RP-Department of Agribusiness Management and Trade (AMT)

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Browsing RP-Department of Agribusiness Management and Trade (AMT) by Author "Chepng’etich, Evaline"

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    Analysis of Technical Efficiency of Sorghum Product ion in Lower Eastern Kenya: A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) ap proach
    (2014) Kizito, Kwena; Nyamwaro, Sospeter O.; Bett, E.K.; Chepng’etich, Evaline
    There has been an increase in food insecurity probl em in ASALs of Kenya and this has necessitated a re newed interest in promoting drought-tolerant crops such a s sorghum, among smallholder farmers in these regio ns. Promotion of such crops as sorghum has been emphasi zed in these regions but the yields are low. Using a field survey data of randomly selected sample of 143 smal lholder farmers in Machakos and Makindu districts i n Kenya this paper used DEA approach to estimate thei r technical efficiency scores. Results showed that the average technical efficiency was low, 41%. Innovati ve arrangements should be enhanced to increase farm ers’ capacity to efficiently use the available resources in sorghum production.
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    Factors That Influence Technical Efficiency of Sorghum Production: A Case of Small Holder Sorghum Producers in Lower Eastern Kenya
    (Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2015) Chepng’etich, Evaline; Nyamwaro, Sospeter O.; Bett, Kiprotich Eric; Kwena, Kizito
    Majority of the rural households in Kenya depend on agriculture as a source of food and livelihood. Agricultural productivity has been declining due to many factors resulting in increased food insecurity in the country. Consequently, there is a renewed interest in promoting drought-tolerant crops such as sorghumwhich thrives in the arid and semiarid lands of the developing world. However, performance of sorghum production among the smallholder farmers has still remained low.This study was thus carried out to identify factors that influence technical efficiency of sorghum production among smallholder farmers in Machakos and Makindu districts of the lower eastern Kenya. Collected data on farmand farmer characteristics were analysed by use of descriptive statistics and Tobit model. Result highlights show that technical efficiency was influenced positively by formal education level of the household, experience in sorghum farming, membership in farmers associations, use of hired labour, production advice, and use of manure. Surprisingly household size, meant to enhance labour, had a negative influence. To increase technical efficiency, efforts should focus on improving information flows on agronomic practices. Farmers should also be encouraged to form and actively participate in various farmers associations, which enhance learning and pooling of labour resources, hence improving technical efficiency.