1. Farm input market system in Western Kenya: constraints, opportunities and policy implications
Innovations as Key to the Green Revolution in Africa: Exploring the Scientific Facts
Arusha, Tanzania, September 2007
Innovations as Key to the Green Revolution in Africa: Exploring the Scientific Facts
Arusha, Tanzania, September 2007
Jonas N. Chianu*, Franklin Mairura, Isaac Ekise
Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility institute of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (TSBF-CIAT), Nairobi, Kenya
* Corresponding author:
Introduction
Results and discussions
Low use of farm inputs by farmers in SSA is responsible for the gap between potential farmers’ yields and actual crop yields at farm level.
Fertilizer use in Africa is <10% of global mean (Figure 1). Even a 100% increase cannot significantly improve SSA fertilizer profile or provide adequate support for a green revolution in Africa.
Few farmers in western Kenya use adequate levels of inputs or fertilizer. .
Study was in 13 districts in western Kenya.
A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of agro-input dealers randomly selected.
Main parameters: Agro-inputs sold, other farm services to farmers, constraints and challenges, favorable agro-input policies , etc.
Online distance calculator, based on the World Geodetic System (1984) ellipsoid, was used to estimate distances between input selling and purchasing points.
Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 11.5.
Agro-input dealers in the survey area (2003–2005)
Table 1: Number of agro-input dealers selling different farm inputs (2003–2005)
Agro-input
Number of input dealers*
% Increase
2003
2004
2005
Fertilizers
245
276
299 22
Insecticides
314
351
372 19
Farm Machinery 69 78 82
Herbicides 61 67 72 18
Fungicide
234
255
275
Improved seeds
176
189
198 13
Storage chemical
244
263
271 11
Seed treatment chemicals 43 44 2
Global average(93kg/ha)
* Responses were collated for different input brands within each agro-input category
Between 2003 and 2005, the increase in number of agro-input dealers ranged from 2% (seed treatment chemicals) to 22% (mineral fertilizers); mean 16% across inputs.
Differences in the magnitude of % increase reflects the demand for different inputs.
Mean agro-input sourcing distance: 80 km (fertilizers) to 100 km (storage chemicals) (Table not shown).
A positive correlation between selling price and sourcing distance; magnitude varied with inputs.
Other services provided by agro-dealers
Business constraints
Table 2: Average number of farmers who benefited from other services given by agro-dealers (According to dealers)
Figure 1: Mean fertilizer use by markets (kg/ha)
Source: FAO, 2003
Other services
Number of farmers#
Female
Male
Input packaging
3100 (2)
15000 (2)
Soil suitability information
796 (7)
3650 (7)
Soil fertility information
787 (7)
3645 (7)
Seed variety information
656 (13)
2656 (12)
Agrochemicals information
735 (14)
2328 (13)
Credit facilities
255 (12)
298 (12)
Spraying
30 (3)
75 (3)
This paper examines constraints and challenges limiting expansion of farm input use by small farmers in Western Kenya by assessing input supply side issues.
Materials and methods
Figure 2: Constraints faced by input dealers in western Kenya
#Values are effective sample sizes of dealers who offered service
Only 2-11% of agro-input dealers surveyed provided other services to small-scale farmers
Main constraints facing agro-input dealers: High transport cost and low demand.
Major institutions agro-input dealers felt should intervene to remove business constraints:
Government (48%): To facilitate loan access, tax reduction, and input quality control
Universities and research institutions (26%).
Policy and institutional framework
Table 3: Policy areas suggested by agro-dealers to enhance farm input supply sector
Policy
% dealers
Training 29
Enhanced access to credit 21
Extension, research, infrastructure 15
Tax reduction 14
Illegal trade and adulteration 13
Input supply management 8
Total
100
Conclusions and way forward
Agro-input dealers in western Kenya face enormous problems (e.g., infrastructure, low demand) in their business.
Only very few agro-input dealers are in a position to provide other services (input-related information, credit, etc.).
High farm-level input price is mostly due to the input sourcing distance.
Government policy and institutional intervention are critical in stimulate the input supply sector and effectively usher in sustainable green revolution in Africa.
Important paradox
Farmers everywhere in the world can find Coca-cola but they cannot find most farm inputs when they need them
Acknowledgement
Asante sana
A typical farm input shop
We acknowledge the agro-input dealers and in western Kenya and contributors for their co-operation in the study