Articles: Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension

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Influence of Khat (Miraa) on Primary School Dropout Among Boys in Meru County, Kenya
(David Publishing, 2003-08) Njeru, Lucy K.; Mwangi, John G.
Despite introduction of Kenya’s Free Primary Education in 2003 to achieve Universal Primary Education (MDG2), primary school boys’ enrolment in Kangeta is declining while dropout rates are increasing. This study investigated the influence of Khat (Catha edulis) on the boys’ dropout rates. A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 210 randomly selected dropouts and 10 primary school head teachers. Content validity of the teachers’ questionnaire and boys’ interview guide was ascertained by education experts, while reliability coefficients determined through a pilot test was 0.83α and 0.72α respectively. Peer pressure, Khat chewing, and easy money from Khat trade forced boys to leave school. Khat was highly regarded, socially accepted, and promoted the local people’s economy and culture but was partly responsible for the boys’ dropout. About 62% of the dropouts regretted leaving school and would re-enroll if given a chance. About 89% of the money from Khat was spent on food rather than investment. Parents and education stakeholders should help pupils complete education by discouraging them from engaging in Khat. Those involved in Khat should be encouraged to invest part of their income.
Economic evaluation of local inputs in Meru South District, Kenya
(Springer, 2007) Mucheru-Muna, Monicah; Mugendi, Daniel N.; Mugwe, Jayne; Kung’u, James
Declining land productivity is a major problem facing smallholder farmers in Kenya today. This decline is as a result of reduced soil fertility caused by continuous cultivation without adequate addition of manures and fertilizers. Low soil fertility is one of the greatest challenges facing farmers in the central highlands of Kenya. A farmers’ participatory trial was established in Meru South District, Kenya in 2000 to investigate feasible soil nutrient replenishment technologies for poor resource smallholder farmers. Results across seven seasons indicate that sole tithonia gave the highest grain yield followed closely by tithonia with half recommended rate of inorganic fertilizer with 6.4 and 6.3 Mg ha-1respectively. The control treatment gave the lowest yield of 2.2 Mg ha-1 across the seasons. The integration of organic and inorganic nutrient sources of N gave higher maize grain yield as compared to the sole organic materials in all seven seasons. Economic analyses indicate that on average tithonia with half the recommended rate of inorganic fertilizer recorded the highest net benefit (US$ 787.2) whereas the control treatment gave the lowest benefit (US$ 271.7). On the other hand the recommended rate of inorganic fertilizer gave the highest (US$ 12.5) return to labour while sole tithonia gave the lowest (US$ 4.0). On average in the farmers’ fields, manure alone gave the highest return to labour of US$ 3.6, while the control treatment gave the lowest return to labour US$ –0.2.
Determinants of adoption of butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) farming among small-holders in Suba district, Kenya
(2012) Isaboke, Hezron N.; Mshenga, Patience; Mutai, B.K.; Saidi, M.
Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) is an emerging economic crop in Kenya with ready market and high nutritional value. Despite this, its adoption as a major cash crop in Suba District has remained low. The aim of the study was to investigate the determinants of adoption and extent of adoption of butternut squash. The study area was chosen due to persistence of poverty despite the fact that the area has conditions that are favourable for the production of high value crops like butternut squash. Cross-sectional data were collected from a sample of 120 farmers selected through multi-stage sampling. The data were subjected to the Heckman two-step regression analysis to obtain the determinants of adoption and the extent of adoption. Data obtained revealed that the adopters of butternut squash were mostly the male married farmers. Results further showed that household size, land tenure, access to credit, membership to a group, market information and access to extension services significantly and positively affected the likelihood of adopting butternut squash; while age, participation in off-farm activities and distance to the market were significant with negative effect. Education, access to market information, man hours and years of experience were significantly related to adoption of the crop with positive effects, while land size was statistically significant with a negative effect. This study therefore, recommends that government and other stakeholders should formulate and implement policies related to promotion of adoption and production of butternut squash.
The Effect of Butternut Squash (Cucurbita moschata) on the Incomes of the Small-Holders in Suba District, Kenya
(2012) Isaboke, Hezron N.; Mshenga, Patience; Saidi, M.
