Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-fqc5m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T05:00:01.462Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Integrating soil science into agricultural production frontiers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2013

Anders Ekbom
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg, Vasag 1, P.O. Box 640, Goteborg, 40530, Sweden. E-mail: anders.ekbom@economics.gu.se
Yonas Alem
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. E-mail: yonas.alem@economics.gu.se
Thomas Sterner
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. E-mail: thomas.sterner@economics.gu.se

Abstract

This paper integrates soil science variables into an economic analysis of agricultural output among small-scale farmers in Kenya's highlands. The integration is valuable because farmers’ choice of inputs depends on both the status of the soil and socioeconomic conditions. The study uses a stochastic production frontier in which the individual farm's distance to the frontier depends systematically on individual factors. We show the importance of including key soil properties and find that phosphorus has a negative output elasticity, suggesting that farms may be using the wrong fertilizer mix. Hence, the central policy implication is that while fertilizers are generally beneficial, their application needs to be based on better soil information. This highlights the importance of strengthening agricultural extension, increased access to markets and more diversified supply of production inputs.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Atemken, M., Muki, T.J., Park, J.-W., and Jifon, J. (2011), ‘Integrating molecular tools with conventional breeding strategies for improving phosphorus acquisition by legume crops in acid soils of Sub-Saharan Africa’, Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Review 6(7): 142154.Google Scholar
Barrett, C.B., Pell, A., Mbugua, D., et al. (2004), ‘The interplay between smallholder farmers and fragile tropical agro-ecosystems in the Kenyan Highlands’, Working Paper Series 8, No. 26, Social Science Research Network, [Available at] http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=601270.Google Scholar
Battese, G.E. and Coelli, T.J. (1995), ‘A model of technical inefficiency effects in a stochastic frontier production function for panel data’, Empirical Economics 20: 325332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carrasco-Tauber, C. and Moffitt, L.J. (1992), ‘Damage control econometrics: functional specification and pesticide productivity’, American Journal of Agricultural Economics 74(1): 158162.Google Scholar
Christensen, L.R., Jorgenson, D.W., and Lau, L.J. (1973), ‘Transcendental logarithmic production frontiers’, Review of Economics and Statistics 55(1): 2845.Google Scholar
Coelli, T.J. (1996), ‘A guide to FRONTIER Version 4.1: a computer program for stochastic frontier production and cost function estimation’, CEPA Working Paper No. 96/07, University of New England, Armidale, Australia.Google Scholar
Cohen, M.J., Brown, M.T., and Shepherd, K.D. (2006), ‘Estimating the environmental costs of soil erosion at multiple scales in Kenya using energy synthesis’, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 114(2–4): 249269.Google Scholar
Deolalikar, A.B. and Vijverberg, W.P.M. (1987), ‘A test of heterogeneity of family and hired labor in Asian agriculture’, Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics 49(3): 291305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duflo, E., Kremer, M., and Robinson, J. (2008), ‘How high are rates of return to fertilizer? Evidence from field experiments in Kenya’, American Economic Review: Papers and Proceedings 98(2): 482488.Google Scholar
Ekbom, A. and Ovuka, M. (2001), ‘Farmers’ resource levels, soil properties and productivity in Kenya's Central Highlands’, in Stott, D.E., Mohtar, R.H. and Steinhardt, G.C. (eds), Sustaining the Global Farm: Selected Scientific Papers from the 10th International Soil Conservation Organization Meeting, West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University and International Soil Conservation Organization, pp. 682687.Google Scholar
Enyong, L.A., Debrah, S.K., and Bationo, A. (1999), ‘Farmers’ perceptions and attitudes towards introduced soil-fertility enhancing technologies in western Africa’, Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 53: 177187.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evenson, R.E. and Gollin, D. (2003), ‘Assessing the impact of the Green Revolution, 1960 to 2000’, Science 300(2): 758762.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) (2010), The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2010, Rome: FAO.Google Scholar
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) (2011), The State of Food and Agriculture 2010–2011, Rome: FAO.Google Scholar
Fulginiti, L.E. and Perrin, R.K. (1998), ‘Agricultural productivity in developing countries’, Agricultural Economics 19(1–2): 4551.Google Scholar
Gachene, C.K.K. (1995), ‘Effects of soil erosion on soil properties and crop response in central Kenya’, Ph.D. thesis, Department of Soil Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.Google Scholar
Gachene, C.K.K. and Kimaru, G. (2003), Soil Fertility and Land Productivity: A Guide for Extension Workers in the Eastern Africa Region, Technical Handbook No. 30, RELMA Technical Handbook Series, Nairobi: Regional Land Management Unit.Google Scholar
Gerdin, A. (2002), ‘Productivity and economic growth in Kenyan agriculture, 1964–1996’, Agricultural Economics 27(1): 713.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graham, P.H. and Vance, C.P. (2003), ‘Legumes: importance and constraints to greater use’, Plant Physiology 131(3): 872877.Google Scholar
Gruhn, P., Goletti, F., and Yudelman, M. (2000), ‘Integrated nutrient management, soil fertility, and sustainable agriculture: current issues and future challenges’, Food, Agriculture, and the Environment, Discussion Paper No. 32, Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute.Google Scholar
Hartemink, A.E., Buresh, R.J., van Bodegom, P.M., Braun, A.R., Jama, Bashir, and Janssen, B.H. (2000), ‘Inorganic nitrogen dynamics in fallows and maize on an oxisol and alfisol in the Highlands of Kenya’, Geoderma 98(1–2): 1133.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jacoby, H.G. (1992), ‘Productivity of men and women and the sexual division of labor in peasant agriculture of the Peruvian Sierra’, Journal of Development Economics 37(1–2): 265287.Google Scholar
Jacoby, H.G. (1993), ‘Shadow wages and peasant family labor supply: an econometric application to the Peruvian Sierra’, Review of Economic Studies 60(4): 903921.Google Scholar
Kibaara, B., Ariga, J., Olwande, J., and Jayne, T.S. (2009), ‘Trends in Kenyan agricultural productivity: 1997–2007, Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy & Development’, Nakuru, Kenya: Egerton University.Google Scholar
Kilewe, A.M. (1987), ‘Prediction of erosion rates and the effects of topsoil thickness on soil productivity’, Ph.D. thesis, Department of Soil Science, University of Nairobi, Kenya.Google Scholar
Kinkingninhoun-Mêdagbé, F.M., Diagne, A, Simtowe, F., Agboh-Noameshie, A.R., and Adegbola, P. (2010), