Determinants of Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Maize Production Among Smallholder Farmers for Enhanced Food Security in Bungoma-North Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya
Jul 2026· African journal of agriculture and food science· Vol 9, pp. 84· 0 citations· 3 references
Abstract
Maize production plays a critical role in enhancing food security, income generation, and rural livelihoods in Kenya. Smallholder farmers contribute a substantial proportion of national maize output, yet their productivity remains below potential due to various socioeconomic constraints. This study examined the socioeconomic factors influencing maize production among smallholder farmers in Bungoma-North Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya, with a view to enhancing food security. The study was guided by the Theory of Production, which explains how variations in production inputs and resources influence agricultural output. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, targeting smallholder maize farmers within Naitiri, Mbakalo, and Kabuyefwe wards. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and interview schedules and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The socioeconomic variables examined included credit accessibility, land ownership, labor availability, educational attainment, income levels, and demographic characteristics. Findings revealed that socioeconomic factors significantly influenced maize production among smallholder farmers. Access to credit enhanced the ability of farmers to purchase improved inputs and adopt modern farming technologies. Household income levels positively influenced investment in agricultural production, while educational attainment improved farmers’ capacity to adopt recommended agronomic practices. Land ownership and farm size were also found to significantly affect maize yields due to their influence on production scale and resource allocation. Regression analysis demonstrated that socioeconomic factors significantly predicted maize production outcomes, indicating that improvements in access to financial resources, education, labor, and productive assets could substantially increase maize productivity and strengthen household food security. The study concludes that socioeconomic factors remain fundamental determinants of maize production among smallholder farmers and should be prioritized in agricultural development programs. The study recommends strengthening rural credit systems, promoting farmer education and training, improving access to agricultural inputs, and supporting income-generating activities that enhance farmers’ production capacity. These interventions would contribute significantly to sustainable maize production and improved food security in Bungoma-North Sub-County and similar agricultural regions.
Maize production is a critical aspect of agriculture, especially in developing countries where it contributes significantly to food security and rural development. This study investigated the environmental determinants and extension service factors impacting maize yields among smallholder farmers in Bungoma-North Sub County, Bungoma County, Kenya. The study examined the role of environmental factors such as climate variability, temperature changes, and rainfall patterns, as well as the influence of agricultural extension services in facilitating the adoption of modern farming techniques to enhance food security. The study employed a survey research design with a target population of 10,548 smallholder maize farming households. A sample of 318 respondents was selected using stratified and purposive sampling techniques. Questionnaires, interview schedules, and secondary data were used as research instruments. Pilot testing was conducted in the neighboring Mukuyuni location, and test-retest reliability was established. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) through descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Findings revealed that environmental factors accounted for 51.2% (R² = .512, p < .05) of maize production variance, with erratic weather patterns being the most significant challenge. Extension services significantly influenced production, explaining 52.2% (R² = .522, p < .05) of the variation. Over 88% of farmers strongly agreed that rainfall variability had increased, and 86.5% affirmed that environmental factors had influenced annual yield levels. While over half of respondents reported receiving extension visits, 73% faced significant challenges in accessing extension services. The study concludes that both environmental adaptation strategies and strengthened extension service delivery are critical for improving maize production among smallholder farmers. The findings provide baseline information that can be used by researchers, agricultural officers, and government authorities to encourage farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices and enhance extension service accessibility for improved food security.
M. Kombe, R. Onamu, Lydiah Wamocha· Science Mundi· 0 citations
Background
: Banana smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa rely heavily on banana farming for both food and income generation. Despite the crop’s potential, smallholder farmers have limited knowledge of improved banana varieties, as well as harvesting, processing, storage technologies, exhibit low participation in farmers’ associations and cooperatives, alongside limited access to credit. Therefore, there was a need for this study. The study examined the determinants of income, savings, access to credit, asset ownership, and food access among banana smallholder farmers in Meru and Moshi Rural Districts, Tanzania. Specifically, the study aimed to assess the levels of livelihood outcomes and to analyse the socio-economic factors influencing livelihood outcomes among banana smallholder farmers.
Methods:
The survey employed a cross-sectional study design and interviewed a total number of 352 banana smallholder farmers in Meru District Council and Moshi Rural District in Tanzania. Data were collected with the aid of questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics, a composite Livelihood Outcome Index (LOI), and a multivariate probit (MVP) model.
