Browsing by Author "Kimani, J."
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Item Farmers Demonstrate Rationality and Transitivity in Variety Choice: Empirical Evidence from Two Rice Growing Niches in Coastal Kenya(International Journal of Agriculture, 2021) Kengo, M.; Kimani, J.; Sang-Bok, L.Purpose: A cross-sectional survey was designed to study farmers’ preference and choice framework for rice varieties in Kwale and Taita-Taveta counties of coastal lowland Kenya. Methodology: The survey used a multi-stage sampling technique; systematic selection for the study counties/niches, a purposive sampling approach for the study population (rice growers only) and a systematic random sampling for the respondents on an nth occurrence. Data was collected with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire and key informant interviews from key rice value chain actors; including farmers as producers as well as consumers and agricultural extension service providers (AESPs) and other stakeholders. A total of 137 individual respondents were interviewed using the semi-structured questionnaire while the key informant interviews engaged a total of 29 AESPs. Data analysis focused on exploring on the varieties that farmers grew and whether they had a criteria or pattern for choosing the varieties to grow and seed source. Findings: Results confirmed that the Kwale rice growing niche had a higher rice variety diversity (more than 12 varieties) while Taita-Taveta had only around seven (7) common varieties. Rice was more traditionally grown in Kwale with low acreage and low yields compared to Taita-Taveta. Common varieties grown were Pachanga, Supa, Kitumbo, Makonde and Kibawa in Kwale while in Taita-Taveta, Japan, Supa and Hybrid 6444 rice varieties were common (with prevalence rating of 44.8%, 25.4%, 22.4%, 20.9 and 17.9% in Kwale respectively and 55.7%, 54.3% and 18.6% in Taita-Taveta respectively). Varieties grown by farmers in Kwale had a long history of seed recycling and were characterized by low productivity (less than 6, 90- kg bags per acre) and subsistent in nature than in Taita-Taveta. The general picture for variety prevalence in both (Kwale and Taita) growing niches was that farmers mostly relied on traditional (own-preserved, farmer-to-farmer exchange or market) seed systems for the recycled rice varieties. Variety choice by farmers who are both producers and consumers demonstrated a rational and transitive behavior with land resource allocation. Contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study provided evidence of an urgent need for strategic interventions towards improving the production system through on-farm researcher-led demonstrations for superior rice varieties, agronomic practices as well as an input subsidy and sustainable market linkages. Formation of farmer producer groups and strategic facilitation of the groups with rice certified seed and mills are proposed as positive drivers to improving rice marketing and increased productivity.Item Farmers’ Demonstrate Rationality and Transitivity in Variety Choice: Empirical Evidence From two Rice Growing Niches in Coastal Kenya(International Journal of Agriculture, 2021) Kengo, M.; Kimani, J.; Sang-Bok, L.; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization ; Africa Rice Training CenterPurpose: A cross-sectional survey was designed to study farmers’ preference and choice framework for rice varieties in Kwale and Taita-Taveta counties of coastal lowland Kenya. Methodology: The survey used a multi-stage sampling technique; systematic selection for the study counties/niches, a purposive sampling approach for the study population (rice growers only) and a systematic random sampling for the respondents on an n th occurrence. Data was collected with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire and key informant interviews from key rice value chain actors; including farmers as producers as well as consumers and agricultural extension service providers (AESPs) and other stakeholders. A total of 137 individual respondents were interviewed using the semi-structured questionnaire while the key informant interviews engaged a total of 29 AESPs. Data analysis focused on exploring on the varieties that farmers grew and whether they had a criteria or pattern for choosing the varieties to grow and seed source. Findings: Results confirmed that the Kwale rice growing niche had a higher rice variety diversity (more than 12 varieties) while Taita-Taveta had only around seven (7) common varieties. Rice was more traditionally grown in Kwale with low acreage and low yields compared to Taita-Taveta. Common varieties grown were Pachanga, Supa, Kitumbo, Makonde and Kibawa in Kwale while in Taita-Taveta, Japan, Supa and Hybrid 6444 rice varieties were common (with prevalence rating of 44.8%, 25.4%, 22.4%, 20.9 and 17.9% in Kwale respectively and 55.7%, 54.3% and 18.6% in Taita-Taveta respectively). Varieties grown by farmers in Kwale had a long history of seed recycling and were characterized by low productivity (less than 6, 90-kg bags per acre) and subsistent in nature than in Taita-Taveta. The general picture for variety prevalence in both (Kwale and Taita) growing niches was that farmers mostly relied on traditional (own-preserved, farmer-to-farmer exchange or market) seed systems for the recycled rice varieties. Variety choice by farmers who are both producers and consumers demonstrated a rational and transitive behavior with land resource allocation. Contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study provided evidence of an urgent need for strategic interventions towards improving the production system through on-farm researcher-led