Butternut squash is an emerging economic crop in Kenya with ready market and high nutritional value. It was introduced to promote food security and enhance the incomes of the small-holder farmers in Suba district. However it is not clear whether butternut could address the problem of low income among small-holder farmers. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of butternut squash on the incomes of the small-holders. The choice of the study area was due to persistence of poverty problem and existence of butternut squash in Suba District. Cross-sectional data was collected from a sample of 120 farmers who obtained using multi-stage sampling. The small-holder farmers were characterized using descriptive statistics. Gross Margin analysis was used to determine the contribution of butternut squash to total crop income. Gross margin analysis results revealed that butternut squash was a profitable enterprise similar to the other horticultural crops. Results showed that on average butternut squash contributes 38.55% with a standard deviation of 12.2% towards the total crop gross margin/ha. This study therefore, recommends that government and other stakeholders should formulate and implement effective policies related to promotion of butternut squash farming and marketing.
Influence of institutional factors on Sorghum production in Nakuru County, Kenya
(Academe Research Journals, 2012-12) Ogeto, Robert M.; Mshenga, Patience; Cheruiyot, Erick; Onyari, Charles N.
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 items for many households, hence underlining their importance in ensuring food security. In particular, the utility of sorghum is in its climatic adaptability and household as well as industrial use. Hence it is not only a food security crop, but also a major income earner. Despite its utility, there is a remarkably low production of sorghum among Kenyan farmers against food security challenges. This paper provides insights into the institutional characteristics of farmers and how they influence their participation in its production. The institutional factors under study included access to sorghum seed, access to credit, access to contract farming, access to market information and group membership. Simple random and snowball sampling methods were applied in collecting data from 207 farmers using a questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed by the double hurdle model. Only access to seed, access to extension, access to market information and access to group membership were significantly influencing sorghum production in the study area. It was recommended that seed companies should avail improved sorghum varieties and farmers are encouraged to adopt them. There was also need for stakeholders to institutionalize access to extension, contract farming and group membership among farmers.
Influence of Khat (Miraa) on Primary School Dropout Among Boys in Meru County, Kenya
(David Publishing, 2013-08) Njeru, Lucy K.; Mwangi, John Gowland
Despite introduction of Kenya’s Free Primary Education in2003 to achieve Universal Primary Education (MDG2), primary school boys’ enrolment in Kangetais declining while dropout rates are increasing. This study investigated the influence of Khat (Catha edulis) on the boys’ dropout rates. A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 210 randomly selected dropouts and 10 primary school head teachers. Content validity of the teachers’ questionnaire and boys’ interview guide was ascertained by education experts, while reliability coefficients determined through a pilot test was 0.83αand 0.72αrespectively. Peer pressure, Khat chewing, and easy money from Khat trade forced boys to leave school. Khat was highly regarded, socially accepted, and promoted the local people’s economy and culture but was partly responsible for the boys’ dropout. About 62% of the dropouts regretted leaving school and would re-enroll if given a chance. About 89% ofthe money from Khat was spent on food rather than investment. Parents and education stakeholders should help pupils complete education by discouraging them from engaging in Khat. Those involved in Khat should be encouraged to invest part of their income.
Stakeholders’ diverging interests and emerging resource use conflicts in apiculture in West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania
(2013-10) Kimaro, D. N.; Sinyangwe, J.; Mbeyale, G. E.; Kajembe, G. C.; Mogaka, Hezron R.
study was conducted in West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania to assess stakeholders diverging interests and emerging resource use conflicts in apiculture with respect to natural resource management (NRM) by local communities. The study aimed at generating knowledge base for effective governance of NRM by farmers from which lessons could be drawn for guiding appropriate NRM. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools including focused group discussion, questionnaire survey and participant observation were used for data collection from 98 respondents randomly selected. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Results show that majority of individual small scale farmers (73%) were driven by social economic interests than NRM. On the other hand, farmers’ groups (10%) showed high interest in both economic and conservation of natural resources followed by faith based organisations (FBOs) (7%). Stakeholders’ diverging interests in apiculture were significantly influenced by educational level (p=0.010); household size (p=0.006); marital status (p=0.011) and major economic activities (p=0.029). The most prevalent conflicts in the study area were between farmers practising apiculture and fellow farmers (74%) followed by neighbours (16%). The study demonstrated that for small scale farmers to engage in NRM, economic interest is vital. Recommendations on areas of further intervention are given.
