Evaluation of cassava commercialization among smallholder farmers and its effect on household income: a case of Siaya and Kilifi counties

Abstract

Improving household income as a poverty eradication strategy has been a matter of great concern in Kenya. This problem has been more rampant in Arid and Semi-arid (ASAL) regions especially in Kilifi and Siaya Counties, where the poverty levels are higher than the national average. These counties have high potential for cassava commercialization as a result of favourable climate. Intervention measures have been undertaken by both the government and non-governmental organizations to promote cassava commercialization in both counties as a strategy of transforming livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Despite these endeavours, empirical evidence reveals little information on the effect of cassava commercialization on household income. The main objective of the study was therefore to establish the role of cassava commercialization on household income in Siaya and Kilifi Counties. A cross-sectional data was collected by use of well-structured questionnaires from farmers, traders and extension officers. A multi-stage random sample of 384 farmers, purposive sample of 100 traders and a census of 20 extension officers were obtained. In the descriptive statistics analysis, a value addition index was developed. In the inferential statistics, multinomial logistic and endogenous switching regression models were used. The study found that commercialization had a positive and significant effect on household income. In addition, factors that influenced commercialization included; distance to the market and farm size which were found to have significant effect in both counties. The study found that Kilifi County households had more income as a result of commercialization than Siaya County. The study revealed that factors influencing cassava commercialization in Siaya County were years of schooling (p<0.05), farm size (p<0.05), group membership (p<0.10) and distance to market (p<0.01). Significant factors influencing cassava commercialization for Kilifi County were farm size (p<0.05), off-farm income (p<0.10), age (p<0.05) and distance to market (p<0.01). Similarly, off-farm income and remittances had significant impact on household income (p<0.01). Generally, farmers who undertook cassava commercialization enjoyed more income relative to those who did not in both counties. To improve commercialization, the study recommends that membership to farm based groups should be promoted, training should be conducted on processing of high quality value added products and a good balance off-farm and cassava commercialization activities be promoted