scholarly journals Factors Influencing Smallholder Farmers Participation in Collective Marketing and the Extent of Participation in Improved Indigenous Chicken Markets in Baringo, Kenya

Author(s):  
Emmanuel Kiprop ◽  
Cedric Okinda ◽  
Samuel Wamuyu ◽  
Xianhui Geng

Smallholder farmer collective action not only provides a solution to farmer’s constraints such as lack of market accessibility and inability to take advantage of available market opportunities but also holds the potential to diversify their incomes and increase agricultural productivity translating to enhanced food security and poverty eradication. This research aimed at investigating the role of farmer marketing groups in smallholder market participation using a sample of 198 farmers, sampled from a population of 395 smallholder improved indigenous chicken farmers in Baringo, Kenya, using Probit and Tobit models. The study findings established that farmers' involvement in collective action is predominantly determined by; Education level, household size, distance to extension, cost of transport, and the price per chicken. The extent of participation in improved indigenous chicken markets was positively related to; education level of the household head and farm size while negatively and significantly influenced by off-farm income and the cost of farming. The results of this study provide evidence that farmer collective action has the potential of strengthening market participation among smallholder farmers.

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-37
Author(s):  
Christopher N. Kamau ◽  
Lucy W. Kabuage ◽  
Eric K. Bett

Indigenous chicken (IC) production is a source of food security and income among smallholder farmers within high potential areas and semi-arid lands (ASAL). The demand for IC eggs and meat is anticipated to increase threefold by the year 2020 by health conscious consumers. However, potential of IC to contribute to household incomes and poverty alleviation in ASAL is constrained by slow maturity of IC and low productivity. Hence, to address these constraints improved indigenous chicken (IIC) technologies have been developed and introduced to smallholders in high potential area and ASAL. However, only a few smallholder farmers have adopted the IIC technologies. Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the effect of farmer socioeconomic characteristics on adoption and intensity of adoption the IIC technology in Makueni and Kakamega counties. A total of 384 households were sampled using multi-stage sampling to collect data through interviews. The collected data was analyzed using a double hurdle model. The results suggest that sex of the household head, farm size, group membership, which had not been previously identified in IIC studies as a significant variable, distance to training centre, off-farm activities and IIC awareness significantly affected adoption decision of improved IC. On the other hand education of the household head, household size, farm size, source of information on IIC and awareness on IIC had significant effects on the level of adoption. The recommendations from this study have an implication on extension policy, land use policy, food policy, collective action and pricing policy in the context of technology adoption in Kenya.


Author(s):  
Ifeanyi A Ojiako ◽  
G Tarawali ◽  
RU Okechukwu ◽  
JN Chianu

The household head characteristics of smallholder cassava farmers supplying raw materials to the major commercial starch processors in Nigeria were examined alongside their market participation categories. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 96 farmers working in clusters in the eight cassava producing states. Data were analyzed using a combination of descriptive and inferential statistics, including the use of independent sample t-test technique to compare farmer's characteristics for the farmers' market participation categories. Results revealed that majority of the farmers were farming for subsistence with only 19.80% selling up to 50% of their farm produce as against 80.20% who sold less. Average mean values were found to be higher for the high market participants compared with the low participants for the age, farming experiences, education, farm size, gender, marital status, household size, training, season of harvesting and fertilizer use, but lower for use of credit, improved cassava variety, harvesting method, farming time devotion, and road access. Only farm size, gender and harvesting season at p<0.01 level and training at p<0.05 level were found to be statistically significant in distinguishing the high and low market participation categories. Policies and programmes aimed at promoting market participation among cassava farmers in Nigeria should be more impactful if directed at these significant factors.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 6 (2): 42-56, December, 2016


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agerie Nega Wassihun ◽  
Fikeremaryam Birara Feleke ◽  
Tadie Mirie Abate ◽  
Gebrehiwot Abebe Bayeh

Abstract Agricultural commercialization is a process of transformation from subsistence farming system to market oriented production system. Promoting smallholder farmers to produce beyond their consumption and enabling them to be profit oriented should be given priority in order to foster the economic growth in developing countries where agriculture is the pillar of the economy and smallholder farmers are the largest section of the country like Ethiopia. However, due to a number of reasons smallholder farmers’ level of commercialization is very low and insignificant. There are only few studies conducted about agricultural commercialization in Ethiopia but the studies are not focused to specific crop. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the factors that determine market participation and degree of commercialization by smallholder maize producers in North Western Ethiopia. Data were collected from 385 smallholder maize producers in three districts where maize is produced potentially through multistage sampling method. Interview schedule, focus group discussion and key informant interview were used to collect the required primary data. In order to achieve the study objectives, Tobit model was employed to analyse both market participation and intensity of commercialization. From the analysis education level, livestock holding, frequency of extension contact, training, off/non-farm income activity, quantity of maize and lagged price were found to have significant effect on market participation whereas intensity of commercialization was significantly influenced by education level, livestock holding, training, frequency of extension contact, off/non-farm activity, quantity of maize produced and lagged price. Finally based on the findings, smallholder maize producers should be supported regularly by extension agents in order to increase their practical skills which results enhancement of their market participation and intensity of commercialization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-107
Author(s):  
M. A. Sarker ◽  
M. Hoque ◽  
A. H. Chowdhury ◽  
Z. Ferdous

