Factors Influencing Tobacco Production among Contracted Farmers in Kenya: A Case of Bungoma County

Author(s):  
Davies Muchuma

In Kenya tobacco is grown by about 20,000 small scale contracted and non-contracted farmers on over 15,000 hectares of land. Current annual production is estimated at 16,000 tons per year. Despite tobacco being grown intensively in some regions in Kenya, it is not a significant crop in terms of broader national agricultural production with recent government data indicating that it constitutes a mere 0.6% of total agricultural gross marketed production(Republic of Kenya 2015). Whereas contract farming has empirical validation on improving farmers’ income, there are production constraints that accompany it. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing tobacco production among contracted farmers in Kenya: A case of Bungoma County. The objective of the study was toestablish the extent to which demographic characteristics influence tobacco production among contracted farmers in Bungoma County. The study was built on the theory of economic efficiency. Both descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyze the factors influencing tobacco production. From a target population of 3000, a sample of 341 was selected. Semi-structured questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection. Content validity was measured through expert judgment while reliability measured by use of test re-test method and Karl Pearson’s co-efficient of correlation [r] determined from the two samples. The strong positive coefficient [r], greater than 0.7 was considered. The data obtained was analyzed using both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics and presented in tables. The study established that Educational level greatly influenced tobacco production with most of the farmers having attained only secondary education. Both age and gender had weak insignificant negative correlation with tobacco production.The study therefore recommends that farmers should prioritize education to equip them with necessary knowledge and skills to improve on-field tobacco management practices

Author(s):  
Tran Minh Hieu ◽  
Nguyen Duong Ngoc Mai Chi

This study applied SERVQUAL scale of Parasuraman et al to measure factors affecting customer satisfaction on service quality at Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank - An Giang Branch (Techcombank An Giang). The study was conducted to survey 207 customers who have been using the service at Techcombank An Giang. The survey results were analyzed by the Cronbach's Alpha reliability test method, then used Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to verify and evaluate the scale of service quality. The results of the regression analysis show that customer's satisfaction about service quality at Techcombank An Giang includes four factors: The factor with the highest level is the Empathy with Beta = 0.253, the second of factor is the Responsibility with Beta = 0.248, ranked third in the influence level is the Tangible with Beta = 0.235, and the lowest impact level is the Reliability with Beta = 0.144. The research also uses statistical methods to describe and test the differences of demographic factors with customer's satisfactionon service quality.The analysis results show that there is no difference between customer's satisfaction on service quality and factors such as gender, age, income, number of transaction banks, regular transaction banks, and time to use the service at Techcombank An Giang. Through the research results, the author would like to propose some ideas to improve the quality of services, thereby attracting new customers and importantly, keeping traditional customers because the development orientation of Techcombank is to take care of old customers to cross sell other products of the bank. The Stud results offer a basis for the branch to identify the factors influencing customer satisfaction on their service quality, thereby having an appropriate strategy to improve customer satisfaction.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 160-169
Author(s):  
Srimo Fernandas

In the economic growth of a country, the human factor plays a vital role. The study has been made to study the growth of small scale industries in the development of human resource management practices of in Thoothukudi district. The study has the following objectives. To study the socio-economic outline of the small scale industry owners. To understand the nature of management of the small-scale industry. To find out the motivational factors for starting small-scale industries. To analyse the average income generated by different activities by the small scale industry owners.


Coronaviruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olanrewaju Samson Olaitan ◽  
Olowoporoku Oluwaseun

Background: It is against the background of the emerging incidence of coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, and the need for its management that this study adapts gravity model for predicting the risk of the disease across states of the country. Methods: The paper relied on published government data on population, and gross domestic product, while the distance of town to the nearest international airport was also obtained. These data were log transformed and further used in the calculation of gravity scores for each state of the federation. Results: The study discovered that with the gravity score ranging from 2.942 to 4.437, all the states of the federation have the risk of being infected with the pandemic. Meanwhile Ogun State (4.837) has a very high risk of being infected with the disease. Other states with high risks are Oyo (4.312), Jigawa (4.235), Niger (4.148) and Katsina (4.083). However, Taraba State has the least infection risk of the pandemic in Nigeria. Factors influencing the risk level of the pandemic are proximity, porous boundary between states, and elitism. Conclusion: The paper advocates border settlement planning, review of housing standards, and advocacy for sanitation in different states. It therefore concludes that adequate urban planning in unison with economic and epidemiology techniques will provide a strong strategy for the management of the disease.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Nelly Jebitok ◽  
DR. Joyce Nzulwa

Purpose: The Purpose of the study was to establish Critical factors influencing implementation of road projects.Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population of the study was all the road engineers, middle managers in department of KRB. The sample size was 188 respondents. Data collected was cleaned, pretested, validated, and coded, summarized and analyzed using statistical package of SPSS V23.  The study findings were presented using graphs, histograms, bar charts and pie charts.  Conclusions were derived based on the P.value and the coefficient of determination.  Results: The study found that the key significant determinants of sustainability of water projects in Machakos County were capacity of the project management, government policies, monitoring and resource support. The study concluded that project management capacity had the greatest determinant ofsustainabilityofwater projects in Machakos County, followed by resource support, then monitoring while government policy had the least determinant of sustainability of water projects in Machakos County.Contribution to policy and practice: The study recommends that the government should advocate for proper planning with involvement of the benefiting community and timely implementation with the required results. This can be done through making of a policy by the ministry demanding for the practice of the same by the involved organizations. The project committee should set up financial structures considering both rising of funds and dissemination of the same in relation to operating and maintaining of the project. This can be done through learning and training on the same. The study also recommended that water beneficiaries and management should be sensitized to improve their knowledge on conservation and protection of water facilities.


2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 1758-1767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven W Purcell ◽  
Watisoni Lalavanua ◽  
Brian R Cullis ◽  
Nicole Cocks

Abstract Understanding the income and costs of fishing is fundamental to managing fisheries and planning interventions to improve efficiency and gender equity. Few studies offer data on fisher incomes and fuel use in small-scale fisheries (SSFs), and fewer have assessed factors influencing variation among fishers and between genders. We interviewed 235 artisanal fishers among 34 island villages in an artisanal sea cucumber fishery in Fiji. Linear mixed models were used to determine the effect of geographic and socioeconomic variables on incomes and fuel use from fishing sea cucumbers. Net income of sea cucumbers to fishers, averaging FJ$8, 171 year−1 (US$4, 494 year−1) (range: FJ$0–52,008 year−1), varied among villages and was 47% lower for women than men. On an average, 60% of fishers’ gross annual income came from fishing and selling sea cucumbers, although this proportion varied greatly even within villages. Fishers who practised gleaning, fished less often, or possessing numerous livelihood income streams, were less economically dependent on sea cucumbers. Men tended to estimate higher incomes for an average day of fishing than women when compared with their recall of last sale. Fuel use varied greatly among regions in Fiji but, overall, averaged 428 L fisher−1 year−1, and represented 28% of gross income. More economical fishing strategies by women resulted in lower fuel use than men per fishing day. Breath-hold divers used less fuel (compared to fishers using scuba) and fishers targeting deep-water species used more fuel than other fishers. A best approximation of 8000 t CO2 year−1 for the carbon footprint of the whole fishery suggests that some SSFs, such as the one studied here, can be significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, even compared to many large-scale fisheries globally. Reforms to the management of SSFs should consider regulations that minimize carbon emissions and reduce economic dependency on vulnerable marine resources.


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