Economic Analysis of Alternative Maize Storage Technologies in Kenya

Upcoming technologies for maize storage have sometimes been promoted without being subjected to trials and economic analysis. In the recent past, new storage technologies, actellic super, super grain bag and the metal silo have been developed. In this paper, the results of crop loss trials are combined with measures of project worth to determine the attractiveness of investing in new storage technologies. Determination of the benefit was based on the amount of loss the new technology could abate. A one ton metal silo, with negligible % crop loss abated USD 100 in 12 months. These benefits were found to increase with time meaning that a farmer benefits by storing longer. Measures of project worth, the NPV and BCR were used to analyze the attractiveness of investing in the new technologies at a discount rate of 15% and an investment period of 15 years. Sensitivity analysis was done by varying the discount rate and the investment period. When six metal silo sizes were subjected to this analysis, the results showed that the three largest silos were attractive for all these scenarios. On the other hand, the smaller the silo size the higher the requirement that the interest rate be small and the period of investment bigger for it to be an attractive investment. Therefore, promoting larger silos would be more cost-effective to the farmer.Storage, LGB, economic analysis, Kenya, Crop Production/Industries,

Family medicine training in Sub-Saharan Africa : South-South cooperation in the Primafamed project as strategy for development

BACKGROUND. Health-care systems based on primary health care (PHC) are more equitable and cost effective. Family medicine trains medical doctors in comprehensive PHC with knowledge and skills that are needed to increase quality of care. Family medicine is a relatively new specialty in sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVE. To explore the extent to which the Primafamed South–South cooperative project contributed to the development of family medicine in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS. The Primafamed (Primary Health Care and Family Medicine Education) project worked together with 10 partner universities in sub-Saharan Africa to develop family medicine training programmes over a period of 2.5 years. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis was done and the training development from 2008 to 2010 in the different partner universities was analysed. RESULTS. During the 2.5 years of the Primafamed project, all partner universities made progress in the development of their family medicine training programmes. The SWOT analysis showed that at both national and international levels, the time is ripe to train medical doctors in family medicine and to integrate the specialty into health-care systems, although many barriers, including little awareness, lack of funding, low support from other specialists and reserved support from policymakers, are still present. CONCLUSIONS. Family medicine can play an important role in health-care systems in sub-Saharan Africa; however, developing a new discipline is challenging. Advocacy, local ownership, action research and support from governments are necessary to develop family medicine and increase its impact. The Primafamed project showed that development of sustainable family medicine training programmes is a feasible but slow process. The South–South cooperation between the ten partners and the South African departments of family medicine strengthened confidence at both national and international levels

Consumers' Willingness to Pay for Genetically Modified Foods in Kenya

A survey of 600 consumers was conducted in Nairobi to determine attitudes and willingness to pay (WTP) for GM maize meal. WTP was estimated using the double-bounded logit model. Overall, 38% are aware of GM crops. Most consumers believe in the technology's positive impacts, but are concerned about environmental and health risks. Majority (68%) would buy GM maize meal at the price of their favourite maize meal brand. The mean WTP for GM maize meal is KShs 58 for a 2kg packet, a premium of 13.7 % over mean average price of favourite brands. WTP is influenced more by subjective than socioeconomic characteristics.GMO, biotechnology, consumer, Africa, maize, Consumer/Household Economics, D12, C25, Q16,

Comparing Accuracy and Costs of Revealed and Stated Preferences: The Case of Consumer Acceptance of Yellow Maize in East Africa

For quite a while, stated preferences have been a major tool to measure consumer preferences for new products and services. Revealed preference methods, in particular experimental economics, have gained popularity recently because they have been shown to be more incentive compatible, and therefore more accurate. However, this advantage comes at the expense of higher survey costs. In the developing countries with limited funding for research, it is important to determine whether the extra cost can be justified by the extra gain in accuracy. A survey of 100 farmers was carried out in Western Kenya to determine consumer preference for yellow maize using the contingent valuation, choice experiments and experimental auction methods. Experimental auctions produced the most realistic results for mean willingness to pay. They are also the most accurate at all budget levels, but also the most expensive. Considering their accuracy and realistic results, we conclude that they should be the recommended method in measuring consumer preference in developing countries, since the extra cost is more than recovered by the gain in accuracy.Kenya, maize, consumer, experimental auctions, stated preference, WTP, Crop Production/Industries, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, D6, Q12,

