The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholders in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme Extended abstract under Value Chains and Innovation Platform
An Evaluation of the Operations of Three Farmer Associations in Western Kenya
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the operation of
three contrasting farmer association in western Kenya in order
to recommend ways in which to improve the economic
performance of the associations. Secondary data were obtained
from the Ministry of Agriculture records while primary data
were collected through administration of a questionnaire to a
sample of 223 households. The sampled households were
randomly selected using the multi-stage sampling procedure.
Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social
Scientists (SPSS) to identify the relationship between variables
(operations and activities of the farmer associations) and their
influence on economic viability and sustainability of the farmer
associations. It was found that more women were members of
FAs than men. Farm size was important in influencing the range
of services farmer associations provide to their members. It is
important to enhance the capacity of the FAs to develop and
implement viable economic activities to reduce over reliance
on donations.
Le but de cette étude était d’évaluer le fonctionnement de trois
associations d’agriculteurs contrastées à l’ouest du Kenya, afin
de recommander des moyens d’améliorer la performance
économique des associations. Les données secondaires ont été
obtenues des rapports du ministère de l’Agriculture alors que
les données primaires ont été recueillies par l’administration
d’un questionnaire à un échantillon de 223 ménages. Les
ménages échantillonnés ont été choisis au hasard à l’aide de la
procédure d’échantillonnage à plusieurs degrés. Les données
ont été analysées en utilisant le logiciel statistique pour les
sciences sociales (SPSS) afin d’identifier la relation entre les
variables (opérations et activités des associations d’agriculteurs)
et leur influence sur la viabilité économique et la durabilité des
associations d’agriculteurs. Il a été constaté que beaucoup de femmes étaient membres des Associations d’Agriculteurs (FAs)
que les hommes. La taille des exploitations a été importante
pour une influence sur la gamme de services que les associations
d’agriculteurs fournissent à leurs membres. Il est important de
renforcer la capacité des FAs dans le but de développer et
mettre en oeuvre des activités économiques viables permettant
de réduire la dépendance sur des dons.
Language:
Extended abstract under Value Chains and Innovation Platform
Date of publication:
2012
Country:
Region Focus:
East Africa
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
Notes:
