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Pineapple farming is among the fastest-growing agricultural sub-sectors in Homa Bay County, Kenya specifically Rangwe sub-county. However, limited attention has been given to the market access of this produce. Evidenced by vast quantities of pineapples harvested from the farms and stacked along main highways without targeting a specific market. This result to a small portion being sold and the rest deteriorating, consequently reducing returns for pineapple agripreneurs. Therefore, this paper sought to determine those factors that influences access to formal market by pineapple agripreneurs and as well as find out challenges of and opportunities for accessing formal markets by the Rangwe pineapple agripreneurs. The survey was undertaken in Rangwe Sub-county, and multisampling method was used to select a sample of 183 pineapple agripreneurs from the study area, primary data was collected using a semi-structured survey tool. Data was analyzed by descriptive analysis and Logistic regression model. Results indicated that pineapple agripreneurs were faced with numerous challenges in accessing pineapple market, also there existed several market access opportunities for pineapple agripreneurs. The results of logistic regression analysis revealed extension contacts, education level and price of pineapple as factors that were positively and statistically significant in influencing access to formal markets. While those that were statistically and negatively influencing access to formal market comprised of; age of household head, household size, and type of road. The study recommends; improvement of road infrastructure in pineapple producing areas so as to improve on their market access; development of policies that encourages capacity building of pineapple agripreneurs in Rangwe sub-county

Research background: In Kenya, maize production has been severely constrained by parasitic pests and weeds such as Striga, stem borer, and fall armyworm. The government of Kenya and its partners have developed, disseminated, and promoted the continual uptake of integrated pest management technologies such as Push-Pull technology (PPT) as a way of addressing these constraints. Understanding the effect of these technologies on smallholder livelihoods is crucial, however, it is largely ignored in the literature. Purpose of the article: This study evaluates the effect of continual uptake of PPT as an integrated pest management technology on livelihood outcomes of small-scale maize producers in Homa Bay County. Methods: A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a sample of 240 respondents. Cross-sectional data were gathered through face-to-face interviews using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire, and analysed using descriptive statistics and propensity score matching models. Findings & Value added: Findings were that age, education level, total land owned, perception on Striga weed, stem borer, and fall armyworm severity, and land tenure positively influenced continual uptake of PPT, whereas the distance to nearest administrative centre was negatively associated with it. Propensity score matching results revealed that continual uptake of PPT had a positive and significant effect on household consumption expenditure and household dietary diversity, with a negative impact on poverty. The study, therefore, recommended policies that will ensure efficiency, literacy development, extension training, and resource availability among PPT non-adopters and dis-adopters to the level of the PPT continuous users.

Micro Agri-enterprises (MAEs) play a key role in economic development of Kenya. However, without finance they need to invest, their performance is stifled. Table banking (TB) strategy is an avenue through which MAE owners pool finances together, access credit and business development services. The study objective was to determine factors influencing utilization of table banking loans among MAE owners participating in table banking in Bomet County. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a sample of 382 MAE owners who borrowed long-term loans between 2015 and 2016 from TB groups promoted by Joyful women organization (JoyWO). Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data. Utilization of TB loans was measured by the amount of TB loan invested in MAE to the total amount of loan borrowed from TB within the study period. Two-limit Tobit model was used to analyse data. Entrepreneurship training received from TB program officers was found to have a positive and significant influence on utilization of TB loans. Location of agri-enterprise, agri-enterprise age and size were other factors found to influence utilization of TB loans positively and significantly. However, gender of MAE owners was found to have a negative and significant influence on utilization of TB loans. To boost utilization of table banking loans among MAE owners, table banking programme officers should tailor entrepreneurship and agribusiness trainings to meet the specific needs required by MAEs owners operating at different stages in the agricultural value chain. This is an open-access article published and distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License of United States unless otherwise stated. Access, citation and distribution of this article is allowed with full recognition of the authors and the source.

