Use of inorganic fertilizer on climate-smart crops improves smallholder farmers' livelihoods: Evidence from Western Kenya
The main challenges facing smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are soil fertility decline and climate change, culminating in increased food insecurity. The double effect of climate change and soil fertility decline could be devastating among the poor rural smallholder farmers, who solely...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291123001420 |
| _version_ | 1797374166541795328 |
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| author | Collins M. Musafiri Milka Kiboi Joseph Macharia Onesmus K. Ng'etich Michael Okoti Betty Mulianga David K. Kosgei Abdirahman Zeila Felix K. Ngetich |
| author_facet | Collins M. Musafiri Milka Kiboi Joseph Macharia Onesmus K. Ng'etich Michael Okoti Betty Mulianga David K. Kosgei Abdirahman Zeila Felix K. Ngetich |
| author_sort | Collins M. Musafiri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The main challenges facing smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are soil fertility decline and climate change, culminating in increased food insecurity. The double effect of climate change and soil fertility decline could be devastating among the poor rural smallholder farmers, who solely depend on rain-fed agriculture with little investment in adaptive mechanisms. Using inorganic fertilizers and careful selection of climate-resilient crops such as sorghum could improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers through improved soil health and crop yields. However, information on the effects of inorganic fertilizer on sorghum production remains uncertain, especially in SSA. We evaluated the effects of inorganic fertilizers on sorghum yields among smallholder farmers in Western Kenya. We conducted a cross-sectional survey and collected data from 300 smallholder sorghum farmers. We employed a multi-stage sampling procedure to collect data from the specific smallholder farmers from the target population. We employed endogenous switching regression (ESR) modeling to control observed and unobserved bias in predicting the effects of inorganic fertilizer use on productivity. Smallholder farmers applied a limited amount of inorganic fertilizer. We established that hired labor, agricultural training, and farmers' perception of soil erosion were significant positive determinants of inorganic fertilizer use. Location and access to weather forecast information were key negative determinants of inorganic fertilizer use. The use of inorganic fertilizer increased crop yields by 14%. The findings suggested that inorganic amendments could promote food security and improve purchasing power, thus enhancing smallholder farmers' capacity to cope with declining soil fertility and climate change-related challenges. Therefore, agricultural policies targeting improved productivity of smallholder sorghum farmers could enhance inorganic fertilizer use while considering the determinants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:00:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a454bd55ea242c988c838671189393c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-2911 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:00:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a454bd55ea242c988c838671189393c2023-12-28T05:18:51ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112023-01-0181100537Use of inorganic fertilizer on climate-smart crops improves smallholder farmers' livelihoods: Evidence from Western KenyaCollins M. Musafiri0Milka Kiboi1Joseph Macharia2Onesmus K. Ng'etich3Michael Okoti4Betty Mulianga5David K. Kosgei6Abdirahman Zeila7Felix K. Ngetich8Cortile Scientific, PO BOX 34991 – 00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Corresponding author.Cortile Scientific, PO BOX 34991 – 00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Division of Research, Innovations and Outreach, KCA University, PO BOX 56808 – 00200, Nairobi, KenyaKenyatta University, Department of Geography, PO Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Water and Agricultural Resource Management, University of Embu, PO BOX. 6-60100, Embu, KenyaKenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Headquarters, PO BOX 30148 – 00100, Nairobi, KenyaKenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Sugar Research Institute (SRI), PO Box 44-40100, Kisumu, KenyaDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Resource Management, Moi University, PO Box 3900 – 30100, Eldoret, KenyaThe World Bank, Nairobi, KenyaCortile Scientific, PO BOX 34991 – 00100, Nairobi, Kenya; School of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), PO Box 210 - 40601, Bondo, KenyaThe main challenges facing smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are soil fertility decline and climate change, culminating in increased food insecurity. The double effect of climate change and soil fertility decline could be devastating among the poor rural smallholder farmers, who solely depend on rain-fed agriculture with little investment in adaptive mechanisms. Using inorganic fertilizers and careful selection of climate-resilient crops such as sorghum could improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers through improved soil health and crop yields. However, information on the effects of inorganic fertilizer on sorghum production remains uncertain, especially in SSA. We evaluated the effects of inorganic fertilizers on sorghum yields among smallholder farmers in Western Kenya. We conducted a cross-sectional survey and collected data from 300 smallholder sorghum farmers. We employed a multi-stage sampling procedure to collect data from the specific smallholder farmers from the target population. We employed endogenous switching regression (ESR) modeling to control observed and unobserved bias in predicting the effects of inorganic fertilizer use on productivity. Smallholder farmers applied a limited amount of inorganic fertilizer. We established that hired labor, agricultural training, and farmers' perception of soil erosion were significant positive determinants of inorganic fertilizer use. Location and access to weather forecast information were key negative determinants of inorganic fertilizer use. The use of inorganic fertilizer increased crop yields by 14%. The findings suggested that inorganic amendments could promote food security and improve purchasing power, thus enhancing smallholder farmers' capacity to cope with declining soil fertility and climate change-related challenges. Therefore, agricultural policies targeting improved productivity of smallholder sorghum farmers could enhance inorganic fertilizer use while considering the determinants.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291123001420Community welfareCounterfactual analysisPropensity score matchingDrought-tolerant crop |
| spellingShingle | Collins M. Musafiri Milka Kiboi Joseph Macharia Onesmus K. Ng'etich Michael Okoti Betty Mulianga David K. Kosgei Abdirahman Zeila Felix K. Ngetich Use of inorganic fertilizer on climate-smart crops improves smallholder farmers' livelihoods: Evidence from Western Kenya Social Sciences and Humanities Open Community welfare Counterfactual analysis Propensity score matching Drought-tolerant crop |
| title | Use of inorganic fertilizer on climate-smart crops improves smallholder farmers' livelihoods: Evidence from Western Kenya |
| title_full | Use of inorganic fertilizer on climate-smart crops improves smallholder farmers' livelihoods: Evidence from Western Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Use of inorganic fertilizer on climate-smart crops improves smallholder farmers' livelihoods: Evidence from Western Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of inorganic fertilizer on climate-smart crops improves smallholder farmers' livelihoods: Evidence from Western Kenya |
| title_short | Use of inorganic fertilizer on climate-smart crops improves smallholder farmers' livelihoods: Evidence from Western Kenya |
| title_sort | use of inorganic fertilizer on climate smart crops improves smallholder farmers livelihoods evidence from western kenya |
| topic | Community welfare Counterfactual analysis Propensity score matching Drought-tolerant crop |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291123001420 |
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