| dc.description.abstract | This study is an investigation of small-scale maize
production in Rongo Division, south-Nyanza District,
Western Kenya. It is an attempt to analyse the factors
responsible for spatial variations in maize yield, field
sizes, and the adoption of relevant technologlcal
innovations.
Furthermore, it highlights the problems of
maize marketing in the study area. Since its introduction,
maize has become an important staple crop in the study area
and elsewhere in Kenya ••
Because of this significance,
the National food policy aims at achieving self-sufficiency
in maize production.
The analysis is mainly based on primary data collected
from a sample of small-scale farmers and traders in the
study area. Because of the iarge number of variables
involved in maize production, it was found convenient to
use factor analysis, multiple linear regression and logit
regression models. The application of these techniques
enabled the delineation of different crop combinations in
the study area. These crop combinations suggested a
negative impact of cash-crops, especially sugar-cane on
maize production. Further analysis revealed that the
spatial variations in maize yield were associated with
variations in soil fertility and agro-ecological zones. These two independent factors' also were significantly
related to the spatial variations in field sizes of maize.
Low average annual rainfall and inappropriate agronomic practices especially late weeding, intercropping and the planting of second generation hybrid significantly contributed to low maize yields. It was also observed that farms with larger maize and sugar-cane fields had relatively lower maize yields. Finally, it was found that the cultivation of coffee, absentee land ownership, smaller farm sizes, and lack of land preparation implements significantly lowered the area under maize cultivation.
The study revealedLthe most widely adopted innovation /that in the study area was the application of farm manure/fertilizer followed by the planting of hybrid seed. The simultaneous use of the two innovations was recorded in the least number of farms. It was found that the
likelihood of adoption of all the three innovations ,were significantly related to the environmental factors, individual'attributes of the farmers, availability of necessary farm assets and the types of crops planted.
Maize farmers in the study area employed multiple marketing strategies as defined by their individual needs and the characteristics of the marketing channels utilised. From the analysis, the informal marketing system emerged as the most important marketing channel on the basis of the number of farmers using it and the volume of produce it handled. Maize prices and the quantities of maize handled by individual traders within the marketing system were found to vary according to the individual attributes of the
traders and the organisational aspects of the informal' trade.
Several conclusions have been drawn from the major findings of this study. In the first instance, the production of maize in the study area is certain to decline with increasing cash-crop production. Secondly, inappropriate agronomic practices are the major impediments to increased maize yields in the study area. In addition, the expansion of the cultivated area under maize can only be a short term strategy for increased maize output. Finally, the adoption of innovations is determined mainly by the socio-economic status of farmers, with those in the higher hierarchy being better adopters.
It is strongly recommended that agricultural support services should be intensified within the small-scale farming sector for greater productivity. Furthermore, sugar-cane farmers need to be encouraged to devote an appropriate minimum land for maize. In addition, the informal marketing system should be given greater participation in maize marketing to supplement the services of• the existing statutorY board.
Further research is required on the effects of pests on maize production and on the suitability of different chemical fertilizers to specific soil types. It is also recommended that suitable biological alternatives to chemical fertilizers in maize production be investigated. Finally, the possible methods of strengthening the informal
marketing system with a view to establishing complementary linkages between it and the statutory marketing board require further study. | en |
