Agricultural Economics Research Papers/Topics

Smallholder French Beans Farmers Global-Gap Standards Risk Attitudes, and their Effects on Welfare in Kirinyaga County, Kenya

Despite the importance of Global-GAP standards in promoting production and marketing of quality French beans in Kenya, compliance is still low. Using data from randomly selected 492 French beans, farmers, the study sought to determine the link between risk preferences, Global-GAP certification, observed poverty, and vulnerability to future poverty. The study used social experiment and 5-point Likert scale to solicit risk attitudes parameters, binary Logit model to determine the effect of risk...

Analysis of Factors Influencing Productivity and extent of Smallholder Commercialization of Green Grams and Pigeon Peas in Machakos County, Kenya

Small farmer commercialization was an indispensable pathway towards sustainable food security based on production specialization of food crops. The common staple food crops in Mwala and Yatta sub-counties which are the main semi-arid areas in Machakos County were green grams and pigeon peas. However, the factors affecting productivity and the resultant output for commercialization are not fully understood. The main objectives were therefore to assess the extent and determinants of the levels ...

Market participation and its effect on employment and food access within households of smallholder women farmers in Rwanda

Agricultural transformation is key to poverty reduction and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In Rwanda, transformation efforts have been focused on increasing smallholder farmers’ participation in agricultural markets, with a purpose to shift them from subsistence to market-oriented production. In spite of this, subsistence farming is still dominant, involving more women than men and little is known on the progress of these farmers towards market orientation. This study contribute...

Determinants of Participation of Smallholder Farmers in Weather Index Insurance in Embu County, Kenya

Abstract The study examined how multiple factors influence participation of farmers in Weather Index Insurance WII in Embu County, Kenya. Data wer e collected from a sample of 401 smallholders following multi stage sampling technique The study employed the Cragg ’s Double Hurdle model in determining factors that influence participation and extent of participation in WII. Results revealed th at short rain season, household size, land size, perception of the household head on WII , owners h ...

Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Cultivars of Macadamia (Macadamia spp.) among Small-Scale Farmers in Embu County, Kenya

Abstract The study investigated the factors influencing adoption of improved cultivars of macadamia (Macadamia spp.) among small-scale farmers in Embu County, Kenya. Data was collected from a sample of 384 small-scale farmers obtained through multistage sampling procedure in ten sub-locations. Binary Logit model was used to determine the effect of selected institutional and socio-economic factors on adoption of improved cultivars of macadamia. The results revealed that education level (wald=...

Comparing productivity of rice under system of rice intensification and conventional flooding: A switching regression approach

Abstract This paper examined the factors influencing rice productivity in Mwea Irrigation Scheme using the System of rice intensification (SRI) and conventional flooding (CF). Stratified sampling was used to obtain 364 smallholder rice farmers for interviewing. Data collection was done with the aid of a semistructured questionnaire and analyzed using the Endogenous Switching regression Model (ESRM). The results of ESRM revealed that factors such as household size, access to extension service...

Financial factors influencing growth of Horticultural sector in Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract This study evaluated the financial factors influencing growth of horticultural sector in Nakuru County, Kenya. Of particular interest was the extent to which credit access and working capital affected the growth of horticultural firms. The study reviewed adverse selection theory and organizational theory of growth. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. The study targeted the 300 accounts, finance, and management staff working with the registered horticultural farms i...

SOCIO ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF PRODUCTIVE SAFETY NET PROGRAM ON THE LIVELIHOODS OF FARMING HOUSEHOLDS: THE CASE OF CHIRO DISTRICT, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the socio-economic impact of productive safety net program (PSNP) on the livelihoods of the farming households in Chiro District of West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The study has objectives to identify major features of PSNP have on households and community level, to identify the impact of PSNP on asset creation, HHs income, food consumption, and protection of asset from depletion, and to identify challenges that affect PSNP i...

Effects of Land Fragmentation on Food Security in Three Agro-ecological Zones of Embu County in Kenya

Abstract Land fragmentation is a common agricultural phenomenon in many countries where a single large farm is subdivided into a large number of separate small land plots. This paper is based on a study that was carried out to evaluate the impact of land fragmentation on food security in three agroecological zones (AEZs) of Embu County in Kenya from January to November 2016. The study used data collected from 384 farm-households that were randomly selected from three AEZs in the Embu County,...

Influence of institutional factors on Sorghum production in Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract Agriculture in Kenya plays an important role in development as it contributes about 24% of GDP, 75% of industrial raw materials and 60% of export earnings and about 18% of the total formal employment. It also employs about 3.8 million people in farm, livestock production and fishing, while an estimated 4.5 million other people are employed in agriculture-related off-farm activities. Cereals including maize, sorghum, millet, and wheat among others largely constitute the major food it...

RESOURCE USE AMONG CASSAVA FARMERS IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Agriculture is the major and most certain path to economic growth and sustainability in Nigeria (Chigbu, 2008). According to Ikpi, Olayemi and Kadu (2002) agriculture encompasses all aspects of human activities – being the art, act, a cultural necessity and science of production of food (goods). All these simultaneously create another activity chain that satisfies social and economic needs (Chigbu, 2008).According to Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO, 2009) Nigeria is endowed with an ...

FACTORS AFFECTING THE ADOPTION OF IMPROVED SORGHUM VARIETIES AMONG FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN NORTHWEST GHANA: A PROBIT ANALYSIS

In an attempt to boost sorghum production, the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute in Ghana, over the years, has released a number of improved sorghum varieties to farmers in northern Ghana. The purpose of this study was to estmate the level of adoption, and to identify the factors that influenced the adoption of the improved sorghum varieties, using a probit model. It was found that age, available family labour, non-farm income, farmers' perception about the varieties, farm size and far...

SMALLHOLDER FARMERS’ PROVISION OF LABOUR SERVICES TO ARTISANAL SMALL-SCALE MINING: DETERMINANTS AND WELFARE EFFECTS IN NORTHERN GHANA

Artisanal small-scale mining activities are on the rise with several concerns. Whiles these are issues of concern, farmers in the mining communities are providing labour services to ASM for wages. This study investigated the determinants of farmers’ decision to provide labour services to ASM. It also assessed the welfare effects of providing labour services to ASM operations. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed to collect cross-sectional data from 200 farm households in two district...

Adaption, Productivity and Return on Investment of Integrated Soil Fertility Management Technologies among Sorghum Farmers in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

Abstract Declining soil fertility poses a serious threat to food production and food security to most farming households. Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) comprising the combination of organic and mineral fertilizer and other practices such as cereal-legume intercropping, diversified crop rotation and farmers’ knowledge has been promoted in various countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) including Kenya. This study aimed at evaluating adoption, productivity and return to investmen...

Role of Information and Communication Technology and Socio-Economic Factors on Marketing of Tomatoes among Smallholder Farmers in Kirinyaga County, Kenya

Abstract Tomato is produced and consumed worldwide. In Kenya, tomato is used to generate income among rural people. Despite this, the sub-sector faces numerous challenges such as fluctuating market prices, postharvest losses and inadequate marketing information. In spite of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use in marketing of tomatoes among smallholder farmers in Kenya, there is scanty information on the information and communication technology usage in marketing of tomatoes am...


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