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African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE) >
2010 AAAE Third Conference/AEASA 48th Conference, September 19-23, 2010, Cape Town, South Africa >
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://purl.umn.edu/95961
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| Title: | The association of agricultural information services and technical efficiency among maize producers in Kakamega, western Kenya |
| Authors: | Nambiro, Elizabeth
Chianu, Jonas
Murage, Alice W. |
| Authors (Email): | Nambiro, Elizabeth (e.nambiro@cgiar.org, enambiro@yahoo.com) |
| Keywords: | Maize
Soil information
Technical efficiency
Tobit analysis
DEA |
| Issue Date: | 2010-09 |
| Abstract: | Maize is the staple food for most Kenyan households, and grown in almost all the farming
systems. Due to diminishing farm sizes in Kakamega District, crop productivity and the
efficiency of farming systems are of great concern. This paper aims to provide empirical
evidence on the links between efficiency in maize production and access to soil-related
agricultural information services. Using cluster sampling, a total of 154 farmers in Kakamega
District were interviewed. A 2–step estimation technique (Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)
and Tobit model) were used to evaluate the technical efficiencies among the farmers and the
factors explaining the estimated efficiency scores. Data was disaggregated into farmers with and
those without access to soil-related agricultural information services. The results shows that
farmers with access to soil-related agricultural information services were more technically
efficient (average technical efficiency of 90%) in maize production compared to those without
access to information (technical efficiency at 70%). Given the significant role that access to soil-related
agricultural information services play on technical efficiency in maize production in the
study area, the paper recommends improvements in farmers access to this important resources
through: (i) the strengthening of the formal and informal agricultural extension services, (ii) a
stronger linkage among agricultural research, agricultural extension, and farm level activities;
and (iii) policy support for increased distribution of soil management inputs. |
| URI: | http://purl.umn.edu/95961 |
| Institution/Association: | African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE)>2010 AAAE Third Conference/AEASA 48th Conference, September 19-23, 2010, Cape Town, South Africa |
| Total Pages: | 24 |
| To Page: | 23 |
| Collections: | 2010 AAAE Third Conference/AEASA 48th Conference, September 19-23, 2010, Cape Town, South Africa
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Size | Format |
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| 60. Effects of agric extension in Kenya.pdf | | 161Kb | PDF | View/Open |
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