The influence of farming practices on wheat production in Moiben district Uasin Gishu county, Kenya

Abstract

Farmers face many challenges in their farming practices which may arise from climatic conditions, pest and diseases and other environmental factors. The risk management practices include diversification and social mechanisms for coping with risk among large scale wheat farmers in Moiben District Uasin Gishu County. This study was guided by the following objectives; to identify the major types of risks that face large scale wheat farmers; to find out the agricultural practices by large scale wheat farmers on production; to establish the impact of farm equipment’s and machinery on wheat production; to find out the challenges of controlling pests and other wheat diseases .The study adopted a cross sectional quantitative and qualitative research design approach, where the cases under study were described as phenomenon in the real-life context in which they occurred. The study explored the existing principles and practices pertaining to the impact of risk management farming practices on wheat production in the light of the framework provided by Epstein’s model. The study targeted, all the large scale farmers in Moiben District with over 20 acres of land under cultivation of wheat, 74 farmers were identified (Ministry of Agriculture, Uasin Gishu County 2013). 20 famers were sampled four from each of the five administrative units in Moiben district, for purposes of interview schedules, focus group discussion, and questionnaires this was done purposively; one agricultural officer from each of the five administrative units was also sampled. The study was undertaken between the months of June to July, 2013. It adopted the use of questionnaires, interview guides, focus group discussions as the primary collection tools. The analysis adopted quantitative and qualitative design in order to achieve the objectives of the study. Content analysis was used as the main method of data analysis qualitatively. While, quantitative data was analyzed and interpreted using descriptive statistical techniques. The data in this study consisted mainly of questioners, individual interview transcripts, focus group discussion and observations. The findings of the study established that along with investments and policy options to increase and diversify income sources both within and outside agriculture, policy support is required for building local capacity, establishing institutions that enhance access to information, seeds and services, insurance mechanisms to buffer production risks, and safety nets that help resilience and recovery from climate induced shocks. The study recommends that Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) and other institutions should introduce insurance schemes to caution farmers against risks. The study further recommends that the government through the ministry of agriculture should control the supply of counterfeit seeds