Record Details

Determinants of the use of certified seed potato among smallholder farmers: the case of potato growers in central and eastern Kenya.

CGSpace

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Title Determinants of the use of certified seed potato among smallholder farmers: the case of potato growers in central and eastern Kenya.
 
Creator Okello, J.J.
Zhou, Y.
Kwikiriza, N.
Ogutu, S.O.
Barker, I.
Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar
Atieno, E.
Ahmed, J.T.
 
Subject SEED POTATOES
SMALLHOLDERS
SEED CERTIFICATION
YIELDS
USE EFFICIENCY
 
Description Potato yields in sub-Saharan Africa remain very low compared with those of developed countries. Yet potato is major food staple and source of income to the predominantly smallholder growing households in the tropical highlands of this region. A major cause of the low potato yields is the use of poor quality seed potato. This paper examines the factors determining the decision to use certified seed potato (CSP), as well as the intensity of its use, among potato growers with access to it. We focused on potato growers in the central highlands of Kenya and used regression analysis to test hypotheses relating to potential impediments of CSP use. The study found that the distance to the market (a proxy for transaction costs), household food insecurity, and asset endowment affect the decision to use CSP. However, the effect of the intensity of use of CSP depends on how the intensity variable is defined. Several other control variables also affect the decision and extent of CSP use. The study concludes that transaction costs, asset endowment, and household food insecurity play a major role in the decision by smallholder potato farmers to use CSP and the extent to which they do so. We also discuss the policy implications of the findings.
 
Date 2017-05-23T14:51:14Z
2017-05-23T14:51:14Z
2016-10
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Okello, J.J.; Zhou, Y.; Kwikiriza, N.; Ogutu, S.O.; Barker, I.; Schulte-Geldermann, E.; Atieno, E.; Ahmed, J.T. 2016. Determinants of the use of certified seed potato among smallholder farmers: the case of potato growers in central and eastern Kenya. Agriculture. (Switzerland). ISSN 2077-0472. 6(4):12 p.
2077-0472
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/81183
 
Language en
 
Format 12 p.
 
Source Agriculture