scholarly journals Assessing Smallholder Farmer's Participation in the Wheat Value Chain in North-West Mt. Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Mwangi ◽  
Samuel Owuor ◽  
Boniface Kiteme ◽  
Markus Giger
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Bargaining Power ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
High Yield ◽  
North West ◽  
Budget Analysis ◽  
Gross Margins

Wheat is the second most important carbohydrate staple in Kenya and is produced by both smallholder and large-scale farmers. Smallholders are the majority, but produce <20% of the total national production. Compared to large-scale farmers, they have been considered to be less efficient producers and thus fail to benefit fully from their participation in the wheat value chain. This study aims at establishing the value accruing to smallholder and large-scale farmers participating in wheat production in north-west Mt. Kenya. For comparative purposes and to explore the potential of smallholder farmers, a sample of 58 smallholder and seven large-scale farmers was selected for the study. We use budget analysis to determine the gross output, cost of production and gross margins attained by the smallholder and large-scale farmers. Further, an analysis of constraints to productivity is done to establish the factors hindering farmers from reaching high yield potential. Results of the study show that smallholder farmers obtain lower yields, have higher costs of production per bag of wheat and lower gross margins compared to large-scale farmers. High cost of inputs, low market prices, low bargaining power, high cost of machinery services, diseases and weeds were among factors excluding smallholder farmers from benefitting from their participation in the value chain. However, results also show that smallholder farmers can produce wheat profitably albeit with necessary support. Thus, interventions should consider these constraints and aim at improving smallholder farmers' horizontal and vertical integration in the value chain. We recommend continued investment in research and development on wheat, adoption of climate resilient agricultural practices, improvements in the fertilizer subsidy programme and creating or increasing participation in producer groups that will provide possibilities of increased bargaining power and reduction of costs through improved access to machinery services, markets and credit.

scholarly journals Linking Household Food Security and Food Value Chains in North West Mt. Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 4999
Author(s):  
Veronica Mwangi ◽  
Samuel Owuor ◽  
Boniface Kiteme ◽  
Markus Giger ◽  
Johanna Jacobi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
North West ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food Value

Smallholder farmers and pastoralists produce the largest proportion of food consumed in sub-Saharan Africa. However, they remain among the food insecure populations. This paper explores the food (in)security among smallholder farmers and pastoralists using a sample of 175 households in three agro-food value chains of wheat, dairy, and beef in the north-west Mt. Kenya region. The study seeks to answer if a farmer’s participation in a particular agro-food value chain determines his/her food security situation. We use the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and two Poisson regression models, parsimonious and full, to assess the household food security status and determinants of food security among the smallholder farmers and pastoralists. The results show that 61% of the households were either mildly, moderately, or severely food insecure. Households in the beef value chain experienced relatively higher incidences of food insecurity compared to households in the wheat and dairy value chains. The HFIAS scores revealed a wide gap between households with minimum and maximum score. Household size, income and income-related variables (ability to save and borrow to meet family needs), transport assets, membership in farmers’ associations, and household energy were significant in determining household food security, while access to credit and to extension services was not. Strategies that focus on boosting smallholder farmers’ incomes, building strong and resilient farmers associations to improve inclusive and equitable value chains have the potential to get smallholder farmers out of recurrent food insecurity.

scholarly journals An Investigation of the Tender Nut Potential of Diverse Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Varieties/Forms in Sri Lanka

CORD ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
S.A.C.N. Perera ◽  
G.K. Ekanayake ◽  
H.M.N.B. Herath
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cocos Nucifera ◽  
Export Market ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Management Guidance ◽  
Nut Production ◽  
Cocos Nucifera L

