Effect of Jigger Infestation on Agricultural Productivity: a Case Study of Murarandia Division
Abstract
The study investigated the effect of jigger infestation on agricultural productivity
among the farmers of Murarandia Sub County in Murang’a County. The study was
guided by three specific objectives which are; to establish the extent of jigger
infestation in Murarandia in Murang’a County, to analyze the effect of jigger
infestation on agricultural productivity in Murarandia in Murang’a County and to
provide recommendations on jigger menace handling to government and
humanitarian policy makers.
The population of the study consisted of 28,943 households in Murarandia division
Murang’a County according to the 2009 Kenya census report. The sample size was
384 households. This study used primary data which was analyzed using STATA.
Inferential analysis was achieved using an ordinary least square regression model.
T-test was also used to test whether there was a statistical difference in the mean
production of infected and uninfected labour.
The study findings revealed that 67.35% of farmers in Murarandia Division in
Muranga County are infected with Jiggers. That figure is higher than the prevalence
rate of 4.5% of Kenya. Findings also indicated that when uninfected labour is used,
then one unit of capital produces 2.072 units of annual production whereas when
jigger infested labour is employed, then one unit of capital produces 1.235 units of
annual production. The study findings revealed that more output is realized when
uninfected labour is used (2.093 versus 1.3171 units). Jigger infested labour
produces 0.7759 units less than uninfected labour. The study hence concluded that
jigger infestation leads to low agricultural productivity among farmers of
Murarandia Division in Muranga County.
The study recommended that Muranga County government should create awareness
about effects of jigger infestation through media campaigns. The county
government should also have deliberate policies to treat, free of charge, those
infested with jiggers. The county government in a bid to reduce the infestation rate
should deliver fumigants to residents of the area. The study also recommended that
the county government of Muranga should offer extensional training to farmers in a
bid to improve agricultural productivity in the County.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Subject
Effect of jigger infestationRights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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