| dc.description.abstract | Farm inputs are very important in any agricultural enterprises. In the recent past the input prices have increased greatly thus affecting farmers and the agriculture sector as a whole. This study was carried out to find out the effect of the high farm input prices on Bamburi division farming community in Kenya. Its Purpose was to gain an understanding of the relationship between high farm input prices and the socio-economic welfare of the farming community.
The researcher sought to understand the, social and economic effects that high farm input prices have on the farming community, that is, effect on food security, household incomes, formal education, employment and on nutrition and health status. A survey research design was used in this study. Data was collected from members of a population in order to determine the current status of that population with respect to one or more variables. A sample was taken randomly from 5 sub locations of Bamburi division. Stratified random sampling was done to ensure men and women including youths were involved in the study. Six (6) crop farmers from each of the 4 sub locations and 7 from one sub location were interviewed giving a total of 31 farmers.
Three (3) male farmers and Three (3) female farmers were interviewed from each sub location by an enumerator and interview schedules filled. Out of the three men, one (1) was a young male farmer while out of the three (3) women; one (1) was a young woman fanner. A structured questionnaire was also self administered to the extension officers and opinion leaders. Five (5) extension officers and five (5) opinion leaders were given questionnaires to fill. The determination of this sample size was done basing on recommendations made by Nkapa (1997). The information was then analyzed using Epinfo-2008, statistical package and tests carried out at 95% confidence level.
In the study, it was found out that the high farm input prices had an effect on the social economic welfare factors of the households in Bamburi Division. The effect was statistically significant on household incomes, food security and formal education. The .impact was however not statistically significant on employment and nutritional status of the community. | en_US |
