Effect Of Integrated Pest Management Technology On The Livelihoods Of Small-Scale Maize Producers

Abstract

Research background: In Kenya, maize production has been severely constrained by parasitic pests and weeds such as Striga, stem borer, and fall armyworm. The government of Kenya and its partners have developed, disseminated, and promoted the continual uptake of integrated pest management technologies such as Push-Pull technology (PPT) as a way of addressing these constraints. Understanding the effect of these technologies on smallholder livelihoods is crucial, however, it is largely ignored in the literature. Purpose of the article: This study evaluates the effect of continual uptake of PPT as an integrated pest management technology on livelihood outcomes of small-scale maize producers in Homa Bay County. Methods: A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a sample of 240 respondents. Cross-sectional data were gathered through face-to-face interviews using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire, and analysed using descriptive statistics and propensity score matching models. Findings & Value added: Findings were that age, education level, total land owned, perception on Striga weed, stem borer, and fall armyworm severity, and land tenure positively influenced continual uptake of PPT, whereas the distance to nearest administrative centre was negatively associated with it. Propensity score matching results revealed that continual uptake of PPT had a positive and significant effect on household consumption expenditure and household dietary diversity, with a negative impact on poverty. The study, therefore, recommended policies that will ensure efficiency, literacy development, extension training, and resource availability among PPT non-adopters and dis-adopters to the level of the PPT continuous users.