Smallholder farmers are excluded from efficient and effective participation in high-value agro-food market chains due to major competitiveness constraints and several market failures along these chains. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the competitiveness of smallholder farmers in a more coordinated and sustainable way that promote their effective and efficient participation in high-value agro-food market chains. In particular, the study aims at determining the main role of households’ capitals, institutional, and access-related factors in conditioning the decision of smallholder farmers of African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) to access pillars of competitiveness in high-value market chains (HVMCs). For this purpose, a unique household-level data from a total of 1232 rural and peri-urban AIV-producing households were surveyed, and the data obtained were analysed by using a multivariate probit model. The results suggest that about two thirds of smallholder AIV farmers had access to at least one pillar of competitiveness in HVMCs. The model results show the presence of inter-dependency of household level decisions to access multiple pillars of competitiveness in HVMCs. Furthermore, the results also reveal that coping with shocks, coupled with access to information on market prices and warnings of unexpected events, contract farming, certification and modern irrigation technologies are the main conditioning factors to the access of the pillars of competitiveness by smallholder farmers. The promotion and implementation of a well-founded mobile phone-based information access platforms, as well as effective and efficient livelihood strategies that support smallholder farmers to access pillars of competitiveness, is of critical importance towards overcoming the major competitiveness constraints along high-value agro-food chains.

The tea industry plays a key role in the agriculture sector and the economy at large with tea output contributing about 11% of the agriculture sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product. Like many other crops in Kenya, tea is produced both on small and large-scale basis. Smallholder farmers in Kenya make a significant contribution to the industry producing 61% of the total national production and with 66% of tea acreage. Formal market outlets are more profitable than informal ones. However, small tea agri enterprises in Nandi County prefer selling their unprocessed tea to informal market outlets. Empirical evidence on what motivates these agri-enterprises to sell most of their tea to these outlets is scanty. The main objective of this study was to compare the profitability of formal and informal market outlets for unprocessed tea in Nandi County. Multistage sampling procedure was employed and 384 respondents interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using gross margin analysis. Formal market outlets are more beneficial because of higher gross margin rate of 12.71% compared to informal market outlets having the gross margin rate of 1.08%.The findings are helpful in guiding smallholder tea farmers in information on the most profitable and efficient market outlets and informing policy makers on how to improve the efficiency of market outlets. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-22-10 Publication date: November 30 th 2020

Multiple sources of income are important strategies for reducing smallholder farmer liquidity constraints and over dependency on single income source. However, farmers in Southern Mali, especially Malian high agricultural potential region are still faced with liquidity constraints resulting from low income from cash crop (cotton) production. Therefore, this study was carried out to understand the factors that motivate farmers’ decision to engage in several income-generating activities. Cross-sectional data were collected from 134 randomly sampled smallholder farmers from three villages in different agro-ecological zones in Southern Mali. Multivariate probit (MVP) regression model was used to estimate the effect of socioeconomic and institutional factors on farmer participation in different sources of farm income. Correlation analysis showed that there is a significant correlation between the different income sources. Results from the econometric model revealed that the age of the family head determines the probability of farmers' participating in multiple sources of incomes, family size, dependency ratio, land tenure, education level, access to agricultural credit and extension services, cash crop income, off-farm income, input prices, agricultural output prices, and rural infrastructure. These results imply that policymakers and agricultural development programs should target strengthening of institutions as well as enhancement of farmers’ access to productive resources.

Sustainable intensification promotes environmentally sound and productive agriculture. However, use of sustainable intensification practices (SIPs) is low in many sub-Sharan African countries. This study examined the adoption of SIPs in Kenyan rural and peri-urban vegetable production to understand the scale of and underlying factors in the use of SIPs. A multistage sampling technique was employed to randomly select 685 rural and peri-urban vegetable farm households. Household data was then collected and anaylsed for four practices namely improved irrigation, integrated soil fertility, organic manure and crop diversification using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. A multivariate probit model was run to model simultaneous interdependent adoption decisions. Adoption of organic manure and African indigenous vegetables (AIV) diversification was high in both rural and peri-urban areas. However, adoption of improved irrigation systems and integrated soil fertility management was low, and even significantly lower in rural areas than in peri-urban areas (p < 0.041). Similarly, adoption intensity of SIPs was lower in rural areas than in peri-urban areas. Furthermore, the findings also show complementarities and substitutabilities between SIPs. Market integration, the farm location and household income were the major factors heavily influencing the adoption of most SIPs. Policies and programmes that seek to build household financial capital base and integrate farm households into effective and efficient vegetable markets need to be formulated and implemented in order to enhance adoption of SIPs in AIV production.

