Structure and performance of agricultural products and input markets in the northern division of Machakos district, Kenya

Abstract

This thesis has been written mainly from data collected in the Northern division of Machakos district of the Eastern province of Kenya. Work done earlier had shown that in this division, malnutrition is widespread while 'killer' diseases of children 0-5 years are very common. The rate of out-migration is also high while total annual rainfall rarely exceed 1,000 mm. Important findings of this study include:- 1. farm output per household is so low that it does not satisfy subsistence need over the whole year 2. Non-farm sources of household income contribute for about 50 % of the total household income 3. The use of purchased inputs in food production is of negligible importance while too, loans and credit facilities are available only in very small amounts to a few farmers who also grow Some poorly yielding coffee. 4. There are very few extension officers of whose general education and agricultural training is inadequate 5. Foods are mainly sold by private traders at a relatively higher price than what the Maize and Produce Board would sell if it were the sole seller 6. Private traders in most market centres have insufficient trade loans, and lack of enough personal means of transport, while public transport is inadequate 7. The rural infrastructure, such as rural water, rural roads, and rural electification, are poorly developed