Factors Influencing Subsidized Fertilizer Access and Use Intensity on Smallholder Farmers in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya

Abstract

Low crop yields as a result of inadequate application of fertilizer remains to be a challenge limiting optimum crop production especially among smallholder farmers in Kenya. The government of Kenya, under The National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Programme (NAAIAP), introduced subsidized fertilizers aimed at increasing crop productivity. Despite these initiative, there has not been much achievements as far as general increase in crop yields and especially maize crop yields in the country is concerned. This study therefore sought to investigate the factors affecting the access and the use intensity of subsidized fertilizer among smallholder farmers in Kenya with the case of Trans Nzoia County. The specific objectives of the study were to establish the factors affecting the access to subsidized fertilizers and to assess the factors affecting the intensity of fertilizer used. This study employed cross -sectional survey using structured questionnaires to collect the data from 384 farmers who had been selected using multi-stage sampling technique. The data was analyzed econometrically using a double hurdle model which combined a probit model and a truncated regression model. The findings show ed that age, access to extension services, land size, distance to market, household size and non-farm income significantly affected the accessibility of subsidized fertilizer to the farmers while the intensity of subsidized fertilizer use was significantly determined by age, land size, access to extension services and non-farm income of household head. The study concluded that the government should target the smallholder farmers and consider their factors when formulating policies for distribution of subsidized fertilizers as they are the intended beneficiaries of the program.

Key Words— Subsidized, Fertilizer, Access, Use, Intensity, Smallholder, Farmers.