Factors Influencing Adoption of One Acre Fund Agricultural Innovation Program Among Smallholder Maize Farmers in Bungoma County, Kenya.
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Date
2022
Authors
Maxwell, Sifuna N.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The adoption of agricultural development programs is the basis of a country’s
economic development. In the past, the adoption of new agricultural practices has
helped address the country's food shortages. However, despite efforts to distribute this
technology to emerging farmers, research reports report low levels of technology
acquisition. This study was prompted by the low levels by most smallholder maize
farmers to take up all the components of the One Acre Fund (OAF) agricultural
innovation program amid declining maize production and increased population in
Bungoma South Sub-County. The study examined factors influencing adoption of
OAF agriculture innovation program adoption among smallholder maize farmers,
Bungoma County based on the following objectives; To determine socio-economic
factors that influence the adoption of OAF programs, to determine the types of OAF
agricultural innovations adopted by farmers, to explore the phases involved in the
adoption of OAF agricultural innovations and to examine the benefits and challenges
as well as the strategies of improving OAF agricultural innovation program adoption
to improve the adoption of the OAF agricultural development program. The study
embraced the descriptive research design to collect both qualitative and quantitative
data. Data collection was done mainly using questionnaires, interview schedules,
focus group discussions, and direct observation of 204 OAF households. The second
data was collected from published materials, journals, and magazines. Data were
analyzed using simple descriptive statistics while quantitative data was filtered,
coded, and analyzed using the Social Sciences Statistical Package (SPSS). The
regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between dependent and
independent variables. The situation analysis was also performed to determine the
status of the various types of OAF agricultural innovation by smallholder farmers in
the area of study. Pairwise ranking was used to determine advanced acquisition
strategies. Findings showed that the socio-economic characteristics of farmers such as
age (p = 0.002), marital status (p = 0.000), level of education (p = 0.001), family size
(p = 0.047), non-farm work (p = 0.327) and size of land (p = 0.110) affected the
adoption of the OAF agricultural renaming. They also pointed out that the phases of
adoption of group memberships (p = 0.047), farm visits (p = 0.012), and training (p =
0.000) by field officers also contributed to the adoption of OAF agricultural adoption.
Situation analysis identified improved maize varieties, fertilizer application,
intercropping, pesticide application, corn drying bags, and acetylic provision as new
OAF varieties. Farmers have identified various challenges such as high interest costs,
high registration fees, high farm inputs, poor and fertile soil and the small size of land
affected farmers in adopting the OAF agricultural rehabilitation program. Proposed
interventions for improved acceptance proposed to reduced interest rates (7), crop
insurance (6), reduced farm input costs (4), increased fertilizer use (1), and awareness
of all new agricultural innovations (1). The study concluded that the adoption of the
new OAF for agriculture is influenced by other factors as shown in the adoption
model. The study recommends awareness programs, crop insurance, the establishment
of farm cooperatives, and the strengthening of farmers' knowledge systems. The study
results are expected to be useful to agricultural stakeholders so as to increase the
adoption of agricultural technology
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Geography, Urban and Regional Planning in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kenyatta University.
Keywords
Factors Influencing, Adoption ., One Acre Fund, Agricultural Innovation, Program, Smallholder, Maize Farmers, Bungoma County, Kenya