The economics and gender factor in soya bean production and profitability in Kenya: a case of smallholder farms in Western Kenya
Date
2017
Authors
Mutoni, Christine K.
Esilaba, Anthony O.
Mabele, Robert B.
Nyongesa, Dave
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Int. J. Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology
Abstract
Soya-bean is among world’s major crops, cultivated for its high oil, proteins content and its ability in soil-fertility amendments. The study assessed the determinants, constraints and profitability/gross-margins of soya-bean production in Western Kenya. Multistage sampling technique and field surveys were used in data-collection process covering 370 households. Regression, gender, profitability and gross-margins were the analyses done. Results indicated gross-margins of soya-bean production within the study sites differed significantly from zero (KES 13,401-20,545); it was profitable because net profits ranged from KES 9243–13,548 for 2010. All gender-cadres shared in soya-bean production activities (5.0–18.0%). The mean technical-, allocative- and economic-efficiencies obtained were 0.78, 65 and 0.59 respectively. Smallholders/farmers’ economic-inefficiencies arose from many negativelysigned and statistically significant factors/coefficients with p-values of 0.0000– 0.0240. Increased use of these factors and county governments and other stakeholders’ interventions would positively impact smallholders’ efficiency resulting into higher output and profitability.
Description
Keywords
gender, cost, soya-bean production, profitability/gross-margins, profitability/gross-margins, Western Kenya, smallholder(s), interviewees, marketing, technical efficiency, allocative-efficiency, economic-efficiency, stochastic-frontier
Citation
Int. J. Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, Vol. 13, No. 3, 2017