Abstract:
Declining productivity of food crops in developing countries is associated with several
factors including poor adoption of improved technologies against pests and parasites
destroying crops with developmental implications on food insecurity and poverty. This
study has been undertaken to contribute to the understanding of farm-level adoption
dynamics and economic impacts of agricultural technologies. This study was done using
a case of imazapyr-resistant maize technology for combating noxious Striga weed which
has devastating effects on maize production in western Kenya.
A cross sectional survey that included randomly selected samples of 169 adopters and
431 non-adopters. The relevant data were collected and analysed using descriptive
statistics, stochastic production frontier and tobit regression models. The net present
value (US $21 680 402), benefit-cost ratio (4.77) and net benefits per capita (US $41
063) for imazapyr-resistant maize enterprise were attractive. However, its adoption rate
was low, whereby about 28% of the surveyed households adopted the technology. The
results from tobit model estimation indicate that farming experience, education of the
household head, gap between maize production and consumption, farmer’s risk-taking,
number of extension visits, lack of seeds, membership to social groups and imazapyr-
resistant maize’s effective dissemination pathway were found to be significant (P<0.05)
in influencing the adoption decision. The results of impact assessment indicated that its
adoption increased significantly (P<0.01) the frontier maize output. Imazapyr-resistant
maize had succeeded in reducing Striga seed-bank hence significantly (P<0.05) raising
productivity from 2.2 ton/ha (non- imazapyr-resistant maize) to 2.8 ton/ha (imazapyr-
resistant maize) with significant returns to land (US $173/hectare) and labour (US
$8/man-day).ii
Two main conclusions can be drawn from this study. First and foremost, is that the use
of imazapyr-resistant maize is a promising option for farmers since this technology has
been shown to be profitable compared with other maize varieties and, secondly, it has
the potential to impact positively on poverty reduction in western Kenya. Therefore, its
adoption deserves attention from policy makers who should: (a) Initiate new awareness
campaign, improve the seed supply chain in order to broaden its adoption and (b)
provide significant positive public investment for technology transfer to improve its
effectiveness and efficiency.
