coated with Bradyrhizobium liaoningense inoculants were sown in each pot except the control. The seeds were treated with the isolates inoculants as: un-inoculated (control), 1.07x107 cfu/ml, 1.19x107 cfu/ml, 1.31x107 cfu/ml and 2.67x107 cfu/ml inoculation of B. liaoningense. The experiment was laid out as Completely Randomised Design (CRD). The treatments were replicated three times. After two weeks of germination, the seedlings were thinned to three plants per pot. Watering was done daily with 200 ml of water per pot up to the end of the experiment. Data on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, shoot and root fresh weight and dry weight, chlorophyll concentration, number of nodules and number of pods were determined. Data was subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Treatments means were separated using Fisher’s Least Significant Difference at (P = 0.05). Soya bean growth, chlorophyll concentration, number of nodules and number of pods after inoculation treatments were significantly different among the treatments (P ≤ 0.05). Plant height, number of leaves and leaf area were highest in 2.67 x 107 cfu/ml of B. liaoningense inoculation followed by 1.31x 107 cfu/ml inoculation, 1.19x107 cfu/ml, 1.07x107 cfu/ml and lowest in un-inoculated. Inoculation at 2.67 x 107 cfu/ml significantly increased soya bean root and shoot fresh weight and dry weights. Chlorophyll concentration was found to be highest in 2.67 x 107 cfu/ml treatment and lowest in un-inoculated control treatment. Inoculation at 2.67 x 107 cfu/ml increased the number of nodules of soya beans. Number of pod per plant were highest at 2.67 x 107 cfu/ml treatment and lowest in un-inoculated (control treatment). These findings showed that B. liaoningense inoculation was effective in enhancing growth, chlorophyll synthesis, formation of root nodules and pods in soya beans. From the study it can be recommended that B. liaoningense from wild soya bean may be used as a biofertiliser to improve productivity of soya beans by smallholder farmers in Kenya.

Grain Yield and Economic Benefit of Soybean as Affected by Integration of Rhizobium Inoculation and Phosphorus Application in Chuka Sub-County, Kenya

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) yields are far below the potential yield on most smallholder farms in Kenya. This necessitates suitable interventions to bridge this yield gap and result to profitable soybean production. An experiment was conducted in Chuka University demonstration farm, Chuka Sub County to determine the effect of integration of rhizobium inoculation (R) and phosphorus (P) on yields and net economic returns in soybean cultivation. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design in a split-split plot arrangement with each treatment replicated three times. The experiment which was conducted between 2018 and 2019 was repeated once and the treatments included; three P rates (0, 20 and 30 kg/ha), three rhizobium rates (0, 100 and 200 g/ha) and two soybean genotypes (SB19 and SB24). Triple superphosphate (0:46:0) was used as the source of the phosphorus. The soybean genotypes, rhizobium and phosphorus rates were assigned to the main plot, sub-plot and the sub-sub plots respectively. Data collected included soybean yields (kg/ha) and economic analysis was calculated. The data collected was subjected to analysis of variance using Statistical Analysis System® 9.4 and significantly different means separated using Tukeys test at (p≤0.05). The results showed statistically significant difference in soybean yields and net economic benefit within SB19 and SB24 genotypes in both trials at (p≤0.05). Integration of R and P at the rate of 200 g and 30 kg/ha increased soybean yield by 101% and 98%, and 158% and 138% for SB19 and SB24 in trial I and II respectively. This earned a net economic benefit of ksh. 239,496 and 192,730, and ksh. 297,930 and 239,330 for SB19 and SB24 in both trials I and II, respectively. Both genotypes performed well in yield and net economic benefit and application of R and P at the rate of 200 g/ha and 30 kg/ha promoted yield and net economic benefit of soybean.

Impact of Training on Adoption of Information and Communication Technology Tools in Agricultural Extension among Smallholder Cassava Farmers in Rangwe Sub-County, Kenya

