Institutional Factors and Adoption of Hybrid Maize Among Smallholder Farmers in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya
Keywords:
Institutional factors, hybrid maize adoption, market access, smallholder farmers, Elgeyo-Marakwet CountyAbstract
Institutional factors such as extension services, access to credit, market linkages, and agricultural information play a critical role in influencing the adoption of hybrid maize among smallholder farmers. Despite the availability of improved hybrid maize varieties that can enhance productivity and food security, adoption remains relatively low in Elgeyo-Marakwet County due to institutional constraints. The study examined the effect of institutional factors on hybrid maize adoption among smallholder farmers in the county. The study adopted a descriptive survey design using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A sample of 189 smallholder farmers was selected through stratified random sampling from a target population of 358 farmers across three wards. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis in SPSS version 26, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that institutional factors significantly influenced hybrid maize adoption. Institutional support showed a strong positive correlation with adoption (r = 0.710, p < 0.001). Regression analysis further established that institutional factors had a positive and statistically significant effect on adoption (B = 0.313, β = 0.379, p < 0.001). Access to extension services, farmer training, credit facilities, and market access emerged as key determinants promoting adoption among smallholder farmers. The study concludes that strengthening institutional support substantially enhances hybrid maize adoption among smallholder farmers. Improved extension services, affordable credit, farmer training, and efficient market systems increase farmers' willingness and capacity to adopt hybrid maize technologies, thereby contributing to improved agricultural productivity and household food security. The study recommends expanding agricultural extension coverage, improving access to affordable credit, strengthening local seed distribution systems, enhancing rural market infrastructure, and promoting supportive public policies that increase institutional support for hybrid maize adoption among smallholder farmers.
References
Abebe, G., Ali, D. A., & Chamberlin, J. (2021). The role of extension services in adoption and diffusion of agricultural technologies: Evidence from Ethiopia. World Development, 146, 105602.
Benimana, G. U. (2021). Factors Determining Choice and Impact of Hermetic Maize Storage Technology Adoption on Smallholder Farmers’ Income in Gatsibo District, Rwanda (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi).
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach. Sage Publications.
Daikeler, J., Silber, H., & Bošnjak, M. (2022). A meta-analysis of how country-level factors affect web survey response rates. International Journal of Market Research, 64(3), 306-333.
Fatima, B. (2024). Social-ecological resurgence through farmers’ traditional knowledge and agroecology in Pakistan (Doctoral dissertation).
Heaton, M. (2024). How do modern varieties and seed systems affect the challenges faced by Ugandan smallholders? (Doctoral dissertation, University of East Anglia).
Ifie, B. E., Kwapong, N. A., Anato-Dumelo, M., Konadu, B. A., Tongoona, P. B., & Danquah, E. Y. (2022). Assessment of farmers' readiness to adopt maize hybrid varieties for high productivity in Ghana. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B—Soil & Plant Science, 72(1), 506-515.
Izah, S. C., Sylva, L., & Hait, M. (2023). Cronbach's alpha: A cornerstone in ensuring reliability and validity in environmental health assessment. ES Energy & Environment, 23, 1057.
Kansiime, M. K., & Wambugu, S. (2020). Determinants of farmers’ decisions to access improved maize seed in Eastern Africa. Agriculture & Food Security, 9(1), 1–12.
Kipkogei, S., Han, J., Mwalupaso, G., Tanui, J., & Brenya, R. (2025). The synergistic effects of microcredit access and agricultural technology adoption on maize farmers’ income in Kenya. PLoS One, 20(1), e0316014.
Lawshe, C. H. (1975). A quantitative approach to content validity. Personnel Psychology, 28(4).
MacCarthy, D. S., Oppong-Mensah, B., Aboagye, L., & Mensah, A. (2023). Modeling the effect of soil fertility management options on maize yield stability under variable climate in a sub-humid zone in Ghana. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 1132732.
Magielse, M. (2025). Wild Growth: The Emergence of Formal Seed Systems from the Perspective of Rwandan Smallholder Farmers. IIIEE Master Thesis.
Mucheru-Muna, M. W., Ada, M. A., Mugwe, J. N., Mairura, F. S., Mugi-Ngenga, E., Zingore, S., & Mutegi, J. K. (2021). Socio-economic predictors, soil fertility knowledge domains and strategies for sustainable maize intensification in Embu County, Kenya. Heliyon, 7(2).
Muriithi, D. I. (2023). Analysis of the Effect of Climate Variability and Socio-economic Factors on Adaptation Strategies Among Small Scale Farmers. A Case Study of Nyandarua County, Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi).
Mutea, E., Jacobi, J., Rist, S., Kiteme, B., & Hossain, M. S. (2025). Agricultural commercialization and food security: Evidence and policy implications for smallholder farmers in Kenya. World Development Sustainability, 6, 100214.
Naazie, G. K., Dakyaga, F., & Derbile, E. K. (2023). Agro-ecological intensification for climate change adaptation: Tales on soil and water management practices of smallholder farmers in rural Ghana. Discover Sustainability, 4(1), 27.
Ndeko, A. B., Chuma, G. B., Mondo, J. M., Kazamwali, L. M., Civava, R., Bisimwa, E. B., & Mushagalusa, G. N. (2025). Farmers’ preferred traits, production constraints, and adoption factors of improved maize varieties under South-Kivu rainfed agro-ecologies, eastern DR Congo: implications for maize breeding. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 23(1), 2464524.
Paudel, G., Krishna, V., Rahut, D. B., & McDonald, A. (2021). Intensification under input constraints: Estimating the heterogeneous effects of hybrid maize adoption in Nepal.
Rutsaert, P., Donovan, J., & Kimenju, S. (2021). Demand-side challenges to increase sales of new maize hybrids in Kenya. Technology in Society, 66, 101630.
Sataloff, R. T., & Vontela, S. (2021). Response rates in survey research. Journal of Voice, 35(5), 683-684.
Taber, K. S. (2018). The use of Cronbach’s alpha when developing and reporting research instruments in science education. Research in Science Education, 48(6), 1273-1296.
Tambo, J. A., & Mockshell, J. (2018). Differential impacts of conservation agriculture technology options on household income in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ecological Economics, 151, 95–105.
Wossen, T., Abdoulaye, T., Alene, A., Feleke, S., Olanrewaju, A., Manyong, V., & Awotide, B. (2021). Impacts of access to extension services and cooperative membership on technology adoption and household welfare. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 72(2), 486–504.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Emmanuel Chelimo Maswach, Festus Murithi Meme, Hellen Njagi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