Enhancing response farming for improved strategic and tactical agronomic management of risks of seasonal rainfall variability
(AJOL, 2014) Admassu, H.; Mahoo, H. F.; Rwehumbiza, F. B. R.; Tumbo, S. D.; Mogaka, Hezron R.
Seasonal rainfall variability, particularly the uncertainty with respect to the direction and extent that variability will assume in a given season, forms the greatest source of risk to crop production in semi-arid areas of Ethiopia. Equipping vulnerable communities, in advance, with the expected date of onset of a cropping season, is crucial for smallholder farmers to better prepare to respond and manage the uncertainties. Therefore, rainfall prediction, particularly development of models that can foretell the date of onset of next cropping season is crucial in facilitating strategic agronomic planning and tactical management of in-season risks. A twenty-four-year climatic data study was conducted for Melkassa Agricultural Research Centre (MARC) in semi arid Ethiopia, to develop onset date prediction models that can improve strategic and tactical response farming (RF). A sequential simulation model for a build up of 15 to 25 mm soil water by April 1st, was conducted. Simulation results revealed a build up of soil water up to 25 mm, to be the most risk-wise acceptable time of season onset for planting of a 150-day maize crop. In the context of response farming, this was desirable as it offers the opportunity for farmers to consider flexible combination production of maize (Zea mays L.) varieties of 120 and 90 days in the event of failure of earliest sown 150-day maize crop. Thus, to allow for flexible combination production of the three maize varieties, predictive capacity was found crucial for April onset of the next crop season. Accordingly, based on the consideration of pre-onset rainfall parameters, the first effective rainfall date varied considerably with the date of onset of rainfall. Regression analyses revealed the first effective rainfall date to be the best predictor of the date of onset (R2 = 62.5%), and a good indicator of the duration of next season (R2 = 42.4%). The identified strategic predictor, the first effective rainfall date, enabled prediction of time of season onset and season length by a lead time of two to three months. This markedly improved Stewart’s RF. The date of onset of the next crop season was also found to be a useful predictor of season duration (R2 = 87.3%). Strategic agronomic planning should be adjusted according to the first effective rain date, and tactically according to what date of rainfall onset informs us about expectations in the duration and total season water supply.
Influence of access to land and finances on Kenyan youth participation in agriculture: a review
(European Centre for Research Training and Development UK, 2014-09) Gichimu, Bernard M.; Njeru, Lucy K.
The Kenya Government prioritized the development of the agricultural sector to achieving the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of sustainable food production. Kenya’s strategic plan, Vision 2030 positions agriculture as a key driver for delivering a 10% annual economic growth and is expected to have an average growth rate of 7% by 2015. Agriculture contributes over 80% of all employment opportunities in the country, but Kenyan youths are not taking advantage of these opportunities since 64% of them are unemployed. To advance the 7% average growth rate, it is pertinent that the Kenyan youth be fully involved in agricultural development. However, agriculture is perceived unattractive to the youth and its potential has not been fully realized. The purpose of this review is to find out the influence of land and finances on youth participation in agriculture and to identify the interventions that can make agriculture attractive to the youth in Kenya. This information will be useful to the government, the farming community, agriculturalists, policy makers and non-governmental organisations in laying strategies that will make agriculture attractive to the youth. This will subsequently enhance youth participation in agriculture resulting in increased food production, employment creation and income generation for the youth. Engaging the youth in agricultural activities will contribute in reducing crime and other social problems attributed to the youth.
Optimizing use of integrated soil fertility management options for profitable groundnut production in Uganda
(2014-09) Semalulu, O.; Mugonola, B.; Bonabana-Wabbi, J.; Mogaka, Hezron R.; Kayanga, S.T.