The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools in Agricultural extension in Kenya is key to providing farm families with appropriate technical information and helping them develop skills for improved resource use in their agricultural activities to improve the efficiency of their value chains. The latent perk of ICT tools in the dissemination of agricultural information is not well exploited. Studies to assess the determinants of ICT tools adoption among smallholder cassava farmers in Kenya are limited. The aim of this study was to describe the level of access to training on ICT tools, the level of ICT tools’ adoption, and to determine the correlation between access to training and the use of ICT tools among the Small Holder Farmers (SHFs). A correlation research design was employed in this study at Rangwe Sub-County. The study used pretested structured questionnaire to collect data from 106 SHFs who grow cassava in the Sub-County. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science Version 25 to run Spearman’s correlation and descriptive statistics. From the results 36% of the respondents had used ICT tools in agricultural extension; only 37% had access to ICT training and a majority had received training once from a private extension system. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that a correlation between access to training and the use of ICT tools among the SHFs was statistically significant at a 1% level of significance (R = +.776**, P = .000, R2 =0.602). Training on ICT tools explained about 60% of the use of the tools among the SHFs. An increase in access to the training enhances the use of ICT tools in agricultural extension. The availability of training centers was recommended to increase the use of ICT tools.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A PORTABLE COMMON BEAN (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L) THRESHER

Threshing and cleaning of common beans are some of the main post-harvest practices. Others are drying, grading and packaging. Threshing of beans can be done using heavy combine harvesters, use of stationary thresher or by use of traditional methods. The intercropping of beans combined with small scale farms in Kenya makes the use of combine harvesters unsuitable for beans threshing. Traditional threshing methods are also tedious, time consuming and labour intensive. Therefore, the focus of this study was to develop a portable common beans thresher customized to the needs of small-scale farmers in Kenya and other developing countries. The design process was through simulation, optimization, fabrication and evaluation. The thresher recorded a threshing efficiency of 99 % for all the drum speeds above 600 rpm at crop moisture content of 18% w.b. In addition, throughput capacity of 72 kg/hr and 125 kg/hr at a feed rate of 1 kg/min and 2.5 kg/min respectively was achieved at a drum speed of 800 rpm. Mechanical grain damage was less than 3.3% for drum speeds between 600 and 1000 rpm. At drum speed of 800 rpm and below, mechanical grain damage was 0.7%. The developed common beans thresher power requirement is 15.6 kWh per ton. Finally, the thresher had a cleaning efficiency of 78% at 800 rpm drum speed. Based on performance, the developed common beans thresher is recommended for use by small scale famers in beans production.

Performance of Weaner Rabbits under Prevailing Feeding Systems in Kiambu County, Kenya

Despite the recent upsurge of interest in rabbit farming in Kenya, there is inadequate information on both on-farm performance and cost of production which are important in determining the profitability of the enterprise. This study assessed these 2 parameters in 6 rabbit farms in Kiambu County. In each farm, 40 weaners were monitored to determine their feed intake, weight gain, the time to reach 2 kg body weight and the cost per weight gain. The type, quantity, quality and cost of feeds offered was monitored. The key determinant of the type of feed offered to rabbits was availability rather than quality. None of the offered feeds singly provided all the required nutrients in the amount for growing rabbits. Forages on offer were low in Crude Protein (CP) content (average, 12.6% vs. recommended 16-17%) while commercial concentrates were low in fibre content (average, 9.2% vs. recommended, 15-16%). On average, a weaner attained 2 kg body weight at 18 (range, 16-19) weeks after consuming 6.6 (range, 5.5-8.1) kg DM, 874.9±163.6 (range, 761-962.2) g of CP and 14723±1868.7 (range, 11535-17643) Kcal of digestible energy with a feed conversion ratio of 6.3±0.7 (range, 5.6-7). Feed cost per unit weight gain averaged KES 164.5 (range, 135.3 -234.4) while the production cost per kg weight gain was KES 280.2. The study concluded that rabbits at the farm level received inadequate energy and protein leading to slow growth rates, delayed attainment of target weight and a high cost of production making the enterprise unprofitable. There is need to evaluate feeding of rabbits with an aim to providing balanced diets to gain body weight and to optimize performance and consequently improved profitability.

Determinants of adoption of climate smart agricultural technologies among potato farmers in Kenya: Does entrepreneurial orientation play a role?

