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 Value Chains and Innovation Platform.
Economics of Management of Farmer Associations in Western Kenya
Abstract:
Farmer associations (FAs) have the capacity to improve earnings
and the general welfare of their members when they are well
managed. In this study, we characterise three umbrella FAs in
western Kenya namely, Bungoma Small-Scale Farmers Forum
(BUSSFO), Mwangaza Farmer Group and ACCAUN in,
Bungoma, Vihiga and Teso counties of Western Kenya
respectively, and evaluate the influence of their management
structure on the operations and sustainability of the associations’
operations. The study also assesses the contribution of the
management of the FAs to associations’ and households’
incomes and compare benefits and costs associated with
alternative operation strategies. The study is employing
purposive and random sampling techniques to pick respondents;
and interviews and questionnaires to collect both primary and
secondary data from members and non-members of the farmer
associations. The study is expected to provide a basis for
recommending a wholesome management structure to ensure sustainability and enhanced economic returns to the farmer
associations.
Les associations d’agriculteurs (AF) ont la capacité d’améliorer
les revenus et le bien-être général de leurs membres quand
elles sont bien gérées. Dans cette étude, nous caractérisons
trois associations de protectiond’agriculteursà l’ouest du Kenya
à savoir le Forum de Petits Agriculteurs de Bugoma(BUSSFO),
le Groupe d’Agriculteurs de Mwangaza et ACCAUN, dans les
comtés de Bungoma, Vihiga et Teso à l’ouest du Kenya,
respectivement, et nous évaluons l’influence de leur structure
de gestion sur les opérations et la durabilité d’exploitation des
associations. L’étude évalue également la contribution de la
gestion des associations d’agriculteursaux revenus des
associations et des ménages et compare les profits et les coûtsassociés aux stratégies alternativesd’exploitation. L’étude
emploie des techniques d’échantillonnage délibéré et aléatoire
pour sélectionnerles répondants, des entrevues et des
questionnaires pour recueillir des données primaires et
secondaires des membres et non-membres des associations
d’agriculteurs. L’étude devrait fournir une base pour
recommander une structure de gestion saine afin d’assurer la
pérennité et le renforcement des retombées économiques pour
les associations d’agriculteurs.
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:
