Productivity gaps of 321 groundnut farmers from Uganda and Kenya were analyzed based on data from the 2009 growing seasons, using the stochastic production frontier model of Battese and Coelli (1995). Productivity gaps associated with the use of improved versus local seed varieties, with the...

Modernization and commercialization of the smallholder agricultural sector provides the stimulus and impetus to reducing food insecurity in developing countries. This study seeks to fill the gaps in the literature particularly by comprehensive conceptualization of the drivers of...

We explore households coping and adaptation strategies to climate change and variability in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) using data collected from 500 households across Samburu District; Kenya. We hypothesised that as we move from wet to dry areas, households’ accumulate livestock wealth,...

Paper investigates the determinants of pesticide related Cost of Illness (COI), and acute symptoms, using a balanced panel of 363 farmers interviewed in 2005 and 2008. Finding shows that the incidences of pesticide-related health impairments have increased. Variation in number of symptoms and...

The study assesses the impact of shocks on livestock and the role of adaptation to climate change in protecting assets from weather shocks. Data collection relied on a mixed-method approach, including household surveys and participatory rural appraisals (PRAs) in each site. The study uses panel...

This study assessed the determinants of participation and intensity of participation in collective action initiatives. It also examined the effect of participation in such initiatives on household commercialization and on household welfare (incomes). It uses a double hurdle approach (a logit...

Preserving, managing and improving the health of forest ecosystems worldwide will require equitable leadership and participation from both women and men. Understanding gendered motivations to conserve forest ecosystems may contribute to the design of programs that enable sustainable management...

The objective of the study was to assess the factors influencing the likelihood of adoption and intensity of adoption of Tissue culture banana in four counties of West Kenya. The study utilized cross-section data to analyze the effect of farmers’ demographic, socioeconomic and institutional...

This paper assesses the feasibility of the maize storage structures used in Kenya. Maize is the most important staple crop, but produced seasonally, and consumed continuously at farm level, hence the need for on-farm storage. However, heavy post harvest losses occur mainly during harvesting and...

Improving smallholder farmer market participation (agricultural commercialization) has seen the advent of a number of initiatives from collective action, extension service provision and even programs that utilize ICT tools in the provision of market information. Collective action through farmer...