There is a rising demand in the world for coconut water as a healthy natural beverage. Different coconut varieties are used in different countries to be processed as a natural drink. The coconut form “King coconut” has long been used in Sri Lanka as the ideal coconut variety for this purpose. However, with the expansion in the local and export beverage coconut market, the supply does not meet with the demand at present. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify potential coconut varieties/forms mainly relating to the yield of beverage. The study was conducted in the main coconut triangle and Southern Sri Lanka. Eleven coconut forms, namely, King coconut and Bothal thembili in the variety Aurantiaca, Red, Yellow, Green and Brown dwarf and Murusi in the variety Nana, Bodiri, Dothalu, and Sri Lanka tall. These are included in the variety Typica along with Nipol, which is a natural hybrid being identified to be suitable as beverage coconuts. Out of them the yielding ability was high in King coconut, Red dwarf and Yellow dwarf while Bodiri, Nipol and Dothalu fared well. Many coconut forms suitable for beverage purpose were observed to be having seasonality in nut production. Ensuring adequate soil fertility and prevention of water deficit over prolonged periods were observed to help sustain yield and reduce seasonality in bunch emission. There were no large scale plantations for beverage coconuts in Sri Lanka, and the entire collection was from home gardens and very small scale holdings. It is recommended to establish medium scale holdings with coconut forms having high yield potential as identified in the current study, with proper management guidance to ensure a steady supply of beverage coconuts to the local as well as export market.

scholarly journals Large Scale Demo Plot Trial Project of Potash Fertilization for Increased Yield and Profitability for Smallholder Soybean Fields in India

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-170
Author(s):  
Joachim B. Nachmansohn ◽  
Patricia Imas ◽  
Surinder K. Bansal
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Soil Testing ◽  
Yield Increase ◽  
K Fertilization

Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, in spite of concerned efforts towards industrialization in the last three decades. Therefore, the soil quality and fertility are the major factors in crop production. Declining soil fertility is one of the primary factors that directly affect crop productivity, and fertilizer-use is a key factor in order to keep soil fertility and productivity. A major factor in declining soil fertility is potassium (K) depletion, especially on smallholder farms where fertilization decisions are not based on regular soil testing. Most of the smallholder soybean producers do not have access and investment capacity to soil testing services. Therefore, there is a need to create K fertilizer recommendations based on empirically verified knowledge at India-specific scale. Such large-scale studies, in local filed conditions, are currently lacking. In order to bridge this gap, and generate proven set of directly applicable recommendations, a large-scale plot trial was launched; the Potash for Life (PFL) project. The study evaluated the K response in soybean when fertilizing with potash on K depleted soils in local variable field conditions. The aim was to (1) evaluate the effect and response consistency of K application on soybean yield, (2) to demonstrate to farmers the increased yield and profitability from K-inclusive fertilization regimes for this crop and give recommendations for transient yield increase, and (3) to raise the awareness among smallholder farmers about the importance of K fertilization. A comprehensive experiment was carried out in Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) and Maharashtra. The methodology was straight-forward; two identical plots side by side, with the only difference that one of them was fertilized with additional potash. The results showed a significant yield increase response from the potash application; the average yield increase was 244 kg ha-1 or 26 % in M.P., and 105 kg ha-1 or 36 % in Maharashtra. This entailed an average additional net profit of ₹ 6,681 INR ha-1 and ₹ 2,544 INR ha-1, in M.P. and Maharashtra respectively. It was concluded that the soil status of plant available K is significantly lower than the plant demand for soybean production in the two states, Consequently, K fertilization is necessary in order to improve agricultural practices and optimizing yields. Ultimately, following recommendations given in this study would allow farmers to generate additional profit, which could further allow them to invest in fine-tuning fertilizer practices through the means of soil testing.

scholarly journals Review of good agricultural practices for smallholder maize farmers to minimise aflatoxin contamination

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
F. Xu ◽  
R.C. Baker ◽  
T.B. Whitaker ◽  
H. Luo ◽  
Y. Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Good Agricultural Practices ◽  
Livestock Feed ◽  
Drought Tolerant

Maize is consumed world-wide as staple food, livestock feed, and industrial raw material. However, it is susceptible to fungal attack and at risk of aflatoxin contamination under certain conditions. Such contamination is a serious threat to human and animal health. Ensuring that the maize used by food industry meets standards for aflatoxin levels requires significant investment across the supply chain. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) form a critical part of a broader, integrated strategy for reduction of aflatoxin contamination. We reviewed and summarised the GAP of maize that would be effective and practicable for aflatoxin control within high-risk regions for smallholder farmers. The suggested practicable GAP for smallholder farmers were: use of drought-tolerant varieties; timely harvesting before physiological maturity; sorting to remove damaged ears and those having poor husk covering; drying properly to 13% moisture content; storage in suitable conditions to keep the crop clean and under condition with minimally proper aeration, or ideally under hermetic conditions. This information is intended to provide guidance for maize growers that will help reduce aflatoxin in high-risk regions, with a specific focus on smallholder farmers. Following the proposed guidelines would contribute to the reduction of aflatoxin contamination during pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest stages of the maize value chain.

