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Discussions and debates have been on going about Striga, a major constraint to increasing maize
production and food security in western Kenya. To inform these debates this paper applies
econometrics to farm survey data in order to estimate and determine the factors which drive farmers’
decision to adopt imazapyr-resistant maize (IRM), a novel technology for Striga control. The study uses
data from a multistage, random sample of 600 households of which, 169 were IRM adopters and 431
were non-adopters. This paper tests the hypothesis that the factors affecting farmers’ decision to adopt
IRM are not necessarily the same as those affecting their extent of adoption. Results from the double-
hurdle model indicates that age of the household head, household size, membership to social group,
access to extension services and perception towards IRM for Striga control were found to influence the
decision to adopt IRM. And, household size, gap between maize production and consumption per
capita, access to extension services and perception towards IRM for Striga control influenced the
extent the farmer is willing to adopt. The paper concludes with policy implications aimed at renewing
the focus on IRM transfer in western Kenya and other areas with similar conditions |
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