Browsing by Author "Senkondo, E.M"
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Item Adoption of a New Maize and Production Efficiency in Western Kenya(2010-09) Mignouna, D.B; Mutabazi, k; Senkondo, E.M; Manyong, V.M.Declining yields of maize as a result of Striga infestation has necessitated a new technology known as Imazapyr-resistant maize (IRM) to contain the problem. As a result, research and development initiatives with substantial participation of the private sector to transfer this new technology to farmers have been made in western Kenya. This study therefore assesses the adoption of IRM variety and efficiency levels of farmers in western Kenya. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 600 households from Nyanza and Western provinces for this study. Tobit model and stochastic production frontier analysis were the analytical methods. Results show that age, education, maize production gap, risk, contact with extension agents, lack of seeds, membership in social group, effective pathway for IRM dissemination and compatibility of the technology are the variables that were found to be significant (P<0.05) in shaping the decisions of households on whether to adopt or not. The study reveals that the mean technical efficiency of maize production of sampled farmers is 70% indicating some inefficiencies of maize production in western Kenya. Also, adoption of IRM significantly increased frontier maize output (P<0.01); household size decreased inefficiency along with farm size. It was recommended that efforts to increase adoption of IRM for enhanced farm efficiency should focus on farmers’ education, farming experience and access to information and farm basic inputs.Item Adoption of a new maize and production efficiency in western Kenya(2010-09) Mignouna, D.B; Mutabazi, K; Senkondo, E.M; Manyong, V.MDeclining yields of maize as a result of Striga infestation has necessitated a new technology known as Imazapyr-resistant maize (IRM) to contain the problem. As a result, research and development initiatives with substantial participation of the private sector to transfer this new technology to farmers have been made in western Kenya. This study therefore assesses the adoption of IRM variety and efficiency levels of farmers in western Kenya. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 600 households from Nyanza and Western provinces for this study. Tobit model and stochastic production frontier analysis were the analytical methods. Results show that age, education, maize production gap, risk, contact with extension agents, lack of seeds, membership in social group, effective pathway for IRM dissemination and compatibility of the technology are the variables that were found to be significant (P<0.05) in shaping the decisions of households on whether to adopt or not. The study reveals that the mean technical efficiency of maize production of sampled farmers is 70% indicating some inefficiencies of maize production in western Kenya. Also, adoption of IRM significantly increased frontier maize output (P<0.01); household size decreased inefficiency along with farm size. It was recommended that efforts to increase adoption of IRM for enhanced farm efficiency should focus on farmers’ education, farming experience and access to information and farm basic inputsItem Indigenous knowledge as decision support tool in rainwater harvesting(Elsevier [Commercial Publisher], 2005-08-15) Mbilinyi, B.P; Tumbo, S.D; Mahoo, H.F; Senkondo, E.M; Hatibu, NRainfall patterns in semi-arid areas are typically highly variable, both spatially and temporally. As a result, people who rely com- pletely on rainwater for their survival have over the centuries developed indigenous knowledge/techniques to harvest rainwater. These traditional water-harvesting systems have been sustainable for centuries. The reason for this is that they are compatible with local life- styles, local institutional patterns and local social systems. In order to develop sustainable strategies, it is therefore important to take into account of, and learn from, what local people already know and do, and to build on this. This paper explores how indigenous knowledge is used by farmers in the Makanya catchment, Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania to identify potential sites for rainwater harvesting (RWH). The paper draws on participatory research methods including focus group discussions, key informant interviews, field visits and partic- ipatory workshops. Initial findings indicate that farmers do hold a substantial amount of knowledge about the resources around them. As there are spatially typical aspects to indigenous knowledge, it could be extrapolated over a wider geographic extent. From the pre- liminary findings, it is being recommended that geographic information system (GIS) could be an important tool to collect and upscale the utility of diverse indigenous knowledge in the decision-making process.