Statistical Databases

The role of urban agriculture in global food security is a topic of increasing discussion. Existing research on urban and peri-urban agriculture consists largely of case studies that frequently use disparate definitions of urban and peri-urban agriculture depending on the local context and study objectives. This lack of consistency makes quantification of the extent of this practice at the global scale difficult. This study instead integrates global data on croplands and urban extents using spatial overlay analysis to estimate the global area of urban and peri-urban irrigated and rainfed croplands. The global area of urban irrigated croplands was estimated at about 24 Mha (11.0 percent of all irrigated croplands) with a cropping intensity of 1.48. The global area of urban rainfed croplands found was approximately 44 Mha (4.7 percent of all rainfed croplands) with a cropping intensity of 1.03. These values were derived from the MIRCA2000 Maximum Monthly Cropped Area Grids for irrigated and rainfed crops and therefore their sum does not necessarily represent the total urban cropland area when the maximum extent of irrigated and rainfed croplands occurs in different months. Further analysis of croplands within 20 km of urban extents show that 60 and 35 percent of, respectively, all irrigated and rainfed croplands fall within this distance range. S Online supplementary data available from stacks.iop.org/ERL/9/114002/mmedia

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/9/11/114002/pdf

Global assessment of urban and peri-urban agriculture: irrigated and rainfed croplands

The agricultural component of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) programme in Ghana, consistent with the country’s Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDEP) promotes the commercialization of smallholder farmers. This study analyzes the trends in maize and cassava production by farm households in Ghana and; estimates the levels of commercialization of these two crops. It also quantifies the magnitude and direction of factors influencing intensity of commercialization by the farm households using the Tobit regression analysis. Results indicate a higher annual growth rate of cassava production (16%) compared to maize production (6%). The extents of maize and cassava commercialization are 0.53 and 0.72 respectively; whilst total agricultural commercialization with respect to these two crops is 0.66. The study observes, inter alia, that output price, farm size, households with access to extension services, distance to market and market information determine the extent of commercialization. These results have implications for agricultural policy in Ghana.

Commercialization of smallholder agriculture in Ghana: A Tobit regression analysis

This study assessed the determinants of intensity of adoption of Improved Rice Varieties (IRVs) and the effect of market participation on farmers’ welfare in Nigeria using the Tobit and Heckman two-stage models, respectively. The sample consists of cross-sectional data of 600 rice farmers selected randomly from three notable rice producing States in Nigeria. The variables that positively and significantly influenced the intensity of IRVs adoption include income from rice production, membership of a farmers’ organization, and the distance to the nearest sources of seed, cost of seed, yield and level of training. Gender of household head, access to improved seed, years of formal education, and average rice yield were those variables that are positive and statistically significant in increasing the probability that a farmer would participate in the market. The result further suggests that any increase in the farmers’ welfare is conditional on the probability of the farmer participating in the rice output markets. In addition, higher yield, income from rice production, gender of household head, and years of formal education are the variables that are positive and statistically significant in determining households’ welfare. Therefore, it is recommended that formation of associations among the rural farmers should be encouraged. Access to seed and information about the IRVs are also essential to increase the intensity of its adoption. Programmes to improve contact with extension agents, increased access to credit, raising educational background and increasing the area devoted to cultivating IRVs are the factors to be promoted in order to increase market participation and hence improve the welfare of rural households.

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Agricultural technology adoption, commercialization and smallholder rice farmers’ welfare in rural Nigeria

Kenya’s smallholder agriculture remains a major engine of rural growth and livelihood improvement, yet it is largely semi-subsistence. Therefore, any pathway that can lift large numbers of the rural poor out of poverty will require some form of transformation of smallholder agriculture into a more commercialized production system. This study used a three-year panel household data set collected in 2000, 2004 and 2007 and across nine agroecological zones of Kenya to assess the extent of market participation among poor smallholder farmers in Kenya with a view to identifying constraints to market participation among and potential market opportunities for the poor. Descriptive results reveal differences in market participation across selected commodity groups among poor and non-poor households, with poor households having generally lower market participation. Some characteristics of the poor households that could partly explain this low market participation include low literacy levels, small land sizes, low asset values, low access to credit and limited ability to produce surpluses for the market. In terms of factors that could enhance market participation for poor households, we find that land size and membership in farmer organization play significant roles. These results suggest that any hope for the poor to participate in markets and make any meaningful gains from agriculture lies in improving productivity of their land as well as improving their access to land. Increasing social capital through promotion of collective action among poor households can also be of great value in enhancing their access to markets.

Market Participation among Poor Rural Households in Kenya

Participation in commercial agriculture holds considerable potential for unlocking suitable opportunity sets necessary for providing better incomes and sustainable livelihoods for smallscale farmers. This study examined factors that influence the intensity of market participation among smallholder farmers in Kenya. Data was obtained through a rapid rural appraisal and a household survey. A truncated regression model was applied in the analysis. Results showed that farmers in peri-urban areas sold higher proportions of their output than those in rural areas. Distance from farm to point of sale is a major constraint to the intensity of market participation. Better output price and market information are key incentives for increased sales. These findings demonstrate the urgent need to strengthen market information delivery systems, upgrade roads in both rural and peri-urban areas, encourage market integration initiatives, and establish more retail outlets with improved market facilities in the remote rural villages in order to promote production and trade in high value commodities by rural farmers.