Results
: The descriptive results found, low, moderate, and high livelihood outcomes have been attained by 47%, 34%, and 18% of smallholder banana growers, respectively. The results from MVP model revealed that educational levels assisted in asset accumulation (β = 0.109, p < 0.10), households with higher incomes used mobile phones (β = 0.151, p < 0.10), cooperative membership significantly increased business income (β = 0.289, p < 0.05), households engaged in non-farm business activities were more likely to have higher business income (β = 0.263, p < 0.10), livestock ownership had a significant contribution to household savings (β = 0.288, p < 0.05), and greater distance from markets reduced the likelihood of mobile phone use (β = −0.107, p < 0.10). Conclusion and recommendations: The study concludes that household socio-economic features are most important for improving the livelihood outcomes of banana smallholder farmers. The research recommends that banana smallholder farmers should engage in livestock rearing and membership in cooperatives so that they can improve sales of bananas, access credit, improve mobile use, accumulate asset, and enhance food security, rather than depending on banana farming alone. Finally, the study recommends that government investments in rural infrastructure, particularly road networks, market facilities, and telecommunications infrastructure, should be prioritized to reduce the constraints associated with market distance.
G. Kinisa, Gervas M. Machimu, W. Warsanga· CABI Agriculture and Bioscie...· 0 citations
Climate change continues to threaten agricultural productivity, food security, and nutritional outcomes among smallholder farming households in sub-Saharan Africa, necessitating the adoption of climate-smart and nutrient-dense crop varieties. Biofortified bean varieties, particularly the Nyota variety, have emerged as an important intervention for addressing micronutrient deficiencies while enhancing resilience to climate variability through improved productivity and drought tolerance. Despite their potential, adoption rates remain uneven due to a combination of socioeconomic, institutional, technological, and farm-level factors. This study investigated the determinants influencing the adoption and utilisation of the Nyota biofortified bean variety among smallholder farmers in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. A cross-sectional survey design was employed involving 210 smallholder farmers selected using probability sampling techniques. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Pearson correlation analysis, and binary logistic regression to determine the factors influencing adoption. The findings revealed that 63.8% of the respondents had adopted the Nyota biofortified bean variety, indicating a relatively high level of acceptance within the study area. Socioeconomic characteristics significantly associated with adoption included gender (χ² = 5.42, p = 0.020), education level (χ² = 18.63, p < 0.001), household income (χ² = 14.27, p = 0.001), and age (χ² = 8.71, p = 0.013). Institutional factors also played a significant role, with access to extension services (χ² = 29.82, p < 0.001), agricultural training (χ² = 17.74, p < 0.001), farmer group membership (χ² = 15.31, p < 0.001), and access to agricultural credit (χ² = 8.93, p = 0.003) positively influencing adoption decisions. Technological attributes strongly shaped farmers' preferences, with drought tolerance (85.2%), high yield potential (81.4%), early maturity (80.0%), and improved grain quality identified as the most desirable characteristics. Among these, drought tolerance emerged as the strongest predictor of adoption (OR = 3.19), underscoring the importance of climate-resilient traits in farmers' varietal choices. The study further established that the majority of respondents were smallholder farmers cultivating relatively small land holdings under rain-fed production systems, making them particularly vulnerable to climate variability and production risks. The binary logistic regression model was statistically significant (Model χ² = 98.64, p < 0.001), explained 56% of the variation in adoption (Nagelkerke R² = 0.56), demonstrated good model fit (Hosmer–Lemeshow test, p = 0.61), and achieved an overall prediction accuracy of 82.4%. The study concludes that improving access to extension services, strengthening farmer training programmes, expanding agricultural credit facilities, promoting farmer organisations, and enhancing the dissemination of climate-resilient biofortified bean technologies would substantially increase adoption and utilisation of the Nyota variety. Scaling up these interventions has significant potential to improve household food and nutrition security, increase farm productivity and incomes, strengthen resilience to climate change, and contribute to sustainable agricultural development among smallholder farming communities in Kenya.
Paul Omollo Owino, G. Gathuru· Journal of Scientific Resear...· 0 citations
Background: Agriculture is the primary livelihood source for most households in South Sudan, yet maize productivity and rural incomes remain low despite government- and donor-supported interventions. Input subsidy programmes have been widely promoted as mechanisms for improving agricultural productivity, increasing household income and enhancing rural welfare. However, evidence on the determinants of income among smallholder maize farmers who participate and do not participate in input subsidy programmes remains limited, particularly in post-conflict settings such as Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan.
Aim: This study examined the determinants of household income among smallholder maize farmers participating and not participating in the input subsidy programme in Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan. Specifically, the study estimated household income levels, compared income across participation groups and counties, assessed income inequality and identified the key factors influencing household income.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was employed using primary data collected from 385 smallholder maize-producing households selected through a multistage sampling procedure from Torit, Magwi and Ikotos counties. Descriptive statistics, income and inequality analyses, and multiple linear regression were used to analyse the data. Household income was estimated as the sum of income derived from maize production and livestock enterprises. Income inequality was measured using the Gini coefficient, while a log-linear regression model was used to identify the determinants of household income.
