A double-hurdle model estimation of adoption and intensity of use of poultry production technologies in Machakos County, Kenya

Abstract

Poultry production technologies adoption, such as improved Indigenous Chicken (IC) breeds and fabricated brooders, remain a viable option for enhancing IC productivity. However, the uptake of improved IC technologies remains low, especially in developing countries. This study investigated the adoption and intensity of the use of IC technologies in Machakos County, Kenya. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey to collect data from 374 households selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. A structured questionnaire and focus group discussion were employed, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Double-Hurdle model. The double hurdle results revealed that farmer experience, land size, non-farm activities, group membership, access to credit, awareness of IC technologies, and use of intensive/semi-intensive production systems were positively associated with IC technology adoption. However, household size was negatively associated with IC technology adoption. The intensity of use of IC technology was positively associated with gender, active labor, credit access, distance to the weather roads, and intensive production system. The study recommends that there is a need for agricultural stakeholders to promote membership in farmer associations and credit access, create awareness of IC technology, and improve opportunities for non-farm activities to help improve the adoption and intensity of the use of IC technologies.

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

The integration of improved Indigenous Chicken (IC) technologies plays an essential role in bridging the existing demand for white meat in developing nations. The present popularity of the indigenous chicken is due to the ease of feed conversion, the organic nature of production, scavenging ability, and delicious products. Despite the increased demand, the rate of uptake of the improved IC technologies remained low. The findings underscore the crucial role of human-specific, economic, and institutional factors in determining the decision and intensity of IC technologies in the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya. The focus should be on targeted interventions such as programs suited to the requirements of the region’s farmers, increasing access to credit and extension services, and campaigning for supporting government policies and programs that stimulate the use of improved IC technologies.

Keywords:

• Adoption
• improved indigenous chicken
• technologies
• brooders
• intensity

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Pedro Gonzalez-Redondo, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain

SUBJECTS:

• Agriculture & Environmental Sciences
• Rural Development
• Sustainable Development

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the enumerators who helped collect the data used in this paper and all the farmers who participated in the survey. Many thanks to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback that helped improve the quality of this paper.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The data collection approach adhered to the ethical principles of research. Participating in this research was voluntary, with informed consent obtained from the farmers before conducting the interviews. The farmers were aware of their involvement and rights in the study. The National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Kenya, approved this study under License No: NACOSTI/P/23/23976.

Authors’ contributions

Christopher Njuguna Kamau generated the idea and study design, collected data, carried out data analysis, and wrote up the first draft of the manuscript. Dr. Eucabeth B. Majiwa, Prof. Lucy W. Kabuage, and Dr. Geoffrey O. Otieno supervised data collection, provided constructive suggestions and statistical assistance, and read, edited, and revised the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in writing this paper. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not reflect the position of the funding agency.

Data availability statement

The data used for this study is available from the corresponding author upon request.

Additional information

Funding

The research work was supported by the Kenya Climate Smart Agricultural Projects (KCSAP) in collaboration with Development, Validation and Promotion of Climate Smart Indigenous Chicken (IC) technologies for improved productivity project implemented under Kenyatta University grant number GA02-3/1.

Notes on contributors

Christopher N. Kamau

Christopher N. Kamau is a Tutorial Fellow in Kenyatta University and a PhD candidate at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). He has an extensive research experience with; Kenya Climate Smart Agricultural Projects (KCSAP); Kenya Agricultural Productivity and Agribusiness Project (KAPAP); The Research Foundation for the State University of New York (SUNY); African Agricultural Technologies Foundation (AATF); his professional interest focuses on; agricultural interventions and impact assessment.

Eucabeth B. Majiwa

Eucabeth Majiwa is a Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) with over fifteen years’ experience in agricultural economics and agribusiness development.

Geoffrey O. Otieno

Geoffrey Otieno is a Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, JKUAT with over ten years’ experience in agricultural economics and agribusiness development.

Lucy W. Kabuage

Lucy. W. Kabuage is an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Science, Kenyatta University with over thirty years of experience in agricultural research and development and a specialist in animal production.