Impact of alternate host phenology amd alternate hose-transgenic corn interactions on the Western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on May 1, 2009)Vita.Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2006.With the increasing adoption of transgenic maize with resistance to rootworms, combined with glyphosate tolerance, as a control tactic for western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, an understanding of the effect of alternate host plants on rootworm population dynamics is critical to the formulation of effective IRM programs. Three studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of alternate host plant phenology on the survivorship, growth, development, and host searching behavior of larvae, as well as the effect of initial feeding of larvae on an alternate host followed by movement to rootworm resistant transgenic corn on beetle emergence and reproductive fitness of emerged female beetles. Initial feeding on alternate hosts followed by movement to Bt maize increased beetle emergence from Bt maize, fecundity of those that survived, and the number of viable eggs produced. In greenhouse trials, western corn rootworm larvae had significantly greater survival on younger grassy weeds (4 to 6 weeks old) versus older grassy weeds. In behavioral tests, western corn rootworm larvae recognized younger roots (4 week old) as hosts but did not recognize older roots (7 or 10 week old) as hosts. Phenological changes in grassy weeds could encourage movement of larvae from weeds to transgenic maize.Includes bibliographical reference

Does Land Use Patterns Matter for Bt-Maize: The Case of Maize Farming System in Kenya

Population pressures and the need to optimize the use of limited available land has led to increasing cropping affluence levels within the maize agro-ecologies in Kenya, and a shift from large to smallholder intensification and multiple cropping patterns. Using a geographic information system, this study relates cropping patterns, by area share, maize productivity and household incomes across maize agro-ecologies, with the purpose to establish a decision support system for optimizing land allocation and in priority setting for introduction of new technologies such as Bt maize varieties. Results show that land use patterns and maize productivity in maize farming systems differ between agroecological zones. The high potential areas experience high maize yields, with maize grown alongside major cash crops such as tea and coffee. In contrast, lowland coastal strip and lake Victoria region tend to grow drought tolerant tuber crops (such as cassava and sweet potatoes) alongside maize in appreciable land sizes. Similarly the dry areas grow drought tolerant legumes such as pigeon pea alongside maize. These low potential areas thus concentrate on meeting their subsistence food self-sufficiency needs, pointing at risk management strategies against drought and pests such as stem borer, unlike high potential areas with high value cash crops. Maize breeders should therefore consider insertion of Bt- genes in maize varieties that would achieve high production and which are also capable of safely growing side by side with crops that meet different food security conditions in different agro-ecological zones in Kenya.Land use, Smallholders, Maize production, Food security, Kenya, Crop Production/Industries, Land Economics/Use,

SUPERMARKETS AND CONSUMERS IN AFRICA: THE CASE OF NAIROBI, KENYA

Supermarkets are rapidly penetrating urban food retail in Kenya and spreading well beyond their initial tiny market niche into the food markets of lower-income groups. Having penetrated processed and staple food markets much earlier and faster than fresh foods, they have recently begun to make inroads into the fresh fruits and vegetables category. The important changes in their procurement systems bring significant opportunities and challenges for small farmers, and have implications for agricultural diversification and rural development programmes and policies.Consumer/Household Economics, Marketing,

Improving the Use of Experimental Auctions in Africa: Theory and Evidence

Experimental auctions have not been widely used in Africa. However, auctions are important tools for evaluating new products and technologies. To increase the quality of these experiments, we explore an alternative first-price bidding mechanism that is more similar to African market exchanges and we analyze factors likely to affect bidding. Experiments with African consumers show that the proposed first-price mechanism has no advantage over conventional second-price mechanisms. Results show high and significant cash-in-hand, experimenter, and time of day effects in main rounds, and significant ordering effects in test rounds. These effects need to be carefully considered when applying the Becker-DeGroot-Marschak mechanism in Africa.Africa, BDM mechanism, experimenter effect, first-price auction, income effect, order effect, time of day effect, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Market Liberalization and Agricultural Intensification in Kenya (1992-2002)

This study analyses the impact of the liberalization on the intensification of maize production in Kenya. It first analyses the impact of liberalization on input and output prices, followed by an analysis of farmer practices comparing two major farmer surveys, from 1992 and 2002. The results show that liberalization has had a general positive impact on the evolution of prices, with a decrease of input/output price ratios. However, fluctuations of maize prices has become very high and, combined with a decrease of marketing by the marketing board, has increased the uncertainty in maize production. The liberalization has also resulted in a decrease in extension services. Fortunately, farmers have an increased access to credit services. The combined effect of prices and access to services has resulted in little change in the number of farmers using new maize technologies, in particular improved varieties and fertilizer. The dose of fertilizer per ha has, however, decreased. As a result, yields have not increased. The analysis also showed that credit and extension have a major effect on adoption and, indirectly, on yield. The results indicate that an effort is needed to improve extension access. While the improved access to credit is encouraging, more than half the farmers still miss this essential service. Finally, the increased price fluctuation and market uncertainty should be addressed through improved use of price buffer mechanisms. Market access can also substantially be improved through investment in infrastructure.liberalization, intensification, adoption, maize, Africa, International Development, International Relations/Trade,