Analysing Dynamics of Biofuel Production Among Smallholder Farmers in Laikipia East Sub-county, Laikipia, Kenya

Abstract

Biofuels have globally become important in the recent past due to the fact that countries are struggling to deal with the challenges of the increasing prices of fossil fuels and global warming. The demand for energy increases with growth in economic development as well as world’s population increase. The goal of this research was to assess the dynamics of biofuel production among smallholder farmers in Laikipia East sub County in Laikipia County. The specific purposes of the research were to establish the different species used in biofuel production among smallholder farmers in Laikipia East sub-County Laikipia, to assess the drivers of biofuel adoption among smallholder farmers in Laikipia East sub-County Laikipia County and to evaluate the socio-economic impacts of biofuel production among smallholder farmers in Laikipia East sub County Laikipia. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The research targeted the 3000 small holder farmers who work with Ecofix Kenya and used a sample of 97 respondents. Systematic sampling was adopted in picking the farmers in the study. The study also targeted the 12 employees of EFK. All the 12 employees of EFK Group Laikipia and 4 Government officers were selected for key informant interview. The data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and focused group discussions. Quantitative data was analyzed and presented using expressive figures like frequencies, and proportions. Further Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the hypothesis. Data generated interviews was examined using thematic approach. The research findings indicated that Croton megalocarpus is the common biofuel crop species grown in Laikipia East sub-County Laikipia and largely grown as a boundary species. The reasons for biofuel adoption among smallholder farmers in Laikipia East sub-County Laikipia are; to get wood (68%), additional revenue, decent shade for the farmhouse (78%), and access to markets (58%), exposure in the domiciliary and for fence resolutions (72%). Environment upkeep was a main motivation of biofuel yield agrobusiness among smallholder farmers in Laikipia East sub-County Laikipia (56%). Marketplace mandate (36.3%) land availability (42.9%) and policies (16.5%) were not key drivers for biofuel farming amid smallholder farmers in Laikipia East sub-County Laikipia. Biofuel production had a statistically significant socio-economic impact among smallholder farmers in Laikipia East Sub-County, Laikipia County (p=0.000). The research endorses that Ecofix Kenya Company should contemplate offering/giving values to the farmers to inspire more production of the biofuel harvest, which will as well ensure that the business has a satisfactory foundation. The administration needs to endorse croton feedstock growing for ecological conservation, liveliness and decreased poverty amongst families.