Richard Mulwa

Economic Efficiency of Smallholder Maize Producers in Western Kenya: A DEA Meta-Frontier Analysis

Maize is the main staple food for most Kenyan households, and it predominates where smallholder, as well as large-scale, farming takes place. In the sugarcane growing areas of Western Kenya, there is pressure on farmers on whether to grow food crops, or grow sugarcane, which is the main cash crop. Further, with small and diminishing land sizes, the question of productivity and efficiency, both for cash and food crops is of great importance. This paper, therefore, uses a two-step estimation technique (DEA meta-frontier and Tobit Regression) to highlight the inefficiencies in maize cultivation, and their causes in Western Kenya.

Analysis of Communication and Dissemination Channels Influencing the Adoption of Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Western Kenya

Abstract Purpose: The following study was carried out to evaluate the socio-economic factors influencing access to Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) information and knowledge among farmers in western Kenya, and subsequent ISFM uptake with a view to assessing communication gaps. Design/Methodology/Approach: Structured questionnaires were administered to 120 farmers from Vihiga and Siaya districts. In Vihiga, farmers were sampled in a systematic random manner from farmer groups lists, whereas in Siaya, farmers were selected based on randomly selected diagnostic trial sites of the Africa Soil Information Service (AfSIS) project. Findings: Community-based and mass media channels were found to be significantly advantageous to farmers. Farmers’ preferred information sources and channels included own experiences, farmer field days and farmer groups, respectively. A probit regression model indicated that off-farm income, education level, distance from nearest information centre, livestock value, and district of residence were the socio-economic variables that significantly influenced farmer access to ISFM information and knowledge, and subsequent uptake. In conclusion, farmer field days and farmer groups should be promoted as vehicles for agricultural information communication and dissemination. Practical Implications: The study has practical implications for dissemination of agricultural technologies, especially in small-holder farming regions, characterized by high poverty and poor infrastructure. Originality/Value: The study is original because channels for communication and dissemination of ISFM technologies are poorly documented or non-existent in western Kenya, and in most small-holder farming systems in Africa. The adoption behaviour of ISFM technologies in relation to socio-economic factors by farmers is still poorly understood.

Measuring productive efficiency using Nerlovian profit efficiency indicator and metafrontier analysis

The aim of this paper is to illustrate the measurement of productive efficiency using Nerlovian indicator and metafrontier with data envelopment analysis techniques. Further, we illustrate how profit efficiency of firms operating in different regions can be aggregated into one overarching frontier. Sugarcane production in three regions in Kenya has been used to illustrate these concepts. Results show that the sources of inefficiency in all regions are both technical and allocative, but allocative efficiency contributes more to the overall Nerlovian (in)efficiency indicator.

The role of varietal attributes on adoption of improved seed varieties: The case of sorghum in Kenya

This paper examined the effect of variety attributes on adoption of improved sorghum varieties in Kenya. Using data from a random sample of 140 farmers, a multivariate probit was used to identify variety-specific drivers of adoption. The results on the perception of farmers variety attributes showed that improved varieties had desirable production and marketing attributes while the local varieties were perceived to have the best consumption attributes. Evidence further indicated that the major sorghum variety attributes driving rapid adoption are taste, drought tolerance, yield, ease of cooking, and the variety’s ability to fetch a price premium. Early maturity, a major focus of research was found to have no effect on the adoption decision. The findings of the study implied that, while developing improved seed varieties, breeders should also focus on non-yield attributes like taste and ease of cooking to increase adoption and satisfy the multiple needs of the farmers.

Cash, food, or vouchers? An application of the Market Information and Food Insecurity Response Analysis Framework in urban and rural Kenya

This paper uses the Market Information and Food Insecurity Response Analysis Framework to analyze data on food market intermediation and on consumer behavior and preferences in order to clarify whether market-based cash and voucher programs are likely to prove effective for addressing food insecurity in rural and urban study sites in Kenya. The findings carry important implications for food security interventions by government and operational agencies. We confirm that context matters when undertaking a response analysis. While we find that cash and/or vouchers are appropriate in both urban and rural locations, markets in surveyed urban settlements can respond better to a large injection of cash or vouchers than can surveyed rural areas. Moreover, household vulnerabilities are associated with household preferences in different ways across the two sites. In rural areas, female headed households and households reporting a physical limit to market access were among the groups that strongly preferred food aid to cash or vouchers while households with these characteristics in urban areas preferred the flexibility of cash or vouchers to food.