Purpose Understanding farmers’ perceptions of how the climate is changing is vital to anticipating its impacts. Farmers are known to take appropriate steps to adapt only when they perceive change to be taking place. This study aims to analyse how African indigenous vegetable (AIV) farmers perceive climate change in three different agro-climatic zones (ACZs) in Kenya, identify the main differences in historical seasonal and annual rainfall and temperature trends between the zones, discuss differences in farmers’ perceptions and historical trends and analyse the impact of these perceived changes and trends on yields, weeds, pests and disease infestation of AIVs. Design/methodology/approach Data collection was undertaken in focus group discussions (FGD) (N = 211) and during interviews with individual farmers (N = 269). The Mann–Kendall test and regression were applied for trend analysis of time series data (1980-2014). Analysis of variance and least significant difference were used to test for differences in mean rainfall data, while a chi-square test examined the association between farmer perceptions and ACZs. Coefficient of variation expressed as a percentage was used to show variability in mean annual and seasonal rainfall between the zones. Findings Farmers perceived that higher temperatures, decreased rainfall, late onset and early retreat of rain, erratic rainfall patterns and frequent dry spells were increasing the incidences of droughts and floods. The chi-square results showed a significant relationship between some of these perceptions and ACZs. Meteorological data provided some evidence to support farmers’ perceptions of changing rainfall. No trend was detected in mean annual rainfall, but a significant increase was recorded in the semi-humid zone. A decreasing maximum temperature was noted in the semi-humid zone, but otherwise, an overall increase was detected. There were highly significant differences in mean annual rainfall between the zones. Farmers perceived reduced yields and changes in pest infestation and diseases in some AIVs to be prevalent in the dry season. This study’s findings provide a basis for local and timely institutional changes, which could certainly help in reducing the adverse effects of climate change. Originality/value This is an original research paper and the historical trends, farmers’ perceptions and effects of climate change on AIV production documented in this paper may also be representative of other ACZs in Kenya.

Smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) seek to improve their livelihood through diversification of crops, livestock production systems and non-farm activities. This study was conducted in the cotton growing areas in Mali, which constitutes the major agricultural production zone in Mali. This study examines crops diversification strategies and identifies the main factors that influence diversification strategies. Cross-sectional data were obtained from 134 selected randomly smallholder farmers in three villages drawn from different agro-ecological zones in Southern Mali. A multinomial logistics (MNL) regression model was used to estimate the main factors that determine diversification strategies of smallholder farmers. Results from MNL model revealed that the age of family head, education level, family size, oxen ownership, farm income per capita and crop pest significantly influenced families’ participation in the four diversification strategies. Policy interventions should be employed to encourage and promote profit-oriented activities through diversification strategies. Institutional interventions should be implemented to increase smallholder farmers access to inputs and both agricultural and non-agricultural credit.

Farm households in developing countries are faced with various challenges one of which is occurrence of unexpected negative events namely shocks. Shocks could be caused by extreme adverse natural events (droughts, storms, flood, and landslides) and market-related events (fuel, food, input and output price fluctuations, volatilities and price hikes). Most of these shocks affect production systems, food markets and local economies, all of which have direct effects on food security. This study explores the prevalence of shocks among indigenous vegetable farmers in Kenya followed by an assessment of the type of coping strategies in response to these shocks. We find that over two thirds of farmers have coping strategies that are not based on market-related insurance mechanisms; rather they use strategies such as working for more hours and selling assets. We analyze which socioeconomic and institutional factors determine households’ decision and extent of coping with shocks. The results showed that access to high-value markets and market information were the major factors informing their decision and extent of using coping strategies along with access to critical services such as credit, extension, and farmer groups. This has significant policy implications regarding the dissemination of information and promotion of credit markets through mobile phone-based platforms for easy accessibility in remote rural areas. Social capital should be encouraged because it acts as a necessary and sufficient conduit for information dissemination and mutual support to help farmers’ access critical services and resources needed for successful and sustainable implementation of relevant and appropriate coping strategies.

Summary This study evaluates the effect of certified organic production on poverty in smallholder production systems. Data was collected from cross sectional survey of local market-oriented peri-urban vegetable and rural honey producers in Kenya. Poverty was measured using the multidimensional poverty methodology and endogenous switching probit model used to assess the effect of certified organic production on multidimensional poverty. Findings were that certified producers were less likely to be multidimensional poor compared to their counterfactual case of not participating in organic certification schemes. Additionally, noncertified producers would be less likely to be poor if they were to participate in organic certification production.

