The Effect of Road Infrastructure on County Horticultural Production in Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the effect of road connectivity on horticultural outcome at the county level. More specifically, the study aims at investigation the correlation between existing road connectivity and horticultural output at county level in Kenya using a panel data analysis. Data was sourced from various county government official reports for the period running from 2015-2019 comprising of all 47 county governments of Kenya. Using fixed effect model, the study finding reveals that there is evidence to link road connectivity and county horticultural production. However, we found a negative effect of road connectivity to county horticultural production contrary to other empirical work. Other key factors influencing horticultural production at the county level included rainfall amount, area under production and labour input. We recommend that farmers should increase the area under horticulture production and incur some input costs such as labour in an effort to increase horticultural production at the county level. It is also expected that with increased production, the multiplier effect of the value chain for horticultural products will be impactful.