Influence of Farm Inputs Subsidy on Performance of Small Scale Rice Farming Projects in Chiga Sub Location, Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract

Kenya is currently faced with hunger due to non-performance of agricultural sector. There is increased consumption of food crops and yet the production is declining. Rice is currently the third most important cereal crop after maize and wheat in Kenya. While production of the three leading cereal crops is declining, their consumption continues to increase though at different rates. Rice consumption is increasing at a rate of 12% compared to that of maize at 4%, yet maize is a staple food. Rice is therefore set to play important role in ensuring that Kenya realizes the goal of attaining food security as contained in vision 2030. According to the vision, it is expected that Kenya will have negative rice imports by 2018 holding all other factors constant, but much have not been achieved due to some factors that hinder realization of the goals set out in the policy as the high cost of farm inputs that limits small scale farmers’ capacity to expand area under rice cultivation and to adopt recommended technologies. Hence the need for government intervention to increase rice production and productivity by providing assistance to farmers in form of reduced cost of farm inputs. The assistance has mainly been given through distribution of subsidized farm inputs to all farmers in the agricultural sector, this include provision for demand driven extension approach which is anchored on making extension services cost effective. It is expected that subsidized fertilizer coupled with cost effective extension services will enhance performance of small scale rice farming projects in Kisumu County. The objectives of this study was influence of fertilizer, rice seeds farm logistics subsidy on the performance of small scale rice farming projects. It is therefore important to conduct this study in order to find out whether or not these farm inputs subsidies had contributed to the enhancement of performance of rice production. A descriptive survey design involving both quantitative and qualitative method of data collection was employed to collect primary data from Chiga sub location Kisumu County. Secondary data was collected from Ministry of Agriculture, Extension Department. Primary data was collected from a target population of 480 farmers, in order to determine the sample size, Krejcie and Morgans table (1970) was used to arrive at the required sample size of 210 respondents. Instruments for data collection were structured and unstructured questionnaires and Key informants were also interviewed to elicit information on subsidy issues. Data collected was coded, analyzed using Microsoft excel program for mean, frequency and percentage, the findings was interpreted, recommendations and conclusions was made.