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The Maize Green Revolution in Kenya Revisited

Author

Listed:
  • Hugo De Groote

    (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT))

  • George Owuor

    (Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya)

  • Cheryl Doss

    (Yale Center for International and Area Studies)

  • James Ouma

    (Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Embu, Kenya)

  • Lutta Muhammad

    (Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Katuman, Kenya)

  • K. Danda

    (Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Mtwap, Kenya)

Abstract

The maize green revolution, which increased maize yields through the use of improved varieties and fertilizer, has stalled since the mid-eighties in Kenya. This paper examines whether the stagnation of yields continued in the 1990s in spite of the implementation of the maize liberalization policies by the Kenya Government. Analysis of farm level surveys from 1992 and 2002 indicates slight increases in the use of improved maize varieties and fertilizer, but a substantial decrease in the intensity of fertilizer use. The econometric analysis suggests that the intensity of fertilizer use has a major effect on yield. The use of improved maize varieties, however, did not affect yield, suggesting that there are local varieties for some areas that do as well as improved varieties. Research is needed to develop improved varieties for some areas, and also needed for the development of alternative affordable soil fertility measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Hugo De Groote & George Owuor & Cheryl Doss & James Ouma & Lutta Muhammad & K. Danda, 2005. "The Maize Green Revolution in Kenya Revisited," The Electronic Journal of Agricultural and Development Economics, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, vol. 2(1), pages 32-49.
    • Handle: RePEc:fao:tejade:v:2:y:2005:i:1:p:32-49
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mathenge, Mary K. & Smale, Melinda & Olwande, John, 2012. "The Impact of Maize Hybrids on Income, Poverty, and Inequality among Smallholder Farmers in Kenya," Food Security International Development Working Papers 146931, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    2. Christina Handschuch & Meike Wollni, 2016. "Improved production systems for traditional food crops: the case of finger millet in western Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(4), pages 783-797, August.
    3. Smale, Melinda & Olwande, John, 2011. "Is Older Better? Maize Hybrid Change on Household Farms in Kenya," Food Security International Development Working Papers 118474, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    4. Kathage, Jonas & Qaim, Matin & Kassie, Menale & Shiferaw, Bekele A., 2012. "Seed market liberalization, hybrid maize adoption, and impacts on smallholder farmers in Tanzania," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126231, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    5. Nkonya, Ephraim & Gicheru, Patrick & Woelcke, Johannes & Okoba, Barrack & Kilambya, Daniel & Gachimbi, Louis N., 2008. "On-site and off-Site long-term economic impacts of soil fertility management practices: The case of maize-based cropping systems in Kenya," IFPRI discussion papers 778, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    6. Goundan, Anatole & Faye, Amy & Henning, Christian H. C. A. & Collins-Sowah, Peron A., 2020. "Investing in risky inputs in Senegal: Implications for farm profit and food production," Working Papers of Agricultural Policy WP2020-07, University of Kiel, Department of Agricultural Economics, Chair of Agricultural Policy.
    7. Sally Brooks, 2014. "Enabling adaptation? Lessons from the new ‘Green Revolution’ in Malawi and Kenya," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 122(1), pages 15-26, January.
    8. De Groote, H. & Munyua, B. & Ndegwa, M. & Olsen, M., 2018. "Farmer participatory evaluation and potential impact of a dominant male sterility gene (Ms44) for maize in Kenya," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 276032, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    9. Pradyot Ranjan Jena & Hugo Groote & Bibhu Prasad Nayak & Annina Hittmeyer, 2021. "Evolution of Fertiliser Use and its Impact on Maize Productivity in Kenya: Evidence from Multiple Surveys," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(1), pages 95-111, February.
    10. Simon Chege Kimenju & Hugo De Groote, 2008. "Consumer willingness to pay for genetically modified food in Kenya," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 38(1), pages 35-46, January.
    11. Midingoyi, Soul-Kifouly & Affognon, Hippolyte & Macharia, Ibrahim & Leru, Bruno, 2021. "Productivity Effects of Biological Control of Maize Stemborer Pests in Kenya: Damage Control Function Approach," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315385, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    12. Jia, Xiangping, 2009. "Synergistic Green and White Revolution: Evidence from Kenya and Uganda," 2009 Conference, August 16-22, 2009, Beijing, China 51367, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    13. Ogada, Maurice & Nyangena, Wilfred, 2015. "Impact of Improved Farm Technologies on Yields: The Case of Improved Maize Varieties and Inorganic Fertilizers in Kenya," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212590, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    14. Sally Brooks & Michael Loevinsohn, 2011. "Shaping agricultural innovation systems responsive to food insecurity and climate change," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 35(3), pages 185-200, August.
    15. Keijiro OTSUKA & Kaliappa P. KALIRAJAN, 2006. "Rice Green Revolution In Asia And Its Transferability To Africa: An Introduction," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 44(2), pages 107-122, June.
    16. Jones, Ashley D. & Dalton, Timothy J. & Smale, Melinda, 2012. "A Stochastic Production Function Analysis of Maize Hybrids and Yield Variability in Drought-Prone Areas of Kenya," Working Papers 202593, Egerton University, Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development.
    17. Melinda Smale & John Olwande, 2014. "Demand for maize hybrids and hybrid change on smallholder farms in Kenya," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 45(4), pages 409-420, July.
    18. Mathenge, Mary K. & Smale, Melinda & Olwande, John, 2014. "The impacts of hybrid maize seed on the welfare of farming households in Kenya," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 262-271.
    19. Nyangena, Wilfred & Juma, Ogada Maurice, 2014. "Impact of Improved Farm Technologies on Yields: The Case of Improved Maize Varieties and Inorganic Fertilizer in Kenya," RFF Working Paper Series dp-14-02-efd, Resources for the Future.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    green revolution; maize; adoption; soil fertility; Kenya;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q10 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - General
    • Q16 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - R&D; Agricultural Technology; Biofuels; Agricultural Extension Services

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