Maize Production In Kenya Research Articles

Input Policy and Use of Fertilizers and Improved Seeds for Maize Production in Kenya

The use of improved inputs is important in increasing crop productivity. Input policy plays a crucial role in giving farmers incentives to increase their adoption and use. This paper analyses the Kenyan input policy before and after input market liberalization. Particular attention is focused on the use of fertilizer and improved seeds in maize production during this time. Price analysis shows that both fertilizer and improved seed prices rose sharply after the input market liberalization. Input profitability analysis showed that both the fertilizer–maize price ratio and the improved seeds–maize price ratio decreased after input market liberalization due to the maize price increases that occurred during the same period.

Estimating maize production in Kenya using NDVI: Some statistical considerations

A regression model approach using a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) has the potential for estimating crop production in East Africa. However, before production estimation can become a reality, the underlying model assumptions and statistical nature of the sample data (NDVI and crop production) must be examined rigorously. Annual maize production statistics from 1982-90 for 36 agricultural districts within Kenya were used as the dependent variable; median area NDVI (independent variable) values from each agricultural district and year were extracted from the annual maximum NDVI data set. The input data and the statistical association of NDVI with maize production for Kenya were tested systematically for the following items: (1) homogeneity of the data when pooling the sample, (2) gross data errors and influence points, (3) serial (time) correlation, (4) spatial autocorrelation and (5) stability of the regression coefficients. The results of using a simple regression model with NDVI as the only independent variable are encouraging (r 0.75, p 0.05) and illustrate that NDVI can be a responsive indicator of maize production, especially in areas of high NDVI spatial variability, which coincide with areas of production variability in Kenya.