The Relationship between Small Scale Farmers’ Attitude towards Maize Farming and Maize Yield in the Agricultural Reform Era: The Case of Western Region of Kenya | Chapter 08 | Current Perspective to Economics and Management Vol. 2
Statement
of the problem: The introduction of Structural
Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) and trade liberalisation resulted in agricultural
reforms in Kenya and other developing countries. Hence the Kenya government no
longer gives incentives to small scale farmers. This may have affected the
attitude of small scale farmers’ towards maize farming and hence maize yield.
Study
Purpose: The study was concerned about maize
production in Western Region of Kenya because maize is the main staple for most
of the Kenyan population and Western Region is the food basket.
Research
Design: The study used Ex-post facto research
design via cross sectional survey.
Materials
and Methods: Busia, Bungoma, Mt. Elgon and Lugari
Counties were purposively selected to represent the Western Region of Kenya.
Two sub-counties from each of the four Counties were selected by simple random
sampling. For uniformity purposes 200 small scale farmers were selected from
focal areas through systematic random sampling hence ensuring that they all had
been exposed to extension staff. Four key informants were sampled purposefully
based on their positions of authority. In addition, 52 extension staffs were
sampled through systematic random sampling. The small scale farmers were
interviewed with the help of interview schedule containing open and closed
ended questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results:
The study revealed that attitude towards maize farming correlated maximally to
maize yield and that farmers’ attitude towards maize farming contributed to
17.4% of the variance in maize yield.
Conclusion:
This means that the extension staff and change agents should improve the
attitude of the farmers in order to improve maize yield.
Recommendation:
The study recommended that the extension staff should teach the small scale
farmers on the changes that have been brought about by Structural Adjustment
Programmes and market liberalisation and how to take advantage of such
opportunities such as form strong common interest groups. Research should
develop innovations that would result in high maize yield at low farming costs.
Author(s) Details
Adijah M. Ali-Olubandwa
Department of Applied
Community Development Studies, Egerton University P.o Box 536, Kenya.
Timothy E. O. Wesonga
Department of Agriculture
and Food Security, East Africa Community (EAC), Tanzania.
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