Factors influencing the intensity of market participation by smallholder farmers: A case study of rural and peri-urban areas of Kenya

There has been a consistent decline of Irish potato production in Kenya which challenges the food security status of the country. This paper used data from a field survey using a random sample of 127 smallholder potato producers from Nyandarua North District to assess technical efficiency in resource use and to identify the underlying determinants of variations in production efficiency. A dual stochastic parametric decomposition technique was used to derive technical efficiency indices while a two-limit Tobit model was used to examine the effects of socio-economic characteristics and institutional factors on the derived technical efficiency indices. Results show that resource use is subject to decreasing returns to scale while the mean technical efficiency is 67%. Education, access to extension, access to credit and membership in a farmers’ association and innovations positively and significantly influence technical efficiency. Therefore, Innovative institutional arrangements that enhance extension and farmer training, accompanied with improved access to credit are likely to enhance potato production efficiency.

	 

	Key words: Efficiency, food insecurity, productivity, stochastic frontier function, Kenya.

Technical efficiency in resource use: Evidence from smallholder Irish potato farmers in Nyandarua North District, Kenya.

Transformations in agri-food systems provide prospects for improving livelihoods of many farmers through enhanced participation in commercial agriculture. Indeed, various studies have been undertaken to establish factors that influence the level of market orientation in different areas. However, those studies do not show appropriate objective criteria to support decisions for either separating or merging data and the subsequent analyses for different sites. Consequently, policy inferences made from such studies may be misleading due to failure to statistically account for site-specific variations in data. This study fills the analytical gap evident in literature by using the Chow test and descriptive measures of statistical difference to compare the intensity of market participation among rural and peri-urban vegetable farmers in Kenya. Results show that there are significant differences in the percentage of output sold, distance from farm to market, and the unit price of sale for output between the Rural and Peri-Urban areas. These findings demonstrate the urgent need for appropriate statistical evidence to improve disaggregated analyses of agricultural market participation in different systems and environments. This would enable targeting of development strategies to effectively address the changing agricultural landscape; particularly enhancing food supply and ensuring better farm incomes. There is need to improve market information provision, develop farmers’ business skills, improve roads and or support establishment of high value vegetable market outlets at different scales in Rural and Peri-Urban areas.

	 

	Key words: Vegetable farmers, market participation, development policy, Kenya.

https://www.academicjournals.org/article/article1380969505_Otieno et al.pdf

Market participation by vegetable farmers in Kenya: a comparison of Rural and Peri-Urban areas.

Sm allholder Agriculture is key to livelihoods of many rural households in developing and transition economies. In Kenya, small farms account for over 75% of total agricultural production and nearly 50% of the marketed output. Despite favourable trends in global development drivers such as rising population, per capita incomes and emerging urban dietary preferences, most smallholder farmers remain poor. This study sought to characterize agricultural commercialization trends, identify and prioritize constraints to participation in markets, analyse determinants of percentage of output sold, and explore strategies to promote market-oriented production. A participatory Rapid Rural Appraisal approach, household survey and a Truncated Regression model were used. A sample of 224 farmers: 76 of them growing maize, 77 involved in horticulture (kales and tomatoes) and 71 practising dairy, were interviewed in one peri-urban and one rural district (Kiambu and Kisii, respectively). Results show that in rural areas, lower levels of output are sold and fewer farmers participate in markets compared to the peri-urban areas. Opportunities for profitable commercial agriculture are observed in growing demand, emerging food preferences and intensive farming. At village-level, market participation is hampered by poor quality and high cost of inputs, high transportation costs, high market charges and unreliable market information. At the household-level, the determinants of percentage of output sold are producer prices, market information arrangement, output, distance to the market, share of non-farm income and gender. Strategies are suggested to improve rural input supply, institutional and regulatory framework, enhance value addition and strengthen market information provision.

Strategies to Promote Market-Oriented Smallholder Agriculture in Developing Countries: A Case of Kenya

This paper analyzes the influence of social capital on the farmers' perception of the soil erosion problem and the level of investments in soil conservation in marginal areas of Kenya. It uses data from a survey of 321 households in Machakos and Taita-Taveta Districts. A Heckman's two-step model is applied to assess the influence of social capital on investments in soil conservation by farmers. Results show that the education level of the household head, slope of farmers' fields, proportion of off-farm income, and the status of soil erosion are significant determinants of the likelihood of farmers recognizing soil erosion as an important problem. Household size, slope, land tenure security, membership diversity, age of household head, farm size per capita and membership in groups influence investments in soil control measures such as terraces. The effects, however, are location-specific. The policy challenge is to establish and strengthen social capital elements that have a strong influence on communities undertaking soil conservation measures to promote sustainable agriculture, and improve land tenure security.

John M. Omiti

Papers

Factors influencing the intensity of market participation by smallholder farmers: A case study of rural and peri-urban areas of Kenya

Technical efficiency in resource use: Evidence from smallholder Irish potato farmers in Nyandarua North District, Kenya.

Market participation by vegetable farmers in Kenya: a comparison of Rural and Peri-Urban areas.

Strategies to Promote Market-Oriented Smallholder Agriculture in Developing Countries: A Case of Kenya

The Influence of Social Capital on Natural Resource Management in Marginal Areas of Kenya