Historical Analysis of Declining Maize Production in Kenya; A Case of Trans-Nzoia County

• Author(s): Fred Omuse Mang’eni
• Paper ID: 1703160
• Page: 312-316
• Published Date: 22-04-2022
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 5 Issue 7 January-2022

Abstract

Maize is the most important cereal crop in Kenya. It forms an important part of the food and feed system, and contributes significantly to income generation for rural households. It is the main staple food for the people of Kenya, providing more than a third of the caloric intake. In terms of land usage, maize accounts for about 56% of cultivated land in Kenya. About 98% of the 3.5 million small-scale farmers in Kenya are engaged in maize production. The study covered the determining factors that affect maize production in Trans-Nzoia county,Kenya. The researcher used the cobweb economic theory to articulate why production was declining. The study was guided by the following objectives: to investigate how costs of production influence maize production of small scale farmers, to establish how demographic characteristics influence maize production of small scale farmers, to determine how extension services influence maize production of small scale farmers and to examine how accessibility to credit influence maize production of small scale farmers of Trans-Nzoia county. The study adopted descriptive survey design which was used to obtain information to describe the existing phenomena. A questionnaire with closed ended questions was prepared and distributed to the respondents in all the constituencies. The questionnaires were then collected after one week. All the questionnaires were filled and were used for analysis. Data was analyzed using descriptive method. Frequency tables and percentages were used for data presentation after analysis. The findings revealed that fertilizer remains the most costly input in maize production, followed by land preparation. Also most farmers do not attend field days and only a negligible percentage have access to credit. The national and county governments should avail subsidized fertilizer in good time and make it easily accessible. Proper sensitization should be done by agricultural extension officers to all farmers about the available extension services and county government should provide sufficient facilitation to agricultural extension officers to promote extension services. Farmers should be encouraged to form groups in order to access credit services, market their produce and acquire farm inputs collectively. Both national, county governments and financial institutions should make credit easily accessible and affordable to small scale farmers. The researcher recommends further research on causes of low attendance of field days and low level of accessing extension services in general to ascertain the underlying causes of low dissemination of extension information. Research shall be of great benefit to; farmers, maize traders, future researchers and the donor community in the region.

Keywords

Small scale farmers, Production influence, Agriculture, Economy

Citations

IRE Journals:
Fred Omuse Mang’eni "Historical Analysis of Declining Maize Production in Kenya; A Case of Trans-Nzoia County" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 5 Issue 7 2022 Page 312-316

IEEE:
Fred Omuse Mang’eni "Historical Analysis of Declining Maize Production in Kenya; A Case of Trans-Nzoia County" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 5(7)