Integration of crop and livestock production systems constitutes an important engine for agricultural development and enhancement of smallholder farmers' livelihoods in the least developed countries. For the last forty years, the Malian cotton sub-sector has recorded mixed growth trends, having been initially successful before declining and then catching up. The growth dynamics in the cotton sub-sector has permitted smallholder farmers to endow and improve their living condition. The purpose of this study was to establish smallholder farmers' dynamics of integrating crop and livestock production systems as well as classification of the systems and their trajectories. The study was carried out in different agro-ecological zones in Southern Mali. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the area of study. Stratified random sampling technique was then used to select 134 smallholder farming households from three villages. A panel datasets was used from the Malian Company of Textile Development (CMDT) from 1961 to 2014 and 1974 to 2014. Based on explanatory structure variables, principal component analysis (PCA) and ascending hierarchical classification (AHC) were used to distinguish smallholder farmers’ dynamics as well as classify them into different classes or groups. Five types of smallholder were distinguished. Type 1 was super large families representing 14% of the total smallholder farmers. Type 2 consists of large families, and constituted of 28% of the smallholder farmers. Type 3 consists of medium-sized families which represented 28% of the total smallholder farmers. Type 4 and type 5 were small and young families with 19 and 11% of smallholder farmers respectively. Notably, small family farming was low in Southern Mali, and so some agricultural options can be developed such as the milk and meat value chains among others. Key words: Dynamics, agricultural farming family, integrated crops and livestock, multivariate analysis, Southern-Mali.

This paper assesses adaptation pathways for smallholder African Indigenous Vegetable (AIV) value chains. The analysis is based on field research in three agro-climatic zones (ACZ) of Kenya as part of the interdisciplinary research project HORTINLEA (Horticultural Innovations and Learning for Improved Nutrition and Livelihood in East Africa). Data from the 2014 panel survey comprising 1232 households, of which 610 have been examined in more detail, complements the findings. As in many African countries, Kenya’s population will double by 2050 and food value chains will face huge challenges. AIVs, being rich in micronutrients (e.g. vitamins A and C, and iron), are relatively easy to grow within a short vegetation period. Hence they can be part of the solution to hidden hunger. AIVs’ share in vegetable area has almost doubled from 8 to 14% within three years, contributing to an increased income for smallholders, provided that production, transport and marketing function adequately. Most farmers suffer from the impacts of climate change. The household survey indicates that 67% are negatively affected by increasing variations in rainfall patterns, and 85% by changes in temperatures. Farmers need to adapt their farm-level management to climate change in order to cope with these challenges. Incremental adaptation strategies such as changing crop portfolios are relatively widespread. In contrast, adaptations that require transformative efforts are rare. Growing AIVs is itself considered an adaptation strategy, as their sensitivity to climate variability is generally low, as is analysed in great detail in this paper. Empowerment of growers to participate in high value and ecologically sustainable AIV value chains requires specific policies and extension in order to close the adaptation gaps of AIV smallholders.

Indigenous chicken serves many functions, which include the provision of meat and eggs for home consumption and income from sales. The purpose of this study was to estimate the consumers’ responsiveness to an increase in prices of the indigenous chicken products and how much they are willing to pay for them in the market. The survey was conducted in the selected three regions of Kenya. A total of 930 respondents were interviewed both in the urban and rural areas. Contingent valuation experiment was used in empirical data collection. The two-step Heckman selection model was utilised to analyse consumers decisions and the amount they were willing to pay. The study results revealed that consumers are willing to pay 23.26% per kg more for indigenous chicken meat and 41.53% for eggs. Socioeconomic factors like age, income, education and family size significantly determines consumers’ willingness to pay. Other important factors include the indigenous chicken meat substitutes’ prices, attributes like taste/flavour and the product’s form on purchase. The yolk colour and size of eggs determined the consumers’ willingness to pay. Preferences for indigenous chicken products were found to be high. This information will assist in understanding both the urban and rural consumer’s behaviour. Therefore, useful for the indigenous chicken producers, breeders, marketers and policy makers in developing efficient production and marketing strategies. This would also provide a means of improving food security and livelihoods of the rural poor indigenous chicken farmers.

