Farm technology adoption in Kenya: a simultaneous estimation of inorganic fertilizer and improved maize variety adoption decisions

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Date
2014
Authors
Muchai, Diana
Mwabu, Germano
Ogada, Maurice J
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Open
Abstract
This paper models inorganic fertilizer and improved maize varieties adoption as joint decisions. Controlling for household, plot-level, institutional and other factors, the study found that household adoption decisions on inorganic fertilizer and improved maize varieties were inter-dependent. Other factors found to influence the adoption of the two technologies were farmer characteristics, plot-level factors and market imperfections such as limited access to credit and input markets, and production risks. Thus, easing market imperfections is a pre-requisite for accelerating farm technology adoption among the smallholders. Inter-dependence of farm technologies must also not be ignored in farm technology adoption promotion initiatives.
Description
Keywords
Kenya, Africa, Simultaneous estimation, Technology adoption
Citation
Agricultural and Food Economics 2014, 2:12 http://www.agrifoodecon.com/content/2/1/12