Subsidized Fertilizer Utilization and Determinants among Small-scale Maize Farmers in Kakamega County, Kenya

Decline in soil fertility due to continuous use of land has been outlined as one of the major challenges facing crop productivity in Africa. However, a number of government-led interventions and strategies have been introduced to raise fertilizer usage including the fertilizer subsidy program for small-scale farmers. This study investigated the determinants and whether, and extent of successful of the government subsidy program among small-scale maize farmers in Kakamega County, Western Kenya. The study employed cross-sectional survey research design using semi-structured questionnaires to obtain data from 300 farmers, who were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data was analyzed by econometrically employing descriptive analysis and a one-limit Tobit regression – controlling for programme selection bias. Results reveal that the average proportion of subsidized fertilizer utilized was59.48% among subsidy program participants. The intensity of subsidized fertilizer utilization by farmers was significantly influenced by the farm size under maize, household size, seed rate, age and education level of the household head, distance to the market and amount of credit borrowed. By the findings showing higher average fertilizer application rate of 85.6 kg per haamong the program participants compared to 74 kg per ha for non-participants, the study recommends expansion of the program to incorporate more farmers by increasing quantities of subsidized fertilizer supplied and consider socio-economic factors of small scale farmers when formulating policies on allocation as they are the main target of the program.