Structural equation model of young farmers' intention to adopt sustainable agriculture: a case study in Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Apurbo Sarkar ◽  
Hongyu Wang ◽  
Airin Rahman ◽  
Jony Abdul Azim ◽  
Waqar Hussain Memon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Information ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Interpersonal Behavior ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
The Government

Abstract This paper aims to assess young farmers' willingness to adopt sustainable agriculture (SA) by implementing the expanded theory of planned behavior (TPB) within the northern region of Bangladesh. The outcomes attained specified that attitudes toward SA, perceived behavior control and perceived self-identity have progressive and fundamental impacts on adoption behavior and affect farmers' intentions to adopt SA's particular production mechanism. On the other hand, the social interface view toward SA is not significantly associated with the Bangladeshi farmer's adoption intention. The results also show that interconnections between social and familial pressure are not significant for sustainable farming practice adoption intentions. However, the interconnections among the psychosocial factors have a crucial role in formulating the TPB to forecast the intentional behavior for adopting SA practices. Thus, the government should highlight the advantages of several sustainable agricultural practices and circulate more detailed information regarding SA tactics to improve the knowledge gap of smallholder farmers. Furthermore, training facilities should be extended to improve the attitude and perceived self-identity of young farmers. Moreover, the formulation of structural information sharing platforms and agricultural value chain facilities should also help shape young farmers' interpersonal behavior in adopting SA practices.

Does contract farming improve smallholder income? The case of avocado farmers in Kenya

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercy Maiwa Mwambi ◽  
Judith Oduol ◽  
Patience Mshenga ◽  
Mwanarusi Saidi
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Contract Farming ◽  
Variable Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Market Opportunities ◽  
Household Farm

Purpose – Contract farming (CF) is seen as a tool for creating new market opportunities hence increasing incomes for smallholder farmers. Critics, however, argue that CF is likely to pass risks to small scale farmers, thus favouring large scale farmers at the expense of smallholder farmers. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of CF on smallholder farmers’ income using a case study of avocado farmers in Kandara district in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach – The study uses data collected from 100 smallholder avocado farmers in Kandara district in Kenya and employs an instrumental variable model (Probit-2SLS) to control for endogeneity in participation in the contract and examine the effect of CF on household, farm and avocado income. Findings – The results indicate that participation in CF is not sufficient to improve household, farm and avocado income. Question remains regarding efficient implementation of CF arrangements to promote spill over effects on other household enterprises. Research limitations/implications – The research was carried out using farmers in Kandara district in Kenya as a case study, findings might therefore not reflect the status of CF in all countries. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the growing debate on the effect of value chain upgrading strategies such as contracting on smallholder farmers’ welfare. The form of contracting studied in this paper differs from the standard contracts in that the key stakeholders (producers) are loosely enjoined in the contract through officials of their groups.

scholarly journals Yield Assessment of Maize Varieties under Varied Water Application in Semi-Arid Conditions of Southern Mozambique

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2541
Author(s):  
Alfredo Nhantumbo ◽  
Sebastião Famba ◽  
Isaac Fandika ◽  
Armindo Cambule ◽  
Elijah Phiri
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Yield Stability ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Water Application ◽  
Arid Conditions ◽  
Maize Genotypes ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Semi Arid

