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- Title
Statutory Boards as Tools for Overcoming Land Fragmentation in African Agriculture.
- Authors
Munyi, Elijah
- Abstract
Context and background: A common challenge in many agricultural systems in African states is extreme land fragmentation and declining opportunities for economies of scale in production. This study uses the case of farm tenure and support system in Kenya rice schemes to show how the country's National Irrigation Authority has not only stemmed fragmentation but also increased area under cultivation through targeted supply of collectivized infrastructure. Goal and objectives: The study sought to examine and account for sources of better productivity gains in irrigated rice farming in Kenya, compared to other major cereals such as maize and wheat. Methodology: The study is a case study that examines the relative importance of producer prices in sustaining land size and usage for a given crop even when ownership/or leasehold of that piece of land might change. Question one utilizes data from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAOSTAT) to conduct a Producer Price Index (PPI) and production increases correlation analysis. The data for production volumes is obtained from, the annual Kenya Economic Survey 2008-2022. The quantitative data is complemented with expert interviews from institutions involved in rice production in Mwea rice irrigation scheme in Kenya. Results: In spite of increasing farmers and farms under the rice growing scheme (suggesting continued small-scale holdings) area under rice farming has expanded by 40% from 20,000 acres to 30,600 acres while productivity has risen from 4.1 in 2013 to 6.7 tons per ha by 2023. The expansion 10,600 acres has occurred around contiguous small-scale freehold farmers outside of the initial scheme. Within African small scale holder contexts, crop-focused statutory government bodies such as the National Irrigation Authority thus provide useful models in maneuvering and balancing land ownership autonomy and overall national productivity for small scale farm holders.
- Subjects
KENYA; AGRICULTURAL industries; LAND use; CORN; RICE farming
- Publication
African Journal on Land Policy & Geospatial Sciences, 2024, Vol 7, Issue 2, p585
- ISSN
2657-2664
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.48346/IMIST.PRSM/ajlp-gs.v7i2.46066