Peasant maize cultivation as an assemblage: an analysis of socio-cultural dynamics of maize cultivation in western Kenya

Kimanthi, Hellen

doi:10.18174/478306

Cited by 3 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 75 publications

(131 reference statements)

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“…This can explain the peak in the adoption in of hybrid maize varieties in this area between 2004 and 2006. While our data do not show evidence of abandoning the use of hybrid varieties, other studies have suggested this (Kimanthi, 2019; Mango and Hebinck, 2004).…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 83%

“…The area has been subject to much development-oriented research to improve (maize) productivity, i.e. agro-forestry and soil fertility enhancing projects coordinated by ICRAF (International Council for Research in Agroforestry, currently World Agroforestry; Place et al, 2007a), the Millennium Village Project (Kimanthi and Hebinck, 2018; Sanchez et al, 2007) and, more recently, through the active presence of the One Acre Fund (Kimanthi, 2019; www.oneacrefund.org).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We found people who praised the ugali made from local maize and others who were less enthusiastic about it. An argument for the local maize is that one meal of ugali from that maize is enough to work all day in the field (Kimanthi, 2019). One person told us that this is true, but his daughters have a different lifestyle and appreciate lunch and snacks.…”

Section: Variety Use In Different Sub-areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This situation points to unaddressed challenges in seed supply in the country by private sector companies in their engagement with agro-dealers and farmers (Rutsaert and Donovan, 2020; Rutsaert et al, 2021; Sanchez et al, 2007). Other studies with a focus on West Kenya highlight the importance of and preference for local maize varieties for farmers (Anjichi et al, 2005; Mango and Hebinck, 2004; Kimanthi, 2019; Smale and Olwande, 2013), while parallel research cites the benefits of improved hybrid maize varieties and NGO-efforts strive to increase the use of these (Rutsaert et al, 2021; www.oneacrefund.org). While these views represent opposing positions in a debate on local vs improved varieties in which the parties hardly ever talk directly to each other, we also found that there is no recent and comprehensive quantitative data on the extent of the use of maize varieties in West Kenya 1 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Why farmers use so many different maize varieties in West Kenya

et al. 2021

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In this article we reflect on the discussions as to whether breeding and seed system development should proceed along its current well established route of developing varieties with a higher agricultural productivity or if the diversity of farmers, their contexts and rationales requires broader approaches. We make use of data from a recently held survey (2018) in West Kenya. The data show that some 80% of the households in the survey planted both local and hybrid maize varieties. The choices that people make about which variety to plant are many. Apart from rainfall, the availability of cash, the promise of a good yield, the presence of projects and programs and the culture of seed also influences these choices. We argue that an inclusive demand-oriented maize breeding and seed system needs to include a range of varieties and seed sources and to develop and support different delivery pathways to fit farmers’ diverse use of seeds and varieties. Our findings also indicate the need for more systematic study of the diversity of farmers’ rationales and the performance of crop varieties. This would provide useful information for all the actors involved.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 83%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Variety Use In Different Sub-areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Why farmers use so many different maize varieties in West Kenya

et al. 2021

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“…94 One of the key recommendations of reform initiatives has been to strengthen the role of the Senate. 95 This recommendation includes granting the Senate a role in the process of suspending a county government before it is finalised at the county level. 9 6 The 2010 Constitution vests the President with the final power over whether or not a county government can be suspended.…”

Section: Service Provision In the Countiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Kenya's Cooperative Model of Devolution: A Situation-Specific Analysis

Gathii

Otieno

2018

Federal Law Review

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Kenya's form of quasi-federalism termed devolution was introduced under the Constitution of Kenya (2010) (‘ 2010 Constitution’). This governance system establishes 47 county governments which are constitutionally independent sub-national units with direct election of county level leaders. Given the complexity of devolution's relationship to national politics, as well as the broad variation in how devolution has unfolded in the 47 counties since 2013, this article argues in favour of a situation-specific assessment of devolution in Kenya. This analysis departs from the emerging scholarly consensus of devolution in Kenya represented in two predominant approaches. One approach contends that devolution in Kenya has simply devolved corruption and patronage from the national to the county level. Another approach argues that devolution has so far been relatively successful because it has introduced a new political system at the county level that has a robust system of checks and balances but that has empowered a new dynamic in Kenya's politics at the sub-national level. This article argues the first approach paints the emerging devolution experience with a broad brush that is not reflected in every county or even on every issue. This article has more in common with the second view. However, we argue for a more situation-specific, case by case analysis of devolution to show variations in how devolution has or has not facilitated the delivery of services and opportunities that were prior to 2013 likely to be unavailable particularly in the most economically disadvantaged counties.

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Machinery Adoption and Its Effect on Maize Productivity among Smallholder Farmers in Western Kenya: Evidence from the Chisel Harrow Tillage Practice

Mumah,

Chen,

Hong

et al. 2024

Res. World Agric. Econ.

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A major component of contemporary agriculture is machinery. Nonetheless, in Kenya and other African nations, the rate of adoption of agricultural machinery remains quite low. Understanding the fundamental causes and their impacts on agricultural output is crucial. Using data collected from a household survey of 1,499 farmers in Western Kenya, this study employed the endogenous switching regression model to examine the use of chisel harrows and their effects on maize production. Results show that the adoption of the chisel harrow was positively impacted by factors such as farm size, credit accessibility, gender, extension contact, and education attainment, while factors such as age and market proximity had a negative impact. The yield per hectare was higher for adopters than for non-adopters. According to the counterfactual analysis results, those who utilized chisel harrow tools were able to achieve a higher yield (1512 kg/ha) than they would have if they had not used the equipment (1099 kg/ha). The average maize yield per hectare increased by 413 kg and 217 kg for adopters and non-adopters, respectively, when chisel harrows were used. It is concluded that while training and field demonstrations may also be held to increase farmers’ understanding of the benefits of the chisel harrow, encouraging farmers to adopt the tool has the potential to improve low production in the surveyed regions.

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Peasant maize cultivation as an assemblage: an analysis of socio-cultural dynamics of maize cultivation in western Kenya

Cited by 3 publications

References 75 publications

Why farmers use so many different maize varieties in West Kenya

Why farmers use so many different maize varieties in West Kenya

Assessing Kenya's Cooperative Model of Devolution: A Situation-Specific Analysis

Machinery Adoption and Its Effect on Maize Productivity among Smallholder Farmers in Western Kenya: Evidence from the Chisel Harrow Tillage Practice

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