Maize is one of the most important staple food crops in Mozambique. Its production is country-wise dominated by smallholder farmers (more than 90%) under rain-fed conditions, where the risk of crop failure is high, especially under semi-arid conditions in southern Mozambique. Several maize genotypes have been developed for the broad agro-ecological zone adaptation but lack strong evidence about their productivity and yield stability to support decision-making in farming systems. In order to assess the yield and yield stability of maize genotypes under different environments, five identical on-station trials were implemented in the period 2017 to 2019, covering summer and winter seasons in the semi-arid region of southern Mozambique. The trials were established at the experimental station of the Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) in Sábie and at the Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique (IIAM) in Chókwe. A strip-plot design in a randomized complete block arrangement with 15 maize genotypes, and three water application (rainfall plus irrigation) levels in four replications was followed in a line-source irrigation arrangement. The water application levels varied from 151 mm to 804 mm, covering different water regimes. Under well-watered summer conditions, the genotypes G6 and G12 showed high yield and high grain yield stability. In the drier conditions, either in summer or winter, the G2 and G11 genotypes produced higher grain yield but with low stability. Both groups of genotypes have a high potential to be included in technology transfer packages to smallholder farmers to address food security or large-scale commercial farmers differently.

scholarly journals Exploring the Potential of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam)

2021 ◽  
pp. 97-117
Author(s):  
Sophie Nansereko ◽  
John. H. Muyonga
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Food System ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Minimal Processing ◽  
Processing Technologies ◽  
Artocarpus Heterophyllus ◽  
Value Added Products

Background: Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam) is widely cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical areas worldwide. The tree is highly productive, resilient, and requires minimal care. Jackfruit has a characteristic flavour and is highly versatile. Several studies report the importance of the tree and fruits, ranging from food and medicine to the provision of several value-added products. In spite of the many benefits the plant offers, it has not been sufficiently incorporated in the general food system, partly because of gaps in processing, distribution and knowledge about utilization methods and nutritional and nutraceutical value. Objective: A comprehensive literature search was done to highlight jackfruit's nutritional, health, and commercial benefits to promote its utilization. Methodology: The literature search was conducted using three electronic databases with no constraints on publication year. Over 200 studies on the nutritional properties of jackfruit and at least 105 articles on the use of the various parts of the jack tree for their anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic effects were found. Findings: Jackfruit has vital nutrients, including phytochemicals, minerals, vitamins,  carbohydrates, and proteins. The literature on utilization shows that the fruit can be processed into commercial products using minimal processing technologies, dried to extend product shelf-life, or processed into various value-added products. Conclusions: Jackfruit production and value addition are relatively under-developed despite the fruit tree’s high yield potential, high nutritional value, nutraceutical and techno-functional properties. For improved benefits from jackfruit, actors need to adopt the available technologies at different value chain nodes.

FloRunTM ‘331’ Peanut Variety

EDIS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry L. Tillman
Keyword(s):  
Seed Size ◽  
Growth Habit ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
High Yield ◽  
University Of Florida ◽  
High Oleic ◽  
Central Stem ◽  
Research And Education ◽  
The University ◽  
High Yield Potential

FloRunTM ‘331’ peanut variety was developed by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, North Florida Research and Education Center near Marianna, Florida.  It was released in 2016 because it combines high yield potential with excellent disease tolerance. FloRunTM ‘331’ has a typical runner growth habit with a semi-prominent central stem and medium green foliage.  It has medium runner seed size with high oleic oil chemistry.

Evaluation of Agronomic Traits of Sponge Gourd (Luffa cylindrica) Inbred Lines Under Plastic House in Thua Thien Hue

2017 ◽  
Vol 126 (3E) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trương Thị Hồng Hải ◽  
Nguyễn Thị Diệu Thể ◽  
Phan Thu Thảo
Keyword(s):  
Skin Color ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Pure Line ◽  
Inbred Lines ◽  
Fruit Shape ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Sponge Gourd

In order to establish the pure line of sponge gourd containing aroma feature, we selected the desirable inbred lines by using a self-pollinating method. The present study was investigated to estimate the morphological traits and fruit quality of 6 sponge gourd inbred lines which generated at 4th generation of an aroma Luffa accession B29 under plastic house conditions. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, from May to November in 2016. Five plants per replication were examined. The results indicated that all inbred lines could grow well under plastic house conditions. The inbred lines had the same stem and leaf traits; whereas fruit shape, skin color and fruit veins color were observed differently among inbred lines. The aromatic trait was retained in all inbred lines either before or after cooking. The high yield was found in lines BC1 and BC2 by 10.1 tons/ha and 10.7 tons/ha, respectively. These inbred lines should be examined in open field condition to confirm the presence of aromatic trait and yield potential before completion of the procedures for recognition of new Luffa varieties.  

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