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Determinants of the Use of Certified Seed Potato among Smallholder Farmers: The Case of Potato Growers in Central and Eastern Kenya

Author

Listed:
  • Julius Juma Okello

    (International Potato Center, SSA regional office, P.O. Box 25171, Nairobi 00603, Kenya)

  • Yuan Zhou

    (Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Norman Kwikiriza

    (International Potato Center, SSA regional office, P.O. Box 25171, Nairobi 00603, Kenya)

  • Sylvester Ochieng Ogutu

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Georg-August-University Goettingen, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany)

  • Ian Barker

    (Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Elmar Schulte-Geldermann

    (International Potato Center, SSA regional office, P.O. Box 25171, Nairobi 00603, Kenya)

  • Elly Atieno

    (International Potato Center, SSA regional office, P.O. Box 25171, Nairobi 00603, Kenya)

  • Justin Taj Ahmed

    (Global Chemicals & Agriculture Practice, North American Knowledge Center, McKinsey & Company, Waltham, MA 02451, USA)

Abstract

Potato yields in sub-Saharan Africa remain very low compared with those of developed countries. Yet potato is major food staple and source of income to the predominantly smallholder growing households in the tropical highlands of this region. A major cause of the low potato yields is the use of poor quality seed potato. This paper examines the factors determining the decision to use certified seed potato (CSP), as well as the intensity of its use, among potato growers with access to it. We focused on potato growers in the central highlands of Kenya and used regression analysis to test hypotheses relating to potential impediments of CSP use. The study found that the distance to the market (a proxy for transaction costs), household food insecurity, and asset endowment affect the decision to use CSP. However, the effect of the intensity of use of CSP depends on how the intensity variable is defined. Several other control variables also affect the decision and extent of CSP use. The study concludes that transaction costs, asset endowment, and household food insecurity play a major role in the decision by smallholder potato farmers to use CSP and the extent to which they do so. We also discuss the policy implications of the findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Julius Juma Okello & Yuan Zhou & Norman Kwikiriza & Sylvester Ochieng Ogutu & Ian Barker & Elmar Schulte-Geldermann & Elly Atieno & Justin Taj Ahmed, 2016. "Determinants of the Use of Certified Seed Potato among Smallholder Farmers: The Case of Potato Growers in Central and Eastern Kenya," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-12, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:6:y:2016:i:4:p:55-:d:81240
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Pham, Nguyen Thi & Napasintuwong, Orachos, 2020. "Farmers' Adoption and Willingness to Pay for Certified Aromatic Rice Seed in the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam," International Journal of Agricultural Management, Institute of Agricultural Management, vol. 8(4), August.
    3. Kangogo, Daniel & Dentoni, Domenico & Bijman, Jos, 2021. "Adoption of climate‐smart agriculture among smallholder farmers: Does farmer entrepreneurship matter?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    4. Okello, J.J. & Muoki, P. & Kwikiriza, N. & Wambaya, J. & Heck, S., 2018. "Effect of agriculture-nutrition education and extension services on early adoption and diffusion of biofortfied crops: The case of orange-fleshed sweetpotato in Kenya," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277199, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

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