Eric D. Mungatana

Evaluating the welfare effects of improved wastewater treatment using a discrete choice experiment

This paper employs the discrete choice experiment method to estimate the benefits of improved wastewater treatment programs to mitigate the impacts of water pollution in Nairobi, Kenya. Urban and peri-urban farmers who use wastewater for irrigation from Motoine to Ngong River in Nairobi were randomly selected for the study. A random parameter logit model was used to estimate the individual level willingness to pay for the wastewater treatment before reuse in irrigation. The results show that urban and peri-urban farmers are willing to pay significant monthly municipality taxes for treatment of wastewater. We find that the quality of treated wastewater, the quantity of treated wastewater and the riverine ecosystem restoration are significant factors of preference over alternative policy designs in reduction of water pollution.

Technological innovation and efficiency in the Nigerian maize sector: Parametric stochastic and non-parametric distance function approaches

Abstract The current world food crisis has necessitated alternative policy actions in most countries, including increased investment in agricultural research and development. This study uses duality theory to obtain allocative and cost efficiency from the parametric stochastic distance function, and results are then compared to estimates from the non-parametric distance function. The study further evaluates the impact of technological innovations and other policy variables on technical, allocative and cost efficiency from both approaches in a second-stage endogeneity-corrected Tobit regression model. Mean technical, allocative and cost efficiency ranges from 80.1 per cent to 86.7 per cent, from 57.8 per cent to 73.8 per cent, and from 50.3 per cent to 62.3 per cent respectively. The analysis of technical, allocative and cost efficiency with respect to technological innovation and other policy factors is robust. Results show that policies aimed at maize technology development and its timely dissemination, as well as improvements in education and access to credit and extension, could promote technical, allocative and cost efficiency, reduce yield variability, enhance farm income and food security and reduce poverty in Nigeria.

Determinants of farmers' choice of innovative risk-reduction interventions to wastewater-irrigated agriculture

This paper identifies the innovative methods used by urban farmers to reduce the health and environmental risks linked to wastewater-irrigated agriculture in Nairobi, Kenya. A study involving 317 urban and peri-urban farmers was conducted and innovative methods identified for risk-reduction in wastewater irrigation. According to the results, the farmers’ choice of adaptation measures in wastewater irrigation was: No intervention (49.8%), crops restriction (21.1%), protective clothing (12.6%), safer application (8.8%), and irrigation cessation (7.6%). The estimated model had a robust explanatory ability since the likelihood ratio statistics were statistically significant ( 2 χ =222.13; p=0.000). The marginal analysis results show that the following factors significantly (p=0.005) influence the farmers’ choice of low-risk measures in wastewater irrigation: Household size, farming experience, membership to farmers group, access to credit, access to certified seed, access to media, crop income, awareness to World Health Organization irrigation guidelines, and awareness to wastewater hazards. Therefore, it was concluded that education support and creation of awareness about health risks in wastewater irrigation are important for enhanced adoption of risk-reduction technologies among the farmers. There is a need to design policies and programs that support farmers in safe wastewater irrigation, while raising their awareness on the health hazards attributed to untreated wastewater reuse.

Stated preferences for improved air quality management in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract The study uses contingent valuation (CV) framework to assess individuals’ preferences for improved air quality management through motorized emission reductions in the city of Nairobi, Kenya. A conventional payment card (PC) is used to draw preferences from individuals in order to estimate the mean and the median willingness to pay (WTP) for air quality improvements in the city. Through interval regression analysis, the study finds that individuals are, on average, willing to pay Kshs. 396.57 (

Stated Preferences for Improved Air Quality Management in the City of Nairobi, Kenya / Vrednovanje Iskazanih Preferencija Za Unapređenje Kvaliteta Vazduha U Gradu Najrobi U Keniji

4.67) and a median of Kshs. 244.94 (

Evaluating the Performance of Maize Farmers in Nigeria using Stochastic Distance and Stochastic Production Frontiers

2.88) to improve air quality management in the city. These amounts are found to increase with male gender, individuals’ income, certainty about future income and residence in an urban area. These amounts, however, decline with age, residential distance from nearby roads, and motor vehicle ownership. On the whole, the study shows significant public support towards improved air quality management in the city, which is of vital importance for effective formation and implementation of air quality management programmes. Rezime U ovom istraživanju koristi se metod uslovnog vrednovanja (CV) kako bi se ispitale preferencije/stavovi ispitanika vezano za efikasnije upravljanje kvalitetom vazduha kroz smanjenje emisija gasova iz motornih vozila u gradu Najrobi u Keniji. Sistem platne kartice (PC) kao poboljšanji oblik upitnika olakšava proces vrednovanja stavova ispitanika u cilju određivanja medijane i srednje vrednosti koju su ispitanici voljni da plate kako bi doprineli poboljšanju kvaliteta vazduha u gradu. Primenom regresione analize ustanovljeno je da su ispitanici spremni da plate Kshs. 396.57 (

Estimating the causal effect of improved fallows on environmental services provision under farmers' field conditions in Chongwe, Zambia.

4.67) i srednju vrednost od Kshs. 244.94 (

The Value of Water for Off-stream Uses in South Africa

2.88) kako bi se poboljšao kvalitet vazduha u gradu. Primetno je da su ove vrednosti u porastu kod pripadnika muške populacije, osoba sa većim primanjima, izvesnim prihodima na duži vremenski period i osoba koje žive u urbanom području, dok njihova vrednost opada sa godinama, udaljenošću od obližnjih puteva, i upotrebom motornih vozila. Generalno posmatrano, ovo istraživanje ukazuje na ogromnu podršku javnosti kada je reč o unapređenju kvaliteta vazduha u gradu, što je od presudnog značaja za efikasan razvoj i sprovođenje programa upravljanja kvalitetom vazduha.

Scope effects of respondent uncertainty in contingent valuation: evidence from motorized emission reductions in the city of Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract The study uses contingent valuation (CV) framework to assess individuals’ preferences for improved air quality management through motorized emission reductions in the city of Nairobi, Kenya. A conventional payment card (PC) is used to draw preferences from individuals in order to estimate the mean and the median willingness to pay (WTP) for air quality improvements in the city. Through interval regression analysis, the study finds that individuals are, on average, willing to pay Kshs. 396.57 (

Comparing welfare estimates across stated preference and uncertainty elicitation formats for air quality improvements in Nairobi, Kenya

4.67) and a median of Kshs. 244.94 (