Effect of the National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Subsidy Program on Fertilizer Usage and Food Production in Kakamega County, Western Kenya

Effect of the National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Subsidy Program on Fertilizer Usage and Food Production in Kakamega County, Western Kenya by Abednego K. Mavuthu M.Phil. (Agroforestry), Moi University, 2005 B.SC. Forestry, Moi University, 1998 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University May 2017 Abstract Despite 25 years of concerted efforts by African governments to adopt consistent policies for increasing food production, hunger and poverty are still prevalent in the continent. Using Bernanke’s conceptualization of the credit channel theory of monetary policy, the purpose of this correlational study was to investigate whether a subsidy program, the National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Program (NAAIAP), affected the rates of fertilizer usage and food production in Kakamega County, Western Kenya. Purposive stratified sampling was used to select 114 participants consisting of 72 farmers in each of the 2 groups: NAAIAP beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries. Participants completed a survey on fertilizer usage rates, income earned, and surplus maize yield. Data were analyzed using multiple regression to test whether there was a difference between the beneficiary and nonbeneficiary groups regarding income, surplus product, and the dependent variable of fertilizer usage. Results indicated that beneficiaries of NAAIAP credit program bought and prepared to use fertilizers significantly earlier than did their counterparts. Further, the results of multiple regression indicated significant positive correlation (p <.05) between income earned from sale of surplus maize yield and quantity of fertilizer used by farmers in Kakamega County. These findings suggest that NAAIAP improved food security and farmers’ income in Kakamega Count. This study contributes to social change by recommending to subsidy program administrators in Kakamega County to consider policy changes. Such policy changes may improve program outreach to resource-poor farmers and improve income and product yield in the agricultural sector of Kenya.Despite 25 years of concerted efforts by African governments to adopt consistent policies for increasing food production, hunger and poverty are still prevalent in the continent. Using Bernanke’s conceptualization of the credit channel theory of monetary policy, the purpose of this correlational study was to investigate whether a subsidy program, the National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Program (NAAIAP), affected the rates of fertilizer usage and food production in Kakamega County, Western Kenya. Purposive stratified sampling was used to select 114 participants consisting of 72 farmers in each of the 2 groups: NAAIAP beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries. Participants completed a survey on fertilizer usage rates, income earned, and surplus maize yield. Data were analyzed using multiple regression to test whether there was a difference between the beneficiary and nonbeneficiary groups regarding income, surplus product, and the dependent variable of fertilizer usage. Results indicated that beneficiaries of NAAIAP credit program bought and prepared to use fertilizers significantly earlier than did their counterparts. Further, the results of multiple regression indicated significant positive correlation (p <.05) between income earned from sale of surplus maize yield and quantity of fertilizer used by farmers in Kakamega County. These findings suggest that NAAIAP improved food security and farmers’ income in Kakamega Count. This study contributes to social change by recommending to subsidy program administrators in Kakamega County to consider policy changes. Such policy changes may improve program outreach to resource-poor farmers and improve income and product yield in the agricultural sector of Kenya. Effect of the National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Subsidy Program on Fertilizer Usage and Food Production in Kakamega County, Western Kenya by Abednego K. Mavuthu M.Phil. (Agroforestry), Moi University, 2005 B.SC. Forestry, Moi University, 1998 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University May 2017 Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my beloved wife, Priscillah; and three children, Mwende, Katanu, and Jason; and my brothers and sisters for their moral support throughout my doctoral course. Acknowledgments First, I thank the Almighty God for His grace, providence and knowledge during the entire period of this doctorate course. Secondly, I thank Drs. Augusto Victor Ferreros, and Bethe Hagens, who accepted to guide me through the entire dissertation process. They were my dissertation chairperson and member, respectively. They have, in the last 24 months, worked tirelessly and enthusiastically with me, in every step of this dissertation creation. Thirdly, I acknowledge and take cognizance of the significant contribution of Dr. Patricia Ripoll, as my University Research Reviewer. I also acknowledge the participation of Mr. James Aucha and Geoffrey Mutuku in the data collection process. They played a significant role in translating the questionnaires and consent forms into local languages spoken by the participants. Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Priscillah and children, Mwende, Katanu and Jason, for their moral support and encouragement during the entire study period, which started in March 2012.