Impact of Agricultural Reform Measures on Maize Production among Small Scale Farmers: The Case of Western Province of Kenya

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-146
Author(s):  
M. Ali-Olubandwa ◽  
N. Kathuri ◽  
Dolphine Odero-Wanga ◽  
W. Shivoga
Keyword(s):  
Small Scale ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Agricultural Reform ◽  
Western Province ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

scholarly journals The Influence of Farmers' Gender on Factors Affecting Maize Production among Small Scale Farmers in the Agricultural Reform Era: The Case of Western Region of Kenya

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Adijah M. Ali-Olubandwa
Keyword(s):  
Random Sampling ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Reform Era ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Agricultural Reform ◽  
Systematic Random Sampling ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
The Western Region ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

The introduction of Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) and trade liberalisation resulted in agricultural reforms in Kenya and other developing countries. Hence the Kenya government no longer gives incentives to small scale farmers. Therefore, the small scale farmers, extension service and the government at large have to look for all ways to increase maize production in the country, hence the study. Men and women both make significant contributions in maize-based farming systems and livelihoods, although gender roles in maize cultivation vary greatly across and within regions. Their contribution to agricultural work varies even more widely, depending on the specific crop and activity. The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of Farmers' Gender on Factors Affecting Maize production among Small Scale Farmers in the Agricultural Reform Era: The Case of Western Region of Kenya. This is because maize is the main staple for most of the Kenyan population and Western Region is the food basket.  The study used Ex-post facto research design via cross sectional survey. Busia, Bungoma, Mt. Elgon and Lugari Counties were purposively selected to represent the Western Region of Kenya. Two sub-counties from each of the four Counties were selected by simple random sampling. For uniformity purposes 200 small scale farmers were selected from focal areas through systematic random sampling hence ensuring that they all had been exposed to extension staff. Four key informants were sampled purposefully based on their positions of authority. In addition, 52 extension staffs were sampled through systematic random sampling. The small scale farmers were interviewed with the help of interview schedule containing open and closed ended questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results of the multiple regression illustrated that there was a statistically significant relationship between factors affecting maize production among small scale farmers (adoption of improved agricultural practices, attitude towards maize farming attitude towards farmer organizations and attitude towards opinion leaders) and farmers’ gender. The results showed that the adjusted R2=0.090, F=3.830 at p <0.01 and df=8. The study recommended that the Kenya government, extension service and researchers should pay more attention to the women small scale farmers, who form a large percentage of the small scale farmers in the western region, yet produce less bags of maize in order for Kenya to be food secure. There was therefore need for further research to find ways of motivating women small scale farmers to increase maize production in the Western Region of Kenya.

scholarly journals Economics and Technical Efficiency of Maize Production Among Small Scale Farmers in Abuja, Nigeria: Stochastic Frontier Model Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Ebukiba ◽  
L. Anthony ◽  
S. M. Adamu
Keyword(s):  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Stochastic Frontier Model ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Model Approach

This study evaluated Economics and Technical Efficiency of Maize Production Among Small Scale Farmers in Abuja, Nigeria; Stochastic Frontier Model Approach; Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted and used. Primary data were collected through the use of well-structured questionnaire from one hundred and fifty (150) sampled respondents in the study area. Data were analyzed to achieve the specified objectives using the following tools of analysis, Descriptive Statistics, Stochastic Frontier, Gross Margin Analysis, Financial Analysis, Five Point Likert Scale, and Principal Components Analysis. The results show that majority 40.47% of the sampled respondents were among the age range of 41-50 years of age and 25.33% were within the age bracket of 31-40 years of age. The mean age of the sampled farmers is 44 years. Which indicated that Young and energetic farmers are able to withstand stress and adopt new innovations. Most 88.67% of the farmers were male. Majority 72.67% were married. The mean household size of the sampled respondents is 6 members per family. Majority (67%) of the small-scale maize farmers had 1-2 ha of land and the average farm size cultivated by the farmers was 2.576 ha. The factors influencing total output of maize were seed input (P<0.01), Farm Size (P<0.05), quantity of fertilizer (P<0.05), and labour input (P<0.01) were statistically significant variables. The results of the inefficiency components show that the factors influencing technical inefficiency includes: age (P<0.01), education (P<0.01), access to credit (P<0.05), farming experience, and household size (P<0.05) and were statistically significant. The total revenue realized by the sampled small-scale maize farmers was N238,317 on average. While the total variable costs on average basis was N109,702.93. The gross margin realized was N128667.07. The gross margin ratio was 0.54 while operating ratio calculated was 0.857 and the rate of return on investment (RORI) was 1.17. The retained component from the constraint’s analysis include Lack of Improve Seed, Lack of Transportation, Poor Storage Facilities, Inadequate Capital, and Cattle Herdsmen. The retained components explained 60% of the variation of the component included in the model. The study therefore, recommends that affordable loans and adequate capital should be made available to the small-scale maize farmers, farmers should be properly trained and educated by the non-governmental organizations and extension agents on chemical application, fertilizer use and pests and diseases control measures especially on integrated pest management (IPM). Inputs like improve seeds, fertilizer, and chemicals should be made available to farmers at subsidized rates and at appropriate time coinciding with production periods for proper usage. Provisions should be made for transportation and storage facilities for farmers, the issue of conflict between farmers and herdsmen should be brought to book and resolved amicably for peaceful coexistence.