Results: The results showed that the mean annual household income was SSP 15.6 million. Farmers participating in the input subsidy programme earned significantly higher incomes (SSP 22.0 million) than non-participants (SSP 17.2 million). Income inequality was moderate, with a Gini coefficient of 0.415. The regression model explained 50.3% of the variation in household income (R² = 0.503). Maize farm size had a positive and highly significant influence on household income (β = 0.867; p < 0.001), while household size (β = -0.043; p = 0.023), distance to market (β = -0.041; p = 0.014) and poor soil fertility (β = -0.203; p = 0.016) significantly reduced household income. Maize farm size emerged as the strongest determinant of household income.
Conclusion and Recommendation: The study concludes that household income among smallholder maize farmers in Eastern Equatoria State is significantly influenced by farm size, household demographic characteristics, market accessibility and soil fertility conditions. Participation in the input subsidy programme is associated with higher household income, indicating its potential contribution to rural livelihood improvement. The study recommends strengthening input subsidy programmes alongside investments in rural infrastructure, market access and integrated soil fertility management. Policies that enhance land productivity and improve farmers' access to extension and market services are essential for achieving sustainable income growth and improved welfare among smallholder maize farmers in South Sudan.
D. M. K. Agok, D. V. Dlamini, L. Olarinde et al.· Asian Journal of Research in...· 0 citations
Tomato production is an important agricultural enterprise that contributes to household income, employment generation, and food security in Nigeria. Despite its economic importance, farmers' willingness to participate in tomato production varies due to differences in socio-economic characteristics and production conditions. This study examined the socio-economic determinants of farmers' willingness to participate in tomato production in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 110 tomato farmers selected through a multistage sampling technique using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The dependent variable was farmers' willingness to participate in tomato production, while the explanatory variables included sex, age, educational level, marital status, household size, occupation, labour source, market access, extension access, credit access, and access to production inputs. The results of the binary logistic regression revealed that occupation was the only variable that significantly influenced farmers' willingness to participate in tomato production (p < 0.05). Farmers whose primary occupation was farming were more likely to participate in tomato production than those engaged mainly in non-farm occupations. Other variables, including sex, age, educational level, marital status, household size, labour source, market access, extension access, credit access, and access to production inputs, did not significantly influence willingness to participate. The study concludes that livelihood orientation plays a crucial role in shaping farmers' participation decisions. Strengthening agriculture as a viable livelihood option and improving farmers' access to productive resources and support services will contribute to sustainable tomato production and improved rural livelihoods in the study area.
Solomon Suleiman Echono, John Emmanuel Ajaka· Journal of Biotechnology and...· 0 citations
Agro-processing is widely regarded as a pathway to improve farmers’ household food security through value addition, income diversification, and increased food preservation. The level of household food security remains low even after the government interventions in Gauteng Province. Small-scale farmers encounter several challenges, including poor infrastructure and limited access to markets and credit, which hamper their participation in agro-processing activities. This raises the question of whether agro-processing effectively contributes to household food security outcomes. Various studies have analysed agro-processing participation in Gauteng province; however, the effect of this participation on household food security remains inadequately quantified. Therefore, the current study analysed participation in agro-processing activities and evaluated its effect on household food security among small-scale farmers in Gauteng Province. The study was conducted in the three metropolitan municipalities and two district municipalities of Gauteng Province. An online survey was used to collect data from 115 farmers using a structured questionnaire. The participants were selected using simple random sampling. Using Stata/SE 15.0, binary logistic regression, Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment (IPWRA) and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) were employed to analyse the data. The results revealed that 31% of small-scale farmers participate in agro-processing activities, and about 36% of them are food secure. Logistic results revealed that education level, financial support, off-cropping season, and crop diversification enhanced farmers' participation in agro-processing activities, whereas extreme weather events, such as snow, adversely affected it. The PSM results showed that the effects of agro-processing on household food security are robust. Moreover, the IPWRA and logistic regression results showed that participation in agro-processing activities positively affected household food security. The study recommends continued financial support, investment in farmers' education and training, as well as climate-resilient infrastructure to improve farmers ‘participation in agro-processing activities. Enhancing participation in agro-processing activities could thereby improve household income, purchasing power, and dietary intake, resulting in improved levels of food security, taking into account food availability, utilisation, and accessibility.
Key words: Agro-processing, Household food insecurity, Inverse probability weighted regression adjustment
L. Maesela, G. Senyolo· African Journal of Food, Agr...· 0 citations