The maize green revolution in Kenya revisited (original) (raw)
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In Pursuit of an African Green Revolution, 2016
As population pressure on land grows rapidly in Kenya, rural farmers have started to intensify land use, which has led to the emergence of a new maize farming system. The new system is characterized by the adoption of high-yielding maize varieties, the application of chemical fertilizer and manure produced by stall-fed improved dairy cows, and intercropping, especially the combination of maize and legumes. This study aims to explore the determinants of the new maize farming system and its impact on land productivity. We examine not only the impacts of new technologies and production practices but also the impact of the entire new maize farming system by generating an agricultural intensification index based on a principal component analysis. The estimation results show that a decrease in the land-labor ratio accelerates farming intensification, and that the adoption of each new technology and production practice has positive and significant impacts on land productivity. These findings are further supported by the significantly positive impacts of the agriculture intensification index on land productivity.
The response of maize production in Kenya to economic incentives
2013
Agricultural development policy in Kenya has emphasised the use of incentives towards increased production and therefore self-sufficiency in maize which is a basic staple for most households. The channels used to provide incentives to maize farmers over the years include setting higher producer prices; subsidisation of inputs; provision of agricultural credit, research and extension services; construction and maintenance of roads, development of irrigation and water systems; legislative, institutional and macroeconomic reforms. Despite these efforts outputof maize has remained below domestic requirements in most years and the country continues to rely on imports to meet the deficits. Studies have assessed the responsiveness of maize to output price and reported inelastic responses and have recommended policies targeting non-price incentives to complement prices for the required increased production of maize. The studies, however, did not analyse the influence of the non-price incent...
There is consensus that adoption of technological improvements is crucial to increasing agricultural productivity and reducing poverty, while sustaining the agro-ecosystems. There is however disagreement as to which type of technologies are well suited in developing countries; external input intensive technologies or low external input/ natural resource management (NRM) technologies. This paper uses plot level survey data collected from all maize growing areas in Kenya and employs a multivariate probit to assess conditions under which different technologies are adopted. We find that indeed the technologies that farmers adopt vary with different conditions ranging from plot level to climatic conditions.
Maize Production in Kenya and Its Determinant: A Macro Analysis
2021
Maize is an important crop in Kenya with its direct implication in Kenya's economy as well as food security. However, increasing gap between national production and consumption is an important policy concern. Under such backdrop, this study estimates the combined effect of maize area harvested, value of expenditure on fertilizers, number of tractors and maize seed quantity to the national maize production using Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The findings indicate a negative relationship maize farm size, expenditure on fertilizer, and number of tractors with maize production in Kenya. However, there is a positive relationship between maize production and the quantity of maize seeds. Based on the findings, this study recommends that the government should work towards availing adequate quantities of maize seeds to farmers to boost maize output. It is also recommended that farmers ought to be educated on the proper use of fertilizers, optimum use of tractors, and land.
Adoption of Maize Production Technologies in the Coastal Lowlands of Kenya
2003
Maize is the major food crop grown in the coastal region of Kenya and constitutes a major component of the diet of the population in the region. However, average yields are far below the potential for the region and low production levels create serious food deficits. Over the years, new technologies have been introduced but adoption has remained low, especially for fertilizer. This paper examined current maize-farming practices and technological and socioeconomic factors that influenced adoption in the Kilifi and Kwale Districts of the Coast Province, that together account for half of maize production in the region. The study found low adoption levels for improved maize varieties and technology, especially fertilizer, among farmers in the area. Farmers cited poor availability of improved varieties, high cost, lack of knowledge, and unfavourable characteristics of improved varieties as reasons for non-adoption. The high price and poor availability of fertilizers, farmers’ inexperienc...