Maize Productivity and Production Strategies: An Analysis of Kenyan Smallholder Agriculture

Abstract

Against the background of low agricultural productivity and considering that maize is a major staple food crop in Kenya, smallholder farmers' maize production strategies and the subsequent productivity determinants were examined using data from a 1998 farm household survey. Three modelling strategies were used: A probit model to capture the determinants of seed varietal choice, and of maize production in pure stand; a tobit to model the determinants of fertiliser use intensity; and a two-stage least square analysis to model maize productivity. Results show that likelihood of farmers using hybrid seed is influenced by the prices of seed and fertiliser, land size and total household size. However, livestock asset value reduces the likelihood of hybrid seed use. Land size and hybrid seed increases the likelihood of farmers adopting pure stand maize production strategy whereas education, prices of fertiliser and maize, and access cost reduce the likelihood. The intensity of fertilizer use is determined by market access costs, while family labour and fertiliser use intensity, and the level of education influence farm household maize yields.


[IJARD Vol.3 2002: 17-27]