An economic analysis of the determinants of fertilizer use in small maize farms in Western Kenya
Abstract
A major objective of the National Food Policy for the government of Kenya is the attainment of Household and National food security. One of the methods recommended is through land use intensification such as use of fertilizers to mer-ease crop yields. However, previous studies have shown that fertilizer use in maize production by smallholder farmers who form the bulk (in terms of area and production) of maize producers is sub-optimal. This study was thus formulated with the objectives of describing the fertilizer use patterns and identifying the major determinants of fertilizer use in Kisii, Kakamega and Trans Nzoia Districts in Western Kenya. Data on fertilizer use were collected from a random sample of 120 farmers using a pre-tested structured questionnaire over the 1995 main maize production season. The data collected were analysed by use of descriptive statistics to show the fertilizer use patterns and factors responsible for inter-farm differences and by regres3ion analysis to establish the major determinants of fertilizer use. The descriptive analyses results indicated that fertilizer use in maize varied within the three districts studied according to resource base, liquidity position of the farmers, access to extension services and markets. The highest level of fertilizer nutrient use was 87.3 kg/ha in Trans Nzoia District while the lowest average was in Kisii District estimated at 35.5 kg/ha. The estimated mean amount of nutrient fertilizer use in Kakamega District was 54.3 kg/ha. It was also reported that in the striga prone areas notably Khwisero and Mumias Divisions in Kakamega District, the weed impacts negatively on the rate of fertilizer use and growing of hybrid maize. While it is widely acknowledged that availability of credit enhances the liquidity position of farmers and hence increases the farmers' ability to purchase fertilizer and other complementary inputs, the study revealed that of the 120 farmers interviewed, none of them got institutional credit for maize production in 1995. Thus, it was not possible to determine the effect of formal credit on fertilizer use. The results of the regression analyses indicated that the fertilizer -maize price ratio was the only important determinant of fertilizer use which cut across all the three districts, though it was not highly significant in Trans Nzoia District. The study found a strong linear relationship between fertilizer use and total farm sales in Trans Nzoia district, a commercial maize dominant area. The other important determinants of fertilizer use were use of FYM in Kisii District, land size in Kakamega District, initial soil fertility in Trans-Nzoia District and extension contact in Kisii and Trans-Nzoia Districts. Based or-the above findings, it is recommended that research should be intensified in an effort to control striga before any advances are made to farmers to use fertilizer in the affected areas. It is further recommended to the government to strengthen the agricultural extension programme to ensure that the necessary information on fertilizer use is availed to the farmers in time in order to increase maize production. Finally, the AFC should revise its credit eligibility criteria which limit farmers' access to fertilizer so as to make credit more available to farmers. It is anticipated that this will improve the liquidity is anticipated that this will improve the liquidity position of the farmers and hopefully increase fertilizer use in maize production.
Citation
MSc (Agricultural Economics) Thesis 1997Sponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
Department of Agricultural Economics, University ofNairobi
Description
Master of Science Thesis