scholarly journals Resource Use Efficiency in Maize Production by Small-Scale Farmers in Two Districts of Mwanza Region, Tanzania

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Gongwe Anne. G. ◽  
Kongolo M.
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Increasing Returns To Scale ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Soil Preparation ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

This study investigates the resource use efficiency in the production of maize by small-scale farmers in Mwanza region. Specifically, the study seeks to determine what the resources that farmers use in maize production and also seeks to determine the challenges that farmers face in maize production in the study area. This study was conducted in two districts of Mwanza region. In each of the district, the study sampled three wards and randomly selected twelve small-scale farmers from each of the three wards selected. In total 72 small-scale farmers were selected from whom the data was collected. A Cobb-Douglas production function was used to fit and analyse the data for its good fit. The R² was 0.77, indicating that 77 percent of the variation in dependent variable was explained by the independent variables of the model. The use of inputs in the production of maize was noted to be increasing returns to scale. The results indicated that variables land (X1), labour (X2), age (X6), and experience (X8) were all positive and significant at the 1% while soil preparation (X4) variable was negative but significant at the 5%. The major constraints to maize production included lack of fertilizer (manure), finance (capital) and access to land. The study concluded that more exposure of small-scale farmers to frequent extension services is important to assist them to produce efficiently.

scholarly journals Potentials of hybrid maize varieties for small-holder farmers in Kenya: A review based on swot analysis

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (57) ◽  
pp. 7562-7586
Author(s):  
C Schroeder ◽  
◽  
T Onyango K’Oloo ◽  
NB Ranabhat ◽  
NA Jick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Marginal Areas ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Hybrid Maize

Maize is the primary staple crop in Kenya and plays an important role in the livelihood of the people of Kenya. Its availability and abundance determines the level of welfare and food security in the country. In Kenya, future increases in maize production to meet domestic demand will have to rely on improvements in yield per hectare rather than on the expansion of maize production area. Enhanced maize productivity can be achieved by increased use of modern production techniques such as the adoption of hybrid maize varieties, the use of chemicals and fertilizer application. Small-scale maize prodcution plays a major role in Kenya’s maize economy and adoption of hybrid technology by small-scale farmers would have the potential to address sustainability and supply issues. However, such modern technologies are still rarely used by Kenya’s small-scale farmers, particularly by those in marginal areas. This study, therefore, tries to review the reasons for the low rate of adoption of hybrid maize varieties among small-scale farmers with focus on those smallholders in Kenya’s marginal areas. Lack of awareness of existing or newly released hybrid varieties, lack of hybrid varieties adapted to marginal areas, lack of confidence in the quality of some hybrid maize seeds, poor access to stockists, low profitability due to high seed cost, inadequate access to credit, the need for fertilizer application and low literacy level have been found to be important factors explaining the low adoption rates by smallholder maize producers in marginal areas. In addition, these constraints might also explain the widespread practice of recycling hybrid grain among small-scale farmers once they have adopted hybrid maize varieties. Therefore, it is hoped that by overcoming these constraints, the adoption of hybrid maize varieties among smallholder farmers could be greatly enhanced, which in turn could lead to a significant positive impact on the country’s food security situation.

scholarly journals Tierra, trabajo y reforma agraria en la Segunda República española (1931-1936): algunas consideraciones críticas

2017 ◽  
pp. 7-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Robledo ◽  
Ángel Luis González Esteban
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Land Reform ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Farm Worker ◽  
Second Republic ◽  
Agricultural Reform ◽  
Social Unrest ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
The Right

The brief existence of the Second Republic and its violent end tend to favor the usual negative view of land reform. This article analyzes the perceptions of inefficiency and contradictory effects of the twentieth-century agr icultural reform, in contrast with the thesis of an active and extremely efficient market following the liberal refor ms of the nineteenth century. The second part of the paper focuses on recent historiographical research that considers the main cause of pre-Civil War social unrest to have been the labor polic y launched by the Socialists in 1931, which was also seen as a decisive factor in the swing towards the right of mid- and small-scale farmers. This article defends the viability of an agricultural reform that proved beneficial for the average farm worker. The initial costs of adaptation to the reform are explained, along with the hostility of Spain’s large-scale farmers to collective bargaining, an approach which had been institutionalized elsewhere through social policies.

