Effect of the Agricultural Sector Development Strategy on Agricultural Productivity: A Case of Tana River County in Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to find out how the Agricultural Sector Development Strategy (ASDS) has affected agricultural productivity in Kenya focusing on Tana River County. The specific objectives of the study are; To evaluate the effect of climatic change response on agricultural productivity; To examine the effect of agribusiness to agricultural productivity; To evaluate the effect of agricultural extension services on agricultural productivity; and To examine the effect of access to agricultural credit on agricultural productivity. The study will provide managers and policy makers in agriculture and possibly other sectors with an insight of the effects of the Agricultural Sector Development Strategy on Agricultural Productivity, general strategic planning in the public sector and any possible solutions. It will also guide the sector in Tana River County in unearthing whether there are special effects of the implementation of the Agricultural Sector Development Strategy in the county. Farmers in Tana River County and probably beyond will benefit from the study since they may identify gaps in the sector and help them bridge those gaps or demand action from the government. It will also be a useful reference for any researcher who intends to do a research related to this study, it will help them to develop new ideas or expand on the things that may not have been tackled in this research. The study reviewed the resource based view and the systems theories and showed how they are related to this research. This study employed descriptive survey design since it is an efficient method of collecting data as it involves studying large and small population. It targeted the sixty eight (68) technical staff members in the Agriculture Sector in Tana River County as its population. A census was used since the population was small. The study utilised questionnaires with both open and close ended questions for collection of data where the drop and later pick method was used to administer the same. To enhance validity, a pilot study was done through administering questionnaires randomly to seven (7) selected respondents in Tana River sub-county which is 10% of the total respondents. It was further enhanced by making necessary adjustments to the questionnaire based on the pilot study results. This study tested reliability of the instruments using Cronbach’s alpha where a value 0.7 and above was considered acceptable. Quantitative and qualitative data was analysed by descriptive and inferential statistics, and presented through tables and charts. A multiple regression model was used to determine the influence that the independent variables have on the dependent variable, thus Y = -0.063 + 0.164X1 + 0.157X2 + 0.285X3 + 0.233X4. The study concluded that climate change response, agribusiness, agricultural extension services and access to agricultural credit positively and significantly influence agricultural productivity. Based on the research findings the study recommends that Tana River County should implement agricultural extension services by ensuring there is enough staff in the county who are regularly capacity built so as to improve the agricultural productivity of the county.