Analysis of Varietal Physical Factors on Smallholder Farmers’ Preference for Improved Maize Seed Varieties in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya

Abstract

Kenya, as a developing country, relies on maize as a staple food and key cereal crop for sustenance and economic stability. Government and other private stakeholder’s have developed maize seed varieties with higher productivity traits like drought, pests and disease tolerant to increase productivity. Improved maize seed varieties bred specifically for high production offers a partial solution to food insecurity and poverty reduction. However, some smallholder farmers who plant the high yielding maize varieties leads to low maize productivity hence food insecurity and extreme poverty. Hence, this study evaluated varietal physical factors on smallholder farmers’ preference for improved maize seed varieties in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya. A target population of 105,561 smallholder farmers in Trans Nzoia County and a sample size of 399 respondents was used for the study. A multistage sampling technique was used: Stratified sampling technique was used to obtain the number of respondents from each sub-county. Thereafter simple random sampling technique was used to obtain the first respondent and systematic sampling technique was used to obtain subsequent respondents in each sub-county. Primary data was obtained using closed and open-ended questionnaire and secondary data was sourced from Trans Nzoia County website and other documented materials. A pilot study was conducted in Cherangani sub-county. Multinomial logit model was used and the results showed that smallholder maize farmers grew improved maize seed varieties as follows; 171(42.78%) H6213, 155(38.84%) H614, 44(11.28%) H513 and 29(7.1%) KH600-23A. Yield per acre (β=1.686, p=0.000<0.05) was significant on preference for H6213. Yield per acre (β=1.335, p=0.003<0.05) and resistance to lodging (β=2.506, p=0.000<0.05) was significant on preference for KH600-23A. Whereas resistance to lodging (β=1.455, p=0.004<0.05) and early maturity (β=0.823, p=0.002<0.05) was significant on preference for H513. The study concludes that yield per acre, early maturity and resistant to lodging were the major criteria used by farmers to make decisions on varietal preference. Therefore, the recommendation was that breeders should come up with a variety with the three traits. This will enhance preference level hence increased productivity.