Socio-economic Factors Influencing Use Of Improved Fallows In Crop Production By Small-scale Farmers In Western Kenya

Abstract

Abstract This study analysed the factors influencing the intensity of adoption of improved fallows in Western Kenya. Three hundred farmers were interviewed. Descriptive results showed the adopters to be older, more educated and had more contact with technology promoters than the non-adopters. Partial budgets were constructed and marginal rates of returns (MRR) showed that the technology is profitable. Based on the censored Tobit, the results indicate that the intensity of adoption was significantly influenced by age, experience of the household head and spouse, total land area, contact with technology promoters, technology profitability and use of other soil fertility replenishment options. It is recommended that education efforts be intensified. There is need to strengthen contact with the technology promoters. In order to ensure information flow to all, there is need for improvement in the approach and methods employed in on-farm research. Further, there is need to establish and strengthen networks of information exchange among relevant and interested organisation