This study empirically tests the benefit of the smallholders from organic farming in Bangladesh through their improved food security which is realised from their increased productivity and farm income. The respondent smallholders were picked up from two districts of Bangladesh namely Mymensingh and Bogra. The respondents (80) were the beneficiaries of the organic agriculture promotion project of Bangladesh Agricultural University. Three years data were collected by the project staff and were crosschecked with the base line. Findings of the study explored that before joining with the project extreme majority (93%) of the small farmers were involved in rice mono-culture and more than half (67%) of them were food deficit. The study also revealed that at the initial year of joining organic agriculture project their farm productivity was 10–12% lesser and it increased continually in the successive years. In some cases, it crossed the yield compared to conventional farming. The findings of the study showed that 100% of the farmers have followed crop diversification with high value vegetables and spices along with rice. Due to adoption of organic practices, the cost of production of the smallholders has declined from 27% to 36% and additionally they enjoy 10% to 15% premium prices which have enhanced their farm income significantly. The study shows that 62.5% of the smallholder farmers had attained household food security due to adoption of organic agriculture. Thus, adoption of organic agriculture effectively increased smallholders’ access to surplus safe food. However, the study also explored that farm size, extension media contact, access to assured market and access to institutional support are the most important factors in improving smallholders’ household food security through participation in organic agriculture programme. Thus, it can be concluded that organic agriculture can feed the smallholders in a better way.


Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 494
Author(s):  
Christine Magaju ◽  
Leigh Ann Winowiecki ◽  
Mary Crossland ◽  
Aymen Frija ◽  
Hassen Ouerghemmi ◽  
...  

Increasing tree cover in agricultural lands can contribute to achieving global and national restoration goals, more so in the drylands where trees play a key role in enhancing both ecosystem and livelihood resilience of the communities that depend on them. Despite this, drylands are characterized by low tree survival especially for tree species preferred by local communities. We conducted a study in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya and Ethiopia with 1773 households to assess how different tree planting and management practices influence seedling survival. Using on-farm planned comparisons, farmers experimented and compared tree survival under different planting and management practices as well as under varying socioeconomic and biophysical contexts in the two countries. Seedling survival was monitored at least six months after planting. Results show that watering, manure application, seedling protection by fencing and planting in a small hole (30 cm diameter and 45 cm depth) had a significant effect on tree seedling survival in Kenya, while in Ethiopia, mulching, watering and planting niche were significant to tree survival. Household socioeconomics and farms’ biophysical characteristics such as farm size, education level of the household head, land tenure, age of the household head had significant effects on seedling survival in both Ethiopia and Kenya while presence of soil erosion on the farm had a significant effect in Kenya. Soil quality ranking was positively correlated with tree survival in Ethiopia, regardless of species assessed. Current findings have confirmed effects of context specific variables some involving intrahousehold socioeconomic status such education level of the household head, and farm size that influence survival.


2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeniyi Felix Akinrinde ◽  
Kemi Funmilayo Omotesho ◽  
Israel Ogulande

The rising incidences of poverty among rural farming families are the reason behind renewed interest in income diversification. This study determined the level of income diversification; identified alternative income sources; examined the reasons for diversification; and identified the constraints to diversification. A three-stage random sampling technique was used in selecting 160 households on which a structured interview schedule was administered. Descriptive statistics, a Likert-type scale, and the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation were used for data analyses. Findings reveal that 1.3% of the households had no additional sources of income while 40.6% had at least four. Trading (55%) and livestock keeping (40.7%) were the most popular alternative income sources. The declining farm income (mean = 2.96) was the primary reason for diversification, while poor rural infrastructure (mean = 3.04) was the most severe constraint to income diversification. Farm size, access to extension services, household size, age and educational level of the household head were significantly related to the level of income diversification at p < 0.05. The study concluded that the level of income diversification was high and influenced by socioeconomic characteristics of the households. It recommends that the government should provide adequate infrastructural facilities in rural areas. Farmer associations should also ensure better prices for agricultural produce through joint marketing.


