Analysis of factors influencing farmers' participation in collective marketing initiatives in Maara, Meru south and Mbeere South Sub-Counties, Kenya
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Date
2016
Authors
Mate, Harold M
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Abstract
This study was carried out in Meru South, Maara and Mbeere South sub-counties in the
Republic of Kenya. The purpose of this study was to analysis the factors affecting farmers'
participation in collective marketing initiatives. Marketing of agricultural commodities in
Kenya is unsystematic coupled with high transport costs, low prices, exploitation by middle
men and insufficient markets information among other factors that force farmers to sell when
prices are lowest. Studies in the past have focused and examined the advantages of collective
action, while little is known or documented on the dynamics of smallholder participation in
collective action initiatives. The objective of this study were to evaluate the effects of farmer
groups' characteristics and activities on participation in collective marketing of food crops; To
examine the household and farm factors that influences the participation of farmers in
collective marketing of food crops and to assess farmers' perception on the benefits of
marketing food crops collectively. Simple random sampling was used to sample individual
farmers while purposive sampling was used to sample farmer groups who participated in the
study. Primary data were collected using semi - structured interview schedules administered to
farmer groups (n=59) and individual farmers (n=273). Data was analyzed using descriptive
statistics, Logit regression and Principal Component Analysis in Statistical Package for Social
Scientists (SPSS). Results indicate that the age of the group had significant effect on the
participation of a group in collective marketing (p<0.05). The average age of groups not
participating in collective marketing was 9.07 years while those participating had a mean age
of 5.44 years (p<0.05). Group activities significantly affected the participation of groups in
collective marketing initiatives (p<0.05). Training in collective action positively influenced
the participation of farmer groups in collective marketing (p<0.05). Participation of farmers in
collective marketing was influenced by group membership (p<0.05), land tenure (p<0.05), off
farm income (p<O.l), past experience in collective action (p<0.05) and training in collective
action (p<0.05). Results of the principal components analysis show that farmers perceived that
farmer acting collectively accessed training better than those acting individually. Farmers also
perceived that poor individuals, especially women are more likely to participate in collective
action. Also respondents perceived that collective marketing was a better way of marketing
commodities especially due to the ability to negotiate prices and reduce marketing costs.
The results of this study have shown that there are profound effects of some of the farmer
groups and farmer characteristics on participation in collective marketing. Further, results
indicate that farmers perceive collective marketing as a formidable mechanism of marketing
agricultural commodities. This study recommends that variables found significantly
influencing participation in collective marketing of food crops should be put into
considerations when targeting to promote collective marketing among farmers and farmer
groups.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science (agribusiness management) Kenyatta University, July, 2016