An overview of Total Factor Productivity estimations adjusted for pollutant outputs:an application to sugarcane farming

The conventional Total Factor Productivity (TFP) measurement does not incorporate the effects of undesirable outputs, which are harmful to the environment. Using sugarcane farming in Kenya, this paper illustrates the differences between the conventional Malmquist index measures where the environment variable is not adjusted and environment-adjusted measures using both hyperbolic and directional distance functions. The mean TFP change estimates for the conventional Malmquist index, adjusted hyperbolic index and Luenberger indicator were 3.13%, 0.11% and 2.21%, respectively. The conventional non-adjusted measure lies between the two adjusted measures of hyperbolic index and Luenberger indicator.

Improving Energy Efficiency Using Data Envelopment Analysis: A Case of Walnut Production

Walnut is one of the most nutritive crops and modern production methods require large quantities of energy. Efficient use of these energies is a necessary step toward agricultural sustainability. This study therefore focuses on optimizing energy consumption in walnut production by identifying and reducing excessive use of energy. A non-parametric input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was applied to analyze energy efficiency of different walnut producers in Iran. DEA was used to model efficiency as an explicit function of human labor, machinery, fertilizers-chemicals and irrigation energies. The result of DEA analysisshows substantial inefficiency between the walnut producers in the studied area, withthe main difference between efficient and inefficient producers being in the use of chemicals, potash, machinery and irrigation water. The use of chemicals such as insecticides and herbicides for efficient producers was considerably less than inefficient ones by 90.21 % and 77.5 %.

The Values of Mangrove Ecosystem Services in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract The mangrove ecosystems in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria play a very important ecological role while providing a variety of services for human well-being. The benefits obtained from these mangrove ecosystems include a variety of economic, environmental, and social aspects. However, mangroves in this region have been impacted in recent times due to various anthropogenic activities, including oil pollution. In achieving the goal of a well-managed mangrove ecosystem services trade-off, we have come up with the analysis of the cost of the value of mangrove ecosystem services in the Niger Delta. The results from the valuation of mangroves in the Niger Delta are comparable with other estimates obtained elsewhere in the world. Since many stakeholders derive their livelihood from these mangrove ecosystem services, the threats to the mangroves demand immediate and urgent attention through development of conservation policy options with the involvement of community members for mangrove conservation.

Determination of optimal rotation period for management of lumbering forests in Kenya

ABSTRACT This study estimates the optimal rotation period of various tree species in Kenya and applies it in the management of lumbering forests through optimal synchronization of forest plantations to achieve a steady supply to lumbering firms. The optimal rotation period of three tree species, pine, cypress, and eucalyptus, was estimated using data from Kenya Forest Service. A combined application of Chang simple production model and Faustmann model reveals the optimal biological harvest age is 25 years for pine, 25 years for cypress, and 14 years for eucalyptus. However, introducing the prices and using the Faustmann optimal rotation model at the current market interest rate of 10.5%, the Faustmann rotation age for pine stand will be maximized at 12.67 years, cypress at 23.5 years, and eucalyptus at 38.4 years. The research further indicates significant variability in land expectation value and soil rent of various species and proposes an inclusion of “species” as a variable in forest land valuation. In the conclusion, nonmarket factors affecting the optimal yield were further explained and recommendations on sustainable yield production were suggested.

Recreational value and optimal pricing of national parks: lessons from Maasai Mara in Kenya

ABSTRACT This paper estimates the recreational value and optimal pricing for recreation services in the Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya. To achieve this objective, data from 323 Park visitors were collected. Single-site individual travel cost method (ITCM) using count data models [zero truncated Poisson (ZTP), zero truncated negative binomial (ZTNB), negative binomial with endogenous stratification (NBSTRAT), and Poisson with endogenous stratification (PSTRAT)] was applied. Results show a consumer surplus of US