Author(s):  
Ejigu Mulatu

Enset production in Ethiopia is seemingly limited to only consumption-based production and most of producers supplied small amounts of products to the market. This study was conducted with main objective of assessing factors affecting market participation of enset producers in Chena district in southwestern Ethiopia. Two-stage sampling technique was employed to select 101 representative enset producer households. Both primary and secondary data sources were used to gather necessary data for attaining specific objectives of the study. Both descriptive statistics and econometric model were used to analyze the collected data. A Heckman two stage model was employed to analyze the factors affecting households’ decision in market participation in sale of enset products and the amount of gross income earned. Econometric model analysis result showed that; sex of household head, education level, livestock owned, a distance from nearest market center, enset plantation size, and transport access were found to be significant in affecting the probability of market participation decision. In addition, education level, family size, distance from market center, enset plantation, and transport access affected the amount of gross income earned from sale of different enset products. The result suggests the need for stakeholders’ involvement to enable market-oriented production of crop to encourage farmers for better crop production and market supply to have increased amount of income and proper utilization of the crop. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 11(1): 17-25, June 2021


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Akhi ◽  
MT Uddin ◽  
MM Islam

The study was conducted to assess the food security status of pond fish farming under NGO supported and own managed and to evaluate the influential factors of NGOs’ intervention on pond fish farmers’ food security in two districts of Bangladesh. Random sampling technique was used to select farmers from two groups of pond fish farming: one is NGO supported and another is own managed farmers. A total of 120 farmers (60 for NGO supported and 60 for own managed) were selected for data collection. To identify the factors influencing the food security status of fish farming households, a food security index (Z) was constructed and food security status of each household was determined based on the food security line using the recommended daily calorie intake approach. Logit model was used to estimate the food security status of households as a function of a set of independent determinants. Based on the recommended daily calorie intake of 2122 kcal, it is observed that 95 percent of the households were food secure and 5 percent households were food insecure in case of NGO supported fish farmers. On the other hand, 30 percent of the households were food secure and 70 percent households were food insecure in case of own managed fish farmers. The result of logit model shows that six out of eight variables included in the model were significant in explaining the variation in food security status. These variables were: age of the household head, education level of the household head, farm size, intervention on fish farming, income from fish and non-farm income. The study, therefore, recommended improved access to technical supports of pond fish farming households is necessary to ensure food security status at the national level.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 13(2): 273-281, December 2015


Author(s):  
Degefu Kebede ◽  
Mengistu Ketema ◽  
Nigussie Dechassa ◽  
Feyisa Hundessa

A study was conducted to analyze factors influencing adoption of wheat technology packages by smallholder farmers in Gurawa, Meta and Habro districts in eastern Ethiopia. The analysis was based on a household survey data collected from 136 randomly selected households. A Two-limit Tobit model was used to elucidate factors affecting adoption of technology packages measured based on an index derived from five components of wheat technologies which included row planting, pesticide application, use of improved varieties, and application of inorganic fertilizers, namely, Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) and Urea. Among the variables included in the model, variation in district, gender, age of the household head, education status of the household head, farm size, distance to market, distance to FTC (Farmers’ Training Centers), cooperative membership, dependency ratio, and annual income of the households were found to significantly affect the adoption of wheat technology packages. Policy makers, planners and development practitioners should give due attention to these determinants to support smallholder farmers in wheat production and enhance gains derived from it.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nyein Kyaw ◽  
Soojung Ahn ◽  
Sang Lee

Smallholder farmers face numerous constraints that restrict their access to markets and prevent them from taking advantage of market opportunities. This research aimed to examine the factors affecting the market participation of smallholder farmers and find ways to improve the income and livelihood of smallholder farmers, focusing on Myothit Township in Magway Region, Central Dry Zone of Myanmar. For the primary data, we surveyed 150 smallholder rice farmers which were selected using a random sampling technique. Using the Heckman two-stage selection model, we analyzed the factors influencing smallholder rice farmers’ decisions regarding participation in the agricultural market. This study revealed that the decision to participate in the rice market was dependent on different factors such as the household head age, education status, household size, total produce of rice, price of rice, household income, ownership of livestock, membership of farmer organization, access to roads, distance to market, access to extension services, and market information. The results of this study have implications as to what factors need to be addressed to encourage smallholder rice farmers to participate in the market. We suggest that Myanmar government and policymakers need to establish balanced policies for small-scale farmers and manage them in an appropriate way so that agricultural development can be induced, contributing to poverty reduction, food security, and economic development.


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