This study intends to estimate the demand for indigenous chicken meat in Kenya, including other available meat products for comparison purposes. Data used was collected from six counties. A total 930 rural and urban households were sampled. Linear Approximated Almost Ideal Demand System (LA/AIDS) model was used to obtain the demand elasticities and to examine the socioeconomic and demographic factors influencing the meat budget shares. The results ascertain that the socio-demographic factors such as household location, the proportion of household members and the family size are important factors in explaining perceived variations in the consumption of meat products. Indigenous chicken meat, beef and mutton, were identified as necessities. Indigenous chicken meat and beef were identified as substitutes while indigenous chicken, goat and exotic chicken meats were complements. In view of the high expenditure elasticities, therefore, considering a policy option that would enhance consumer income is desirable, since it will result in high consumption thereby providing more incentives for production of meat products. The information generated would be more beneficial to the interest groups in the livestock sector as a whole. This would be utilised in the formulation of effective policies in line with food security and poverty alleviation.

The objective of this paper was to estimate the farmers� preferences based on the non-market traits in selection, breeding and conservation of indigenous chicken. The study was carried out in four selected counties of Kenya. Data were collected using structured questionnaires with the use of multi-attribute elicitation techniques applied to 450 rural households. Conjoint analysis through an ordered probit model was used to analyse the data. The study identified traits preferred by the farmers based on their current low-input production circumstances. Using these traits, indigenous chicken can be selected for higher productivity and performance while retaining their diversity and adaptability. In general, the determination of the importance of various attributes elucidates to the stakeholders some valuable aspects that would assist them in overcoming some of the major constraints of indigenous chicken production in rural areas and at the same time provides vital information for selection, conservation and development of breeding programmes.

This study evaluates the provision of services; veterinary services (VS), extension services (ES), marketing services (MS), performance recording (PR), monitoring and evaluation of dairy goat breeding activities (ME) and provision of water (WT) and determines the effectiveness of applying these services in dairy goat production systems in Kenya. A household survey was conducted with 311 farmers participating in three dairy goat projects (Dairy Goat Association of Kenya (DGAK), Higher Education Links-Egerton University Community Dairy Goats Project (HEL-EUCDGP) and Heifer Project International (HPI)) to assess farmers' willingness to pay for provision of these services. Ranking these services revealed that MS was the most important service in priority order for goat keepers. Farmers with and without experience were willing to pay significantly more for provision of VS. Variables such as satisfaction with project activities, system of production, social benefits, flock size, participation in the projects, farm visits, market linkage and information, and experiences on the services significantly influenced willingness to pay (WTP). The decision to pay or not was not necessarily affected by those not willing to pay because of the inter-linkage probabilities with the ability to pay. Projects should take a broader responsibility of providing these services or link farmers to agents to provide the services. The poor farmers should be supported in a cost-sharing manner to avoid undesirable practises or the services left to those who can afford to pay.

Lake Naivasha watershed is recognized for its contribution to Kenya’s national gross domestic product from the export of horticultural products. Commercial horticultural investment downstream depends mainly on the Lake’s water. The fresh water lake lacks surface outflow, and its recharge depends on river Malewa flowing from upper catchment in Aberdare ranges. However, unsustainable land use practices in the upper catchment has led to increasing sediment loading and pollution in river Malewa which affects water quality in the Lake downstream. Payment for Environmental Services (PES) scheme has been initiated as an alternative incentive approach to motivate upstream smallholder farmers adopt sustainable land use practices for conservation of watershed services. This paper analyzes willingness to accept pay (WTA) as proxy economic measure of environmental service (ES) value and determines socio-economic factors influencing farmers WTA for watershed conservation. We analyzed the WTA and characterized WTA underlying socio-economic determinants in two PES intervention sites in Kenya. The objective of this study was to estimate WTA and determine socio-economic factors influencing WTA. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 200 PES farmers through face-to-face interview. We applied contingent valuation (CV) and logistic regression for data analyses to elicit farmer’s WTA estimates to implement PES farm practices and determine socio-economic factors influencing WTA, respectively. Results revealed over 90 % of respondents were farmers and 60 % had primary level of education. Average household farm size was 2.305 acres and family size was six members on average. We recorded a monthly marginal household increase in gross income from Kshs. 6891.96 9 (US$68.92) before PES to Kshs. 11,011.48 (US$110.12) with PES interventions. The estimated annual lowest and highest WTA for PES farm practices were at Kshs. 8835 (US$88.35) for grass strip and Kshs. 21,847.500 (US$218.48) for fallowing. Household socio-economic characteristics had significant influence on WTA among farmers. The study revealed heterogeneity in WTA estimates among PES implementing farmers. The WTA reflects opportunity cost to farmers. We recommend PES mechanism as a policy tool to internalize negative watershed externalities to provide ecosystem services.