Soil fertility decline is a major constraint to groundnut production in Uganda. Whereas options exist to address this constraint, many have not been adopted by smallholder farmers. This study was designed to demonstrate the profitability of different integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) technologies in light of smallholder farmer conditions. On-farm experiments were set up in Mbale, Tororo and Bukedea districts of Uganda, with different inorganic fertilizer and farmyard manure (FYM) combinations and four groundnut varieties: Etesot, Red beauty, Serenut 2 and Serenut 3. Results revealed that under the ISFM options considered, Serenut 3 and Red beauty were the most profitable varieties. Serenut 3 and Red beauty posted positive gross margins for all treatments including the control. However, Serenut 2 posted negative gross margins across all treatments while Etesot had negative gross margins for the control and at 4.37 kg P ha-1plus FYM. The optimum combination of fertilizer occurred at8.73 kg P ha-1 for red beauty and 4.37 kg P ha-1+ 2 t FYM for Serenut 3, suggesting that blanket recommendations of ISFM interventions on groundnuts irrespective of variety, are not advisable owing to different varietal responses to ISFM interventions, different production costs and price of the groundnuts.
Influence of Access to Land and Finances on Kenyan Youth Participation in Agriculture: A Review
(European Centre for Research Training and Development UK, 2014-09) Njeru, Lucy K.; Gichimu, Bernard M.
The Kenya Government prioritized the development of the agricultural sector to achieving the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of sustainable food production. Kenya’s strategic plan, Vision 2030 positions agriculture as a key driver for delivering a 10% annual economic growth and is expected to have an average growth rate of 7% by 2015. Agriculture contributes over 80% of all employment opportunities in the country, but Kenyan youths are not taking advantage of these opportunities since 64% of them are unemployed. To advance the 7% average growth rate, it is pertinent that the Kenyan youth be fully involved in agricultural development. However, agriculture is perceived unattractive to the youth and its potential has not been fully realized. The purpose of this review is to find out the influence of land and finances on youth participation in agriculture and to identify the interventions that can make agriculture attractive to the youth in Kenya. This information will be useful to the government, the farming community, agriculturalists, policy makers and non-governmental organisations in laying strategies that will make agriculture attractive to the youth. This will subsequently enhance youth participation in agriculture resulting in increased food production, employment creation and income generation for the youth. Engaging the youth in agricultural activities will contribute in reducing crime and other social problems attributed to the youth.
Influence of Kenyan Youth’s Perception towards Agriculture and Necessary Interventions; a Review
(Science Domain, 2015) Njeru, Lucy K.; Gichimu, Bernard M.
Approximately 64% of unemployed persons in Kenya are youth, most of which live in rural areas and lacks formal education and vocational or professional skills. In spite of this, youth participation in agriculture has been relatively low in the country. This may be partly attributed to, among other factors, thepoor perception of the youth on agriculture. Agriculture which is basically a ruraloriented sector remains the backbone of the Kenya’s economy contributing over 30% of GDP. The sector provides over 80% of employment opportunities in the country but remains unattractive to the youth. This implies that most of the Kenyan youth are not fully engaged in productive economic activities which put their dependency index quite high. If the perception of youth towards agriculture is not changed, they will remain a big burden to the society and to their families in particular. There are various activities along the agriculture value chain which the youths can engage in to ensure their self-reliance and create employment thus reducing youth-related social problems and improving national economic growth and self-sufficiency. The paper seeks to analyze and discuss the influence of Kenyan youth’s perception towards agriculture and required interventions. This information will be useful in developing policies that will make agriculture attractive to the youth.
