TITLE:
The Level and Determinats of Technical Efficiency in Fodder Production in Homa Bay County, Kenya
AUTHORS:
Mary Stacey Ayuko, Job Kibiwot Lagat, Michael Huaser
KEYWORDS:
Fodder, Production Technology, Technical Efficiency
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.10 No.1,
January
16,
2023
ABSTRACT: Fodder production is important for dairy producers in Kenya as it plays a major role in the quality and quantity of milk produced. It contributes to improved income through forage sales, milk sales and livestock sales. There has been an increasing demand for fodder both locally and in neighboring countries. This has led to an increase in the production of fodder in the country. Despite the growing demand of fodder in Kenya, the current production does not meet the demand. In response, efforts have been initiated by different programs with the help of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), towards promoting fodder production with a view to increasing milk production. This paper analyzed the level of technical efficiency and its determinants in fodder production. Primary data was collected in Rachuonyo East and South sub-counties using structured questionnaires on a sample size of about 300 farmers. Stochastic Frontier model and Tobit model were used for analysis. Results of stochastic frontier analysis indicated that land size, quantity of planting materials, labour for planting, and labor for weeding influenced the level of technical efficiency. Tobit’s results indicated that herd size, group membership, access to credit, household size and access to training affected the level of technical efficiency of farmers. The study recommended the need for farmers to increase land allocation for fodder, increase planting materials and the number of man days during planting and weeding to increase fodder output.