Economic effects of horticulture on income and investment in Kenya
Abstract
This research paper analyses the economic effects of horticulture on income and
investment in Kenya over the period 1970-2004. The variables used are government
expenditures on horticulture, which is divided into Cut-flower production expenditure,
vegetable production expenditure and fruit production expenditures. These are used in
this study as the independent variables while the dependent variables are GDP(Income)
and the investment, which is both public and private investment aggregated together.
The main objective of the study is to analyze the effects of horticulture on income and
investments in Kenya. The specific objectives of the paper are to assess the investment
and income growth due to horticultural support and to make policy recommendations on
the way forward for horticultural sector in Kenya.
The results show a great variation in horticulture expenditure as measured by cut flower
production expenditure, vegetable production expenditure and fruit production
expenditure. The explanatory variables (investment and income) are important in
explaining the changes in the horticultural production expenditure since they are
positively related to the horticulture investment and the income (GDP) are thus
better explained by horticultural production expenditures of a country.
The study recommends that the ministry of Agriculture should increase the budget in real
terms and the bulk of expenditure must be channeled towards the horticulture production
so that the country can be able to earn foreign exchange. Greater finances and
horticultural resources (including Cut flower production, vegetable production and fruit
production) should be directed to areas where the horticulture performs well to improve
the potential of the productive services