Influence of Youth Access to Farm Products Markets on Their Participation in Agriculture in Kajiado North Sub-County
(European Centre for Research Training and Development UK, 2015-10) Njeru, Lucy K.; Mwangi, John Gowland
Agriculture in Kenya has great untapped potential for providing employment opportunities for youth that would enable them exploit their creativity, economic innovation and access to agricultural product markets in order to spur faster national economic growth. Reducing cereal importation in Kenya through local investment and expanding of markets for agricultural products can effectively create youth employment. A number of youth took part in agriculture in Kajiado North Sub- County with maize being the most preferred crop while poultry keeping the most preferred livestock activity by youth The influence of youth access to markets for agricultural products on their participation in agriculture in Kajiado North SubCounty was poorly understood and hence the need for this study, which used a cross-sectional design to collect data from 397 randomly, selected youth and 22 youth and agricultural officers. Content validity of the youth and agricultural officers’ questionnaires was ascertained by extension experts while reliability was determined through a pilot test involving 30 respondents. The reliability coefficient were 0.86α and 0.80α respectively, which were above the 0.70 threshold for acceptable reliability. The results showed a statistically significant positive relationship (r=.330, p=.01) between youth access to markets and their participation in agriculture. It also showed that youth access to markets influenced their participation in agriculture with 57.4% of the respondents indicating that poor infrastructures and limited knowledge on market prices reduced their access to markets for agricultural commodities. Youth with easy access to markets for their products had higher participation rates in agricultural activities than those with minimal access to markets. The government and other actors should support formation of organizations that can give youth the necessary bargaining power to interact on equal terms with other market actors in order to reduce transaction costs through economies of scale when buying inputs and selling produce.
Resolving Conflicts using Indigenous Institutions: A Case Study of Njuri-Ncheke of Ameru, Kenya
(2016-06) Mburugu, Kirema N.; Macharia, David
The history of conflict is as old as human history. From the dawn of human history, communities have been competing for control of resources and for dominance. These competitions inevitably led individuals as well as social, political, economic, and religious groups to conflicts. It is true that conflict has devastating effects and it is unwanted. It is also true that conflict is unavoidable and it continuous to occur. Conflict is a natural phenomenon in human society except that the approach to its perceptiveness, nature and management vary from society to society. Even the patterns and phases of conflict vary from community to community. Since the causes of conflict are different, it would be better to use different mechanisms for the prevention and resolution of conflicts. This study sought to assess the role of indigenous institutions in promoting sustainable peace in Kenya. The study aimed at exploring the methods used by indigenous institutions in conflict resolution, their achievements, constraints and how to strengthen their role in promoting sustainable peace in the country. A case study of Njuri Ncheke Council of elders of Ameru was taken. The Council has its headquarters at Nchiru market about 13 kilometres from Meru Town. Njuri Ncheke has a membership of approximately five thousand elders who are spread in the current two Meru counties, that is Meru and Tharaka/Nithi counties. Johan Galtung’s conflict theory and analysis that seeks to understand the root causes of conflicts, structure and dynamics of conflicts and its actors with an aim of suggesting possible resolution strategies was used. It reflects the general theory that violence is inevitable and the aim of peace action should therefore be preventing, managing, limiting and overcoming violence. The study used descriptive survey design and research instruments used were questionnaires and interview schedule. Descriptive statistics were used to present the findings of the study. The study revealed that Njuri-Ncheke is involved in conflict resolution and promotion of peace in Meru community. Most of the conflicts are resolved at Njuri-Ncheke houses with only intra NjuriNcheke disputes and appeals getting handled at Njuri-Ncheke headquarters. The conflict resolution methods used by Njuri-Ncheke council of elders included determination of cases, oathing, counseling, peace crusades, dialogue and instilling discipline among community members.
Influence of Organisational Structure on Implementation of Electronic Project Monitoring Information System in Public Tertiary Institutions in Kenya
(2016-06) Mburugu, Kirema N.; Mulwa, Angeline S.; Kyalo, Dorothy N.
The purpose of this article is to explore the influence of organisational structure on implementation of electronic project monitoring information system (e-ProMIS) in public tertiary institutions. It is based on literature review and filed research by employing crosssectional survey research design. Questionnaire was used to collect data from 30 tertiary institutions and a sample size of 162 members of staff selected through stratified random sampling technique. Null hypothesis was tested using regression analysis at 0.05 confidence interval. The results indicate that all the three types of structure: formalization; complexity; and centralization were statistically significant with coefficients (β=0.238, t=3.167, p=0.002<0.05), (β=0.204, t=2.777, p=0.006<0.05) and (β=0.317, t=4.574, p=0.000<0.05) respectively. Specifically one unit change in implementation of e-ProMIS was associated with 23.8% changes in formalization structure, 20.4% changes in complexity structure and 31.7% change in centralization structure. The overall F statistics was (3,158) = 23.760 at level of significance p = 0.000<0.05 suggesting that there was a statistically significant relationship between organisational structure and implementation of electronic project monitoring information system in public tertiary institutions in Kenya. These study findings imply that for successful implementation of e-ProMIS and other e-government systems, organisational structure is imperative. In this era of digital systems public and private institutions that intend to implement ICT based technologies should ensure that their organisations adopted the right structure that is well aligned to supporting e-government systems.
