The economics and gender factor in soya bean production and profitability in Kenya: a case of smallholder farms in Western Kenya
by Dave Nyongesa; Robert B. Mabele; Anthony O. Esilaba; Christine K. Mutoni
International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology (IJARGE), Vol. 13, No. 3, 2017

Abstract: Soya-bean is among world's major crops, cultivated for its high oil, proteins content and its ability in soil-fertility amendments. The study assessed the determinants, constraints and profitability/gross-margins of soya-bean production in Western Kenya. Multistage sampling technique and field surveys were used in data-collection process covering 370 households. Regression, gender, profitability and gross-margins were the analyses done. Results indicated gross-margins of soya-bean production within the study sites differed significantly from zero (KES 13,401-20,545); it was profitable because net profits ranged from KES 9243-13,548 for 2010. All gender-cadres shared in soya-bean production activities (5.0-18.0%). The mean technical-, allocative- and economic-efficiencies obtained were 0.78, 65 and 0.59 respectively. Smallholders/farmers' economic-inefficiencies arose from many negatively-signed and statistically significant factors/coefficients with p-values of 0.0000-0.0240. Increased use of these factors and county governments and other stakeholders' interventions would positively impact smallholders' efficiency resulting into higher output and profitability.

Online publication date: Tue, 03-Oct-2017

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