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an important strategy for supporting farmers against climate change challenges. However, CSA adoption among smallholder farmers particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains low. This article investigates the factors that influence CSA adoption among smallholder potato farmers in Nyandarua County, Kenya. We specifically focus on the role of the farmers’ entrepreneurial orientation (reflected in the farmers’ innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking), a contribution that has received limited research attention. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of 350 potato farming households and analyzed using descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA) and a multivariate probit regression model. Based on PCA analysis, the study considered six categories of CSA practices; soil nutrient management, crop management, crop protection, seed management, water harvesting, and crop quality improvement. The multivariate probit results show that farmers' entrepreneurial orientation had mixed influence on CSA adoption. While farmers’ innovativeness had a positive influence on crop management and improvement practices uptake, its influence on water harvesting technologies was negative. Similarly, proactive farmers were more likely to adopt seed management practices, whereas risk-takers were more likely to adopt protection and water harvesting technologies. Potato producers' willingness to engage in seed multiplication was linked to use of crop protection, seed management, and water harvesting technologies, indicating a path that could help potato farmers’ access clean seed. Other important factors influencing CSA adoption included access to financing through mobile-based applications, gender, land size, trust in extension officers, household income, and farm characteristics. The study discusses the implications of these findings.

Factors affecting production and market performance of Guinea fowls and Quails in Kenya

Emerging livestock like guinea fowls and quails are important alternative sources of poultry meat and eggs to chicken. These poultry species are also a significant source of income, especially to poor rural farmers. The study surveyed selected regions of Kenya to determine the factors influencing market performance of guinea fowl and quail products. A total of 652 guinea fowl and quail farmers participated in the study through interviews and filling questionnaires. Data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative procedures where descriptive statistics were conducted by calculating frequencies and percentages. The results identified the main stakeholders in the guinea fowl and quail value chain that play a significant role in influencing their market performance. This study reveals that product, market, capital, technology and disease interrelation factors positively influence the market performance of guinea fowl and quail products. Therefore, we recommend that the involved relevant stakeholders should establish mechanisms that will streamline and improve guinea fowl and quail farming thereby making it sustainable and profitable for Kenyan farmers.

The long reach of commodity frontiers: social reproduction and food procurement strategies among migrant workers in Kenya’s flower farms

ABSTRACT Conceptualizing global floriculture as a commodity frontier, this article explores rural-urban transfers and in loco production and exchange of food by migrant workers at Naivasha flower farms in Kenya. It highlights how food procurement strategies are central to the reproduction of a cheap labour force and are supported by multi-local family networks. Distant livelihoods and rural ecologies are thus tied to the frontier's interests and are embedded into global chains of cut flowers. We argue that considering reproductive labour strategies is critical to understand the functioning and expansion of commodity frontiers and their impact on peasant families and food circulation.

Gendered Barriers and Opportunities for Women Smallholder Farmers in the Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia Vaccine Value Chain in Kenya.

Simple SummarySmall animals such as goats, sheep and chickens are an important source of income for rural livelihoods, especially for women farmers in Africa, because they are able to control the resources that come from the sale of these animals. However, one of the biggest problems they face is livestock diseases, even when vaccines are available. In Kenya, Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is a highly infectious disease of goats with a mortality rate of more than 70%. A vaccine for CCPP is available but difficult to access by women in the rural areas. This study examines the gaps and barriers that prevent women smallholder farmers from effectively accessing and adopting CCPP vaccination for their animals in the Machakos district of Kenya. Our results indicate that key constraints to vaccine access and adoption for rural smallholder women farmers are lack of a cold chain for vaccine maintenance, inadequate and late delivery of veterinary services, lack of information and training, and limited financial capacity to purchase the vaccine. If more resources, information, and training is made available to women smallholder farmers through government or the private sector, there would be improved livestock productivity, better livelihoods, and increased opportunities and agency for women.Most rural women smallholder farmers in Kenya generate income from the sale of small ruminant animals. However, diseases such as Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) prevent them from optimizing earnings. A crucial aspect for the control of CCPP is vaccination. In Kenya, CCPP vaccines are distributed through a government delivery mechanism. This study examines gaps and barriers that prevent women smallholder farmers from accessing CCPP vaccines. Qualitative data collection tools used were focus groups discussions, focus meals, jar voices and key informant interviews. Using outcome mapping (OM) methodology, critical partners and stakeholders in the CCPP vaccine value chain (CCPP-VVC) were identified to be the manufacturers, importers, distributors, agrovets, public and private veterinarians, local leaders, and farmers. Respondents highlighted the barriers to be limited access to vaccines due to cold chain problems, inadequate and late delivery of services, lack of information and training on vaccines, and financial constraints. Identified opportunities that can support women’s engagement in the CCPP-VVC are the Kenya Governments two-third gender rule, which requires that not more than two thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender, and positive community perception of female veterinarians. We conclude that more resources and training should be made available to women farmers, and that gender perspectives on policy development related to livestock production and disease prevention are urgently needed to improve livestock productivity and increase agency for women.