An Analysis of The Impact of Agro-Ecological Zones on The Influence of The Key Factors That Affect Food Security: The Case of The Embu County in Kenya
(2017-08) Ndirangu, Samuel N.; Mbogoh, Stephen G.; Mbatia, Oliver L.E.
This paper is based on the results of a study that was carried out to determine the impact of agro-ecological zones (AEZs) on the influence of the key factors that affect household food security through a case study in the Embu County of Kenya. The Embu County was chosen for a case study because it is endowed with most of the various types of AEZs found in Kenya. The three agro-ecological zones covered in the case study were the Sunflower-Zone (UM 4 and LM 3), the Coffee Zone (UM 1-3) and the Tea Zone (LH 1-2), based on [1] categorization of the AEZs in Kenya. The study analyzed and evaluated the food security data collected from 384 farm-households which had randomly been selected from the three AEZs in the Embu County using a 4-stage cluster sampling method. Household caloric acquisition method was used to compute a household food security index (HFSI) that was used to measure the household food security status. Previous studies had established that the key factors that influence food security in Kenya include farm size, access to and use of modern technologies in farming, access to agricultural extension services, farm household size, age and education level (literacy) for the head of household and household dependency ratio. This study found that the AEZs had a significant impact on the effects of the key factors that influence household food security in Kenya. The effect of farm size on food security was found to be positive in the Sunflower and Tea zones, but not in the Coffee Zone. Technology adoption was found to have a significant effect on food security in the Sunflower and Coffee Zones, but not in the Tea Zone. Access to agricultural extension was found to have a significant effect on food security in the Coffee and Tea zones, but not in the Sunflower Zone. Household size was found to have a significant effect on food security in the Sunflower and Coffee zones, but not in the Tea Zone. The dependency ratio was found to have a significant effect on food security in the Coffee and Tea Zones but not in the Sunflower Zone. The age of the household head and/or wife was found to have a significant effect on food security in the Tea Zone, but not in the Coffee and Sunflower Zones. The level of education for the head of the household was found to have a significant effect on food security in the Sunflower Zone but not in the Coffee and Tea Zones. On the basis of the study findings, it is concluded that the effects of the factors that influence food security vary by the AEZs. Therefore, AEZ-specific measures are recommended to enhance household food security in different areas of Kenya.
Effects of Land Fragmentation on Food Security in Three Agro-ecological Zones of Embu County in Kenya
(2017-08) Ndirangu, Samuel N.; Mbogoh, Stephen G.; Mbatia, O. L. E.
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, using the 4-stage cluster sampling method. The AEZs were the Sunflower-Cotton Zone, the Coffee Zone and the Tea Zone, based on the official AEZs classification system in Kenya. Household caloric acquisition method was used to compute a household food security index (HFSI) that was used to measure the household food security status. The effect of farm size on food security was evaluated using the Binary Logit Regression method. The results showed that the average number of people in a household was 3.73 in the Tea Zone, 3.59 in the Coffee Zone and 3.93 in the Sunflower Zone, and that farm size had a positive and significant effect on food securityin the Sunflower (P=.029) and Tea zones (P=.007), but not in the Coffee Zone (P=.365). Further, it was found that the minimum farm-size that could ensure the attainment of the minimum (cut-off) point for household food security (HFSI = 1) was above 2 ha in the Sunflower Zone and 0.5 ha in the Tea Zone. Based on the study findings, it is recommended that further fragmentation of farms below 0.5 ha in the Coffee and Tea zones and 2 ha in the Sunflower Zone should be discouraged to ensure sustainable food security in the study area. For the farms that are already below the minimum cut-off size for food security, measures to increase these farms’ productivities so that they can support more people per ha should be devised and implemented.
