Journal article

Publication year: 2012

Pages: 147-163

Journal: Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development

Volume number: 4

Issue number: 7

ISSN: 1595-9716

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.5897/JAERD11.042

Publisher: Academic Journals

Abstract: 
Households
are institutions that nurture, develop and sustain capabilities,
material and social resources and activities necessary for their members
to sustain livelihoods. This is possible through socialisation,
communication, diffusion and adoption of improved technologies. In
developing countries like Kenya, adoption of improved agricultural
technologies is critical in facilitating households’ productive and
consumptive capabilities and functions for better livelihoods. Yet, the
adoption of such technologies remains low. Households are made up of
male and female members whose roles, responsibilities, rights and
entitlements often differ. Therefore, there is need to understand how
the conditions supporting the adoption process vary across male and
female farmers and within households. This paper adopts the livelihood
systems framework in analysing the influence of socio-economic
characteristics that influence men and women to adopt improved
agricultural technologies. The field survey involved individual
interviews with 190 randomly selected rural households from Nakuru
District, Kenya. Data analysis procedures included descriptive
statistics, factor analysis and a binary logistic regression model.
Results indicate that men are more likely than women to adopt improved
technologies while the propensity to adopt increases with increasing
distance to market. Adoption is supported by social inclusion and peace
and is more likely to occur among poorer, younger farmers, without
skills for off-farm employment. Given that a wide range of male and
female farmers’ socio-economic characteristics influence adoption,
careful analysis should always precede all efforts aimed at encouraging
adoption of new and improved agricultural technologies.

Harvard Citation style: Maina Njuthe, I., Leonhäuser, I. and Bauer, S. (2012) Adoption of improved agricultural technologies among smallholder farm households in Nakuru District, Kenya, Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 4(7), pp. 147-163. https://doi.org/10.5897/JAERD11.042

APA Citation style: Maina Njuthe, I., Leonhäuser, I., & Bauer, S. (2012). Adoption of improved agricultural technologies among smallholder farm households in Nakuru District, Kenya. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development. 4(7), 147-163. https://doi.org/10.5897/JAERD11.042