demonstrations for superior rice varieties, agronomic practices as well as an input subsidy and sustainable market linkages. Formation of farmer producer groups and strategic facilitation of the groups with rice certified seed and mills are proposed as positive drivers to improving rice marketing and increased productivity.Item Farmers’ Preference for Rice Traits: Insights from Farm Surveys in Busia County, Kenya(International journal of Agriculture, 2022-03-16) Danda, K.; Kimani, J.; Kang, K. H.; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Industrial Crops Research Institute ; AfricaRice Center, National Institute of Crop Science - Rural Development Administration of Korea (RDA)Purpose: A cross-sectional survey was designed to study farmers' preferences for rice varieties in Busia County, Kenya. Methodology: The survey used a multi-stage sampling technique for site selection and a purposive strategy for rice growers/producers. Data was collected from key rice value chain stakeholders including farmers, extension service providers, local leaders and hoteliers using focus group discussions by use of guiding checklists and a structured questionnaire. A total of 26 key informants and 62 individual respondents in the categories mentioned were interviewed. Descriptive analysis was done along with cross-tabulations to establish associations. Findings: Results indicated that rice was a significantly important farm enterprise among the respondents with a higher land allocation of 2.04 acres followed by maize with 1.14 acres. Seed sources were mainly traditional with fellow farmers being instrumental in seed sharing at cost (59.7% buying form other farmers) followed by free issues (19.4% getting free from other farmers). Research as a seed source lagged at 8.1%. Variety choice was said to be dictated by high yield, early maturity and one thousand seed weight by 80.6%, 77.4% and 40.3% respectively. These attributes were also ranked as first, second and third positions respectively. Rice production followed traditional patterns as 60% of producers/farmers depended on a farmer-to-farmer seed system over all the production periods. There also lacked structures and efforts to upscale rice production and therefore this paper recommends formulation and direction of concerted efforts towards on-farm participatory research and formation of social networks for rice production and marketing information. Contribution to theory, practice and policy: The results give impetus to conclude that farmers know which traits are of priority in variety selection. Going by farmers’ perceptions simply means responding to consumer demand for quality in rice production. The study also demonstrated enormous potential for rice production as demonstrated by the will of the farmers to allocate 45% of their land parcels to rice production. It also brought out that the fact that certified rice seeds are rarely used and therefore, there is urgent need to establish seed systems and distribution pathways in order to improve on yields as well as quality of paddy hence more income to farmers and other rice value chain players. The concepts of field demonstrations and on-farm participatory research need to be up-scaling for enhanced transformation of rice production landscape in the region.Item Fertilizer Effects on Panicle Characteristics, Grain Weight and Yield of Upland Rice in Lowlands of Taita Taveta, Kenya(International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, 2022-07-11) Milela, R.M.; Kambura, A.K.; Maghenda, M.; Gacheru, J.; Maghanga, J.; Kimani, J.; Mcharo, M.; Taita Taveta University ; Taita Taveta County Government, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation ; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research OrganizationThis study was done at Mlughi Agricultural demonstration farm in Bura, Taita Taveta County-Kenya to test upland rice varietal performance and di-ammonium fertilizer effects on panicle characteristics and yield parameter. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with seven upland rice varieties and three fertilizer levels. The treatments were replicated thrice to give a total of 63 treatment combinations or plots. The experiment was carried out for two seasons (short rains from October to December 2018 and long rains from March to May 2019). The upland rice varieties included 17KH09010014B, 17KH09010093B, AT 058, China Hybrid, NERICA 1, NERICA 4, and NERICA 10. The fertilizer treatments were di-ammonium phosphate fertilizer (DAP), farm yard manure (FYM), and a control of no fertilizer. Topdressing was done at the flowering stage with NPK fertilizer. Data collected included plant height, number of leaves, tiller number, panicle length, spikelets count per panicle, grain yield ha-1 and weight of 1000 grains. The data were subjected to multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) using R version 3.6.1 program and Tukey’s HSD test, p ≤ 0.05 was used to separate the significant means. The results showed that there was significant influence (p = 0.0001) of overall seasonal, treatment and variety on the yield of rice grains in tonnes per hectare. The 2018 season had the lowest tonnage compared to the 2019 season. Crops under the control treatment yielded the least tonnage per hectare while the DAP treated fields yielded the highest in both seasons. NERICA 4 was the highest yielding variety while AT 058 was the least yielding among the treatments in both seasons. It was therefore concluded that the application of DAP and FYM significantly increased rice productivity. Farmers are therefore encouraged to carry out soil fertility testing occasionally and to plant NERICA varieties.