Organizational Culture and Implementation of Electronic Project Monitoring Information System in Public Tertiary Institutions in Kenya
(2017-09) Mburugu, Kirema N.; Mulwa, Angeline S.; Kyalo, Dorothy N.
This article highlights the influence of organisational culture on implementation of electronic project monitoring information system (e-ProMIS) in public tertiary institutions. It is based on literature review and field research by employing cross sectional descriptive survey and correlational research design. Data was collected using questionnaire from 30 tertiary institutions and a sample size of 162 members of staff selected through stratified random sampling technique. To ensure validity and reliability of the questionnaire, pretesting was conducted. Data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study findings indicated that majority of the Tertiary institutions in Kenya practiced bureaucratic culture followed by innovative culture then supportive culture. Correlational results using Pearson’s Product Moment Technique indicated positive and significant coefficients between the indicators of organisational culture and implementation of e-ProMIS in the public tertiary institutions in Kenya. The test of hypothesis showed a statistically significant relationship between organisational culture and implementation of electronic project monitoring information system in public tertiary institutions in Kenya. Based on the research findings the null hypothesis that organisational culture has no significant influence on the implementation of Electronic Project Monitoring Information System in Public Tertiary Institutions in Kenya was rejected and it was conclude that organisational culture has a statistically significant influence on the implementation of Electronic Project Monitoring Information System in Public Tertiary Institutions in Kenya. These study findings imply that for successful implementation of e-ProMIS and other egovernment systems, organisational culture is imperative.
Evaluation of the Elasticity of Farm Output among Smallholder Farmers in Selected Agro-Ecological Zones of Embu County, Kenya
(2018-07) Ndirangu, Samuel N.; Mbogoh, Stephen G.; Mbatia, O. L. E.
Aims: Low and declining levels of crop and livestock productivities in the Kenyan agriculture have been attributed to the low application of the key farm inputs. Measures to encourage application of farm inputs with the highest effect on farm output in a given agro-ecological zone (AEZs) have been hampered by lack of adequate and reliable research-based information to guide the choices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the elasticity of farm output for some selected farm inputs across three different agro-ecological zones (AEZs) in Kenya, using data collected from Embu County in Eastern Kenya as a case study. Place and Duration of Study: The sample was collected from three agro-ecological zones, namely Sunflower, Coffee and Tea zones, in Embu county, Eastern Kenya between June 2015 and November 2016. Methodology: The data was collected from a sample comprising 384 farms that were randomly selected using multi-stage stratified sampling employing probability proportionate to size sampling procedures. A stochastic log-linearized Cobb-Douglas production function was used to estimate the elasticity of output for the key factors of production. Results: The elasticity of farm output for labour was found to be significant and positive in the Sunflower (p=.000), Coffee (p=.000) and Tea (p=.000) zones. The elasticity of farm output for fertilizer was significant and positive in the Sunflower (p=.02) and Tea (p=.01) zones. It was only in the Sunflower (p=.01) Zone where the elasticity of farm output for land was found to be significant. Conclusion: The study recommended that measures be put in place to increase labour usage in the three agro-ecological zones. The study also recommended for increased fertilizer usage in the Sunflower and Tea zones.
Determinants of smallholders farmers' participation in collective marketing of maize in the central highlands of Kenya
(African Journal of Rural Development, 2019-06-30) Mogaka, Hezron; Mugwe, Jayne; Ayieko, David, M; Bett, Eric, k
Collective marketing has been proposed as a solution to the problem of poor access to markets in developing nations. However, smallholders’ market participation is still limited. This study assessed farmers’ perception of the benefits and challenges in collective marketing, and identified the determinants of smallholder farmers’ participation in collective marketing of maize from 126 households in the central highlands of Kenya. Logistic regression model was used to analyze factors explaining farmers’ participation in collective marketing. The key benefits of collective marketing were better prices and low cost of inputs, while the main challenges were poor infrastructure, disagreement among members and lack of credit. Gender of household head, years of farming experience, training on market information search, keeping records, ability to search market information, marketing group size, extension contact frequency and group meeting frequency were significantly associated with farmers participation in collective marketing. Participation in collective marketing could be improved by targeting women already organized in groups, offering training to households on record keeping, enhanced extension contacts, improving marketing group operations and searching for markets.

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