Household Institutional Factors Influence Adoption of Farming Practices among Agro-pastoralists in Dryland Areas of West Pokot County, Kenya
Main Article Content
Keywords
Access to credit, saving money, decision-making, financial literacy, agricultural practices, agropastoralist farmers
Abstract
Agricultural sector remains a key pillar of Kenya’s economy, employing the majority of the rural population and contributing significantly to GDP and national food security. The development in this sector is influenced by a number of factors, including institutional factors that contributes to the adoption of farming practice. Despite recent studies linking adoption of farming practices to institutional factors, limited evidence from agropastoralist farmers in the dryland context had been presented. This study therefore investigates the influence of household institutional factors that include access to credit, ability to save money, membership to farmers’ association and decision making on money use on adoption of farming practices. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in West Pokot County using a multistage sampling design. Stratified sampling based on elevation was applied to identify lower-altitude areas inhabited by the agropastoralist. Using systematic random sampling, 503 farmers were interviewed. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected. Binomial logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between household institutional factors and farming practices. The results showed that majority of the farmers were able to save money (65%), are members of farmers association (56%) and jointly made decision on money use (60%) at the household. Access to credit emerged as a key determinant, significantly reducing reliance on manual tools such as hoes (OR = 0.46, p=0.002) while promoting mechanized land preparation through tractor services (OR = 2.83, p<0.001) and inorganic fertilizer use (OR = 1.98, p=0.007). Similarly, savings ability enhanced fertilizer adoption, with a positive association between saving and use of inorganic fertilizer (OR = 1.99, p=0.003). Household joint decision-making influenced cropping systems by discouraging mono-cropping system (OR = 0.60, p =0.009). There was no significant association between institutional factors on farm size and adoption of organic fertilizer. These results demonstrate the pertinent role of the institutional factors in shaping farming practices thus contributing to agricultural development in the drylands. This study found financial capability through saving and accessing credit to having greater influence on farming practices. However, there could be systemic barriers affecting access to credit by agropastoral farmers. This study therefore recommends financial interventions by policymakers and stakeholders that will explore mitigating of the constraint of collateral requirements, supporting informal saving and lending mechanisms and regular training to improve financial literacy. This will improve credit utilization and promote saving culture among agropastoralist farmers in the dryland areas.
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References
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Aug 30, 2025
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Alkamoi , B., Ochuodho , J., Ng’etich, W., Wamalwa, F. K., Churu , H., Lokoyel , R., Kokwon, C., & Mutai, O. (2025). Household Institutional Factors Influence Adoption of Farming Practices among Agro-pastoralists in Dryland Areas of West Pokot County, Kenya. Journal of Crops, Livestock and Pest Management, 3(2), 29–45. https://doi.org/10.69897/joclipm.v3i2.374
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Author Biographies
Bonface Alkamoi , Department of Seed, Crops and Horticultural Sciences, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.
Department of Seed, Crops and Horticultural Sciences, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.
Julius Ochuodho , Department of Seed, Crops and Horticultural Sciences, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.
Department of Seed, Crops and Horticultural Sciences, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.
Wilson Ng’etich, Department of Soil Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.
Department of Soil Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.
Fred K. Wamalwa, Department of Development Studies, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, P.O. BOX 62157-00200 Nairobi, Kenya.
Department of Development Studies, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, P.O. BOX 62157-00200 Nairobi, Kenya.
Harrison Churu , Department of Soil Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.
Department of Soil Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.
Rose Lokoyel , Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis, PO Box 56445-00200 Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis, PO Box 56445-00200 Nairobi, Kenya
Costa Kokwon, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100 Eldoret, Kenya
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100 Eldoret, Kenya
Ochran Mutai, Department of Seed, Crops and Horticultural Sciences, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.
Department of Seed, Crops and Horticultural Sciences, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.