Farm input marketing in western Kenya : Challenges and opportunities

Widespread and increasing rural poverty in sub-Saharan Africa has been of great concern to development community. Low use of inputs by farmers, due to market constraints that reduce profitability of input use, is one of the factors responsible for the gap between potential and actual yields. Using q...

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Main Authors: Chianu, Jonas N., Mairura, Franklin S., Ekise, IE
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/42852
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author Chianu, Jonas N.
Mairura, Franklin S.
Ekise, IE
author_browse Chianu, Jonas N.
Ekise, IE
Mairura, Franklin S.
author_facet Chianu, Jonas N.
Mairura, Franklin S.
Ekise, IE
author_sort Chianu, Jonas N.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Widespread and increasing rural poverty in sub-Saharan Africa has been of great concern to development community. Low use of inputs by farmers, due to market constraints that reduce profitability of input use, is one of the factors responsible for the gap between potential and actual yields. Using questionnaire, this study interviewed 130 agro-input dealers in Kenya to analyze challenges and opportunities in input delivery. Results indicate that there has been a steady annual growth (2 – 22%, with mean of 16%) in their number. Di-ammonium phosphate fertilizer (stocked by 92% respondents) was most commonly stocked, followed by Calcium Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer (84%), Urea (78%), and NPK (40%). Other services provided by agro-dealers are input information (75% respondents), credit (13%), bulk breaking (8%), and spraying (4%). Inputs selling price increased with distance to markets; long distances to market disconnect villages from input supply chain. High transport cost (53%), low demand (30%), lack of market information (21%), lack of storage facilities (13%), and limited business knowledge (12%) were the most important constraints faced by agro-dealers. Policies and institutional frameworks suggested by dealers to streamline input trade were associated. The study concludes with suggestions on how to enhance efficiency of agro-dealers in input delivery.
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spelling CGSpace428522024-01-17T12:58:34Z Farm input marketing in western Kenya : Challenges and opportunities Chianu, Jonas N. Mairura, Franklin S. Ekise, IE rural conditions crops marketing income poverty farm inputs condiciones rurales cultivos mercadeo renta pobreza insumos agrícolas Widespread and increasing rural poverty in sub-Saharan Africa has been of great concern to development community. Low use of inputs by farmers, due to market constraints that reduce profitability of input use, is one of the factors responsible for the gap between potential and actual yields. Using questionnaire, this study interviewed 130 agro-input dealers in Kenya to analyze challenges and opportunities in input delivery. Results indicate that there has been a steady annual growth (2 – 22%, with mean of 16%) in their number. Di-ammonium phosphate fertilizer (stocked by 92% respondents) was most commonly stocked, followed by Calcium Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer (84%), Urea (78%), and NPK (40%). Other services provided by agro-dealers are input information (75% respondents), credit (13%), bulk breaking (8%), and spraying (4%). Inputs selling price increased with distance to markets; long distances to market disconnect villages from input supply chain. High transport cost (53%), low demand (30%), lack of market information (21%), lack of storage facilities (13%), and limited business knowledge (12%) were the most important constraints faced by agro-dealers. Policies and institutional frameworks suggested by dealers to streamline input trade were associated. The study concludes with suggestions on how to enhance efficiency of agro-dealers in input delivery. 2008 2014-09-24T07:58:40Z 2014-09-24T07:58:40Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/42852 en Open Access
spellingShingle rural conditions
crops
marketing
income
poverty
farm inputs
condiciones rurales
cultivos
mercadeo
renta
pobreza
insumos agrícolas
Chianu, Jonas N.
Mairura, Franklin S.
Ekise, IE
Farm input marketing in western Kenya : Challenges and opportunities
title Farm input marketing in western Kenya : Challenges and opportunities
title_full Farm input marketing in western Kenya : Challenges and opportunities
title_fullStr Farm input marketing in western Kenya : Challenges and opportunities
title_full_unstemmed Farm input marketing in western Kenya : Challenges and opportunities
title_short Farm input marketing in western Kenya : Challenges and opportunities
title_sort farm input marketing in western kenya challenges and opportunities
topic rural conditions
crops
marketing
income
poverty
farm inputs
condiciones rurales
cultivos
mercadeo
renta
pobreza
insumos agrícolas
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/42852
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