scholarly journals Small Scale Maize Farmers Attitude towards Opinion Leaders in the Western Region of Kenya in the Agricultural Reform Era

2021 ◽  
Vol 04 (06) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adijah Mukabana Olubandwa
Keyword(s):  
Random Sampling ◽  
Opinion Leaders ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Systematic Random Sampling ◽  
The Western Region ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Local Leaders ◽  
Extension Staff

Agricultural reforms in Kenya led to the government cutting down incentives to small scale farmers. These also coincided with reduction of agricultural extension staff hence farmers have to rely on advice from opinion leaders. The study looked at farmers’ attitude towards opinion leaders on maize farming in the western region of Kenya because maize is the main staple for most of the Kenyan population and Western Region is the food basket. The study used Ex-post facto research design via cross sectional survey. The counties were purposively selected to represent the Western Region of Kenya. Two sub-counties from each of the four Counties were selected by simple random sampling. Small scale farmers were selected from focal areas through systematic random sampling. Four key informants were sampled purposefully based on their positions of authority. In addition, 52 extension staffs were sampled through systematic random sampling. The small scale farmers were interviewed with the help of interview schedule containing both open and closed ended questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that a high percentage of respondents from all the study Counties agreed that what other farmers said about maize production helped them to invest in the enterprise. The study concluded that small scale farmers from all the Counties, were influenced by other farmers to invest in maize production. In addition most of the respondents always followed the recommendations given by the chief and other local leaders concerning agricultural production. The study recommended that extension staff use farmer groups and local leaders to ensure that the innovations are diffused to a large number of farmers.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Effect of Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) on Small-Scale Farmers in the Kara Region of Togo

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
John-Philippe Essiagnon Alavo ◽  
Emefa Adzowa-Sika Cogbe ◽  
Xiangmei Li ◽  
Gershom Mwalupaso Endelani ◽  
Ekram Abdalgadir Eltom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Support Program ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
The Government ◽  
Cropping Seasons ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
The Impact

The government of Togo reintroduced Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) as one of its Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS) in 2002. Since the introduction of the program, the studies that evaluate its effects on income have focused either on fertilizer or seed component, but not on both, which made it a challenge to find out what improvements in small-scale farmers&rsquo; productivity can be attributed to FISP as a whole. Using Propensity Score Matching technique with collected data from 150 randomly surveyed households in the Kara region of Togo, the authors of the study estimated the impact of FISP on beneficiary households&rsquo; output from maize production. The results show that FISP augmented household annual maize income by 30.8% and total household income by 13.9% for both 2016/17 and 2017/18 cropping seasons. However, even though FISP is achieving its objective of improving small-scale farmers&rsquo; income, this increment is still not large enough to take households above the poverty line, and the effects of FISP to reduce overall poverty is also limited.

scholarly journals The Effect of Information Literacy on Maize Production: Case study of small-scale farmers in Inonge Village, Kazungula District of Zambia

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 208-229
Author(s):  
Vincent Kanyamuna ◽  
Sylvia Chitola Mulele ◽  
Chuma Sylvin Kanyamuna ◽  
Lubomba Mudenda Kanyamuna ◽  
Paul Musanda
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
The Impact

The study aimed at exploring the impact of information literacy on maize production and focused on a case study of small-scale farmers in Inonge village of Kanzungula District in Southern Province, Zambia. Besides the review of relevant literature, the study conducted a questionnaire-based case study on 20 small-scale farmers and conducted an in-depth interview with one agriculturalist from the Ministry of Agriculture. The analysis of the study showed that farmers need information for various purposes to enhance their agricultural activities, and they use different sources and media to access such information. Many of the farmers, however, are not well aware of modern techniques of agriculture and they seldom use such techniques for farming. Due to some problems such as high rate of illiteracy, inadequate contact with agricultural extension officers, language barrier and bad television and radio reception, farmers are not satisfied in getting agricultural information. The paper concludes that information literacy has an effect on maize production and certain recommendations for policy, practice and further research have been provided for the improvement of information literacy of the farmers in Inonge village. These include government to reconsider public agricultural policy reforms on one hand and for the local communities and their leaderships to reorganize themselves and tackle the information challenges facing them on the other.  More focused research was still needed to understand and contextualize Inonge village agricultural challenges and prospects.

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