Profitability Analysis of Pigeonpea Production among Smallholder Farmers in Machakos County, Kenya
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Date
2022
Authors
Makena, N.S.
Mwenjeri, G.
Ngare, L.
Kago, E.W.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
EAAF
Abstract
Pigeon pea is a drought-tolerant crop primarily grown by small-scale farmers in arid and semi-arid lands mostly for income generation and food security. Despite its importance in drought-prone environments, its production remains low. The profit associated with the production of pigeon pea, contributes to the Gross Domestic Product of Kenya. However, in Machakos County there is little information on the amount of profit from pigeon pea and its relationship with socioeconomic characteristics of farmers. The objective of this study was to determine the socioeconomic characteristics of pigeon pea farmers profitability of pigeon pea production in Machakos County. Data for the study were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. A questionnaire was administered to 346 pigeon pea farmers to collect primary data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the socioeconomic characteristics and gross margin analysis was used to compute the gross margins. The results showed that the gross margin from pigeon pea production in Machakos County was KES. 3470.60/acre. This implies that pigeon pea farming though profitable in the study area had a gross margin crop was low. This could be attributed to high costs of labour, pesticides, poor quality seeds, biotic factors and climate change that might have had an adverse effect on productivity. Therefore, the study proposes formulation of strategies to make available certified seeds not only to increase productivity but also to enhance efficiency in production.
Description
article
Keywords
Gross margin, subsidy, productivity, production cost
Citation
Makena, N. S., Ngare, L., & Kago, E. W. (2022). Profitability Analysis of Pigeonpea Production Among Smallholder Farmers in Machakos County, Kenya. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal, 86(3 & 4), 8-8.