Economics of Integrating Push-Pull Technology in Maize-Dairy Farming Systems in Eastern Uganda
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Chepchirchir, Ruth
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Cereals particularly maize, are the most essential food and cash crops for majority of
smallholder households in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In maize production, small-sized
producers are confronted with different constraints including stemborers, Striga and degraded
soil leading to poor crop yields. In response to these challenges, the International Centre of
Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) and collaborators came up with a habitat management
approach; the Push-pull Technology (PPT) for simultaneous restrain of the three key
constraints. Despite high adoption of PPT in East Africa, its impact has not been fully
understood in the region. This study characterizes farming systems and assesses factors that
instigate their preference; it evaluates the economic performance of PPT when integrated in
maize-dairy farming systems and determines the impact of PPT on household welfare. The
study uses both primary and secondary data and simple random sampling to collect data from
560 households. Multivariate analysis, Binomial logit, Dynamic Research for Evaluation
Management (DREAM) model, and Generalized Propensity Score (GPS) were utilized in the
analysis. Outcomes confirm that household size, age, farm size, membership to community
groups, and participation in PPT significantly influence the choice of farming system. Net
Present Value, the Internal Rate of Return, the Benefit to Cost Ratio and gains to households
supported the economic viability PPT. GPS dose-response function estimates revealed a
positive and significant average effect of the intensity of PPT adoption on maize yield,
incomes and poverty reduction. This study concludes that proper implementation of PPT
offers the prospect of monetary benefits to households; also PPT has a positive impact on
rural poverty in Uganda. Agricultural policies that target farm household food security and
poverty reduction in maize-dairy based systems in Uganda and elsewhere should explicitly
encourage further up-scaling and dissemination of PPT.
Description
A Thesis Submitted In Fulfilment of the Requirements For The Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Agricultural Economics) in the School Of Agriculture and Enterprise Development, Kenyatta University