THE EFFECT OF FREE FARM INPUT SUPPLY ON AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION AMONG SMALL SCALE MAIZE FARMERS IN MATUNGU SUB-COUNTY, KAKAMEGA COUNTY.

  • Department of Agricultural Education and Extension, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536-20115, Egerton.
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Fertilizer and certified maize seed use on farms is reported to be low in Matungu Sub-county. In effort to mitigate against this vice, the national government put in place programmes that ranged from subsidies to free input issues aimed at the promotion of use of fertilizers and certified seeds tailored to enhance agricultural productivity among smallholder maize farmers in Matungu and other Sub-counties in general. No study has since been undertaken to measure the effect of free farm inputs supply on agricultural technology uptake in Matungu. However, what is observed is continuous use of traditional planting material and minimal growth of commercial fertilizer outlets in the Sub-county. The purpose of this study was to document the effect of free inputs on agricultural technology adoption among small scale maize farmers. A cross- sectional survey research design was used to collect data. Using the coefficient of variation method, a sample size of 120 respondents was randomly selected from a sampling frame of 2,500 small-scale maize farmers who benefitted from free National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Programme (NAAIAP) fertilizers and maize seed. The programme package aimed at identification of small scale maize producers owning land but unable to purchase inputs for the supply of free certified maize seed, planting and topdressing fertilizers in Matungu. Data was collected using a questionnaire from respondents. The instrument was developed by the researcher in consultation with the peers in the stream of Agricultural Extension. Pilot testing of the instrument was done in Mumias, a neighboring sub-county with similar farmer characteristics. 20 farmers were involved and Cronbach?s alpha coefficient of reliability of 0.808 was obtained. Using SPSS computer package, data was analyzed and reported as frequencies, percentages, means and t-test. The study findings indicate that the effect of free farm input issues is significant on Agricultural Technology adoption subject to household food security. The outcome of the study may inform future policy decision making that might guide efforts towards agricultural research development, extension delivery and improved agricultural technology uptake.

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[Keya Martin,Onyango A. Christopher and Obara James. (2017); THE EFFECT OF FREE FARM INPUT SUPPLY ON AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION AMONG SMALL SCALE MAIZE FARMERS IN MATUNGU SUB-COUNTY, KAKAMEGA COUNTY. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 5 (May). 423-431] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com

MARTIN KEYA
Egerton University, P.O. Box 536-20115, Egerton

DOI:

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/4127      
DOI URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/4127

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