| dc.description.abstract | The problem of low agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa is currently one of
the fundamental concerns of policy makers. In the Beekeeping sub-sector, the issue of
low honey production has engaged policy makers and researchers in strategizing on how
to modernize small-scale beekeeping through the introduction of improved technologies.
Production under traditional log hive technology over the period has resulted in both low
honey output and quality and has not conformed to the dynamic market demands. Studies
have been undertaken on technology adoption and some of them consider access to
group-based financial institutions as one of the factors that affect adoption decisions in
resource constrained areas. However, very little is known about the effect of this access
to group-based financial institutions (GBFIs) on the adoption process under different
socio-economic conditions.
This study aimed at clarifying various factors that influence the adoption of improved
honey production technologies and the role of group-based financial institutions in this
process in Makueni district of Kenya's Eastern Province. Following the declining honey
production in an area classified as a beekeeping zone, and increasing poverty levels, there
was a need to determine participation in group-based financial institutions, ascertain the
adoption trend of improved honey production technologies as a result of this participation
and to assess the profitability of improved honey production technologies given
participation.
The study used both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected from a total
of 130 beekeepers participating and non-participating in group-based financial
institutions in August/September 2005 using a single-visit survey approach. 3 divisions
were purposively selected based on the distribution of beehives and membership in
group-based financial institutions. 3 locations were selected randomly from these
divisions and a stratified sample of beekeepers from beekeeping groups registered with
the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Social Services interviewed using a structured
questionnaire. Secondary data was collected at the district level.
2 A combination of analytical techniques was applied, including the X test, logit
2 regression analysis and profitability analysis. The result of the X test showed that
improved beekeeping technologies were used more by beekeepers participating in groupbased
financial institutions than those not participating. Logit regression analysis showed
that extension service, education, distance to the market and the size of the livestock herd
significantly influenced the beekeepers decision to participate in group-based financial
institutions. The logit adoption models results further indicated that credit programme
access had a significant effect on the beekeepers' decision to adopt a technology. The
results found that a 10 percent increase in the absolute value of participation in groupi
based financial institutions raises the probability of adoption of log hive by 2.8 percent,
Kenya Top Bar Hive (KTBH) by 0.31 percent and Langstroth hive by 0.44 percent. There
was no significant influence of participation in group-based credit programme on the
adoption of Soil block hive. The results of the prediction models showed that the model
did well in predicting the choice of participation in group-based financial institutions, log,
KTBH and Langstroth hive adoption but its capacity to correctly predict Soil Block hive
adoption was limited. Profitability analysis indicated that improved technologies had a
high comparative advantage over the traditional technology under participation in groupbased
financial institution conditions.
The study came up with a number of recommendations towards enhancing participation
in group-based financial institutions and adoption of improved beehive technologies. To
increase the number of beekeepers participating in group-based financial institutions the
study recommended that GBFls adopt an integrated extension approach and promote
literacy trainings for the beekeepers in the short-run. The study further recommended that
the government should invest in complimentary services (mainly infrastructure-roads,
market services and strengthen free primary education) to improve information symmetry
and ensure sustainability of the programmes run by GBFls. The study also recommended
that the government should promote small livestock enterprises (like goats, sheep and
poultry) to enhance the liquidity of the beekeepers and enable them meet basic conditions
for GBFls' credit acquisition. Lastly the study recommended that the private concerns
making the improved technologies should come up with strategies of lowering the cost of
hives to enable more beekeepers access them with ease and manage the credit repayment
demands of GBFls. | en |
