Socio-economic factors influencing the intensity of use of bio mass transfer in food crop production in western Kenya

Abstract

Bio- mass transfer is defined as the incorporation into the soil of leafy shrubs, which release nutrients. The shrubs include lantana camara and tithonia diversifolia. This study analyzed the determinants of the intensity of use of tithonia diversifolia in kale production in western Kenya. A structured questionnaire was administered to 300 farmers selected through random sampling. Descriptive statistics results showed that the adopters were more educated and had more contact with the technology promoters more than non-adopters. Marginal rate of returns (MRR) were calculated through partial budgeting, whose results implied that the technology was profitable. Tobit regression results showed that education, contact with technology promoters, labour demand of the technology, hired labour, and technology profitability among other factors influenced the intensity of adoption. The study recommends that educational efforts and frequent contact with technology promoters be intensified. The already acquired knowledge of the technology by adopters can be exploited to benefit other farmers and also to improve on it by use of farmers’ field schools. Information flow needs to be improved by researchers changing the approach and methods employed in on farm research to ensure information flow to all. Further, there is need to establish and strengthen networks of information exchange among relevant and interested organizations like church organizations, extension and community based organizations among others.