Effects of fodder production on smallholder farmers’ household income in Homa Bay County, Kenya: An application of propensity score matching

Abstract

The global feed production has increased in the past few years. Despite the growing trend, the current production does not meet the demand in Kenya. The government of Kenya has initiated several efforts towards promoting fodder production to increase milk production and household income. This study analysed the effects of fodder production on household income in Homa Bay County, Kenya using the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) technique. The study used primary data collected through structured questionnaires in Homabay County, Kenya from a sample size of 300 smallholder farmers. Results indicated that years of schooling, herd size, household size, labour used in land preparation, and land size under fodder had a positive influence on the probability of farmers to mainly feed their livestock on Napier grass. On the contrary, the number of extension contacts negatively influenced the probability of farmers feeding their livestock on Napier grass. Results show that there was a significant difference between the incomes of farmers who fed their cattle on Napier grass and those who mainly grazed their cattle on natural grass. Specifically, smallholder farmers who fed their livestock on Napier grass reported a Kshs. 3,916.67 (USD 25.71) higher income than their counterparts who grazed their livestock on natural grass reflecting an increase by 24.94%. Thus, the study recommends the need for both the national and county governments to incorporate fodder production as a key area for livestock development agenda in their policy plans to improve the farmers’ income.

Keywords:

• Livestock Development
• Napier grass
• Farmers
• Propensity Score Matching

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Contributions

All the authors contributed to this work.

Ethics approval

Ethical approval was granted by the Egerton University Ethics Review Committee and the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mary Stacey Ayuko

Mary Stacey Ayuko holds a Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics (CMAAE) from Egerton University, Kenya/University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Job Kibiwot Lagat

Job Kibiwot Lagat is an Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management at Egerton University, Kenya.

Michael Hauser

Michael Hauser works at the Research Program Enabling Systems Transformation, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) & Institute for Development Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna

Kevin Okoth Ouko

Kevin Okoth Ouko is a Research Associate Consultant at WorldFish. He recently completed a PhD in Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya, and an MSc in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Egerton University, Kenya/University of Pretoria, South Africa. His research expertise includes food systems, food security, aquaculture value chains, climate change, development finance, and gender and social inclusions.

Dick Chune Midamba

Dick Chune Midamba is a PhD Candidate in Agricultural Economics at Maseno University, Kenya. He currently works at Equity Group Foundation as an Enterprises Development Officer. His research interest includes Technical efficiency, the adoption of sustainable agricultural technologies, Crop diversity, Resource optimization for cash–food crop production, and Sustainable agriculture.