Determinants Of Rural Poverty In Kenya: The Case Of Cash Crop Growing
Abstract
Poverty in Kenya remains to be an issue of concern despite several measures the
government has taken in alleviating it. Rural poverty rates are higher compared to
urban poverty levels. Designing appropriate policies requires understanding the
determinants of poverty. This paper presents an analysis of factors affecting rural
poverty in Kenya with a major focus on cash crop farming with an aim of
contributing to efforts towards poverty alleviation. This study uses a logistic model
to analyze the determinants of poverty using KIHBS 2005/6 data. The study found
that engagement in cash crop farming increases probability of a household being
poor. Other factors that significantly affect poverty include: level of household
income, level of education of household head, ownership of livestock and the
household size. This study recommends that the government should aid the farmers
who engage in cash crop farming through the stabilization of fluctuating prices,
providing extensive research regarding the types of diseases affecting the crops
grown as well as reduced costs of farm inputs and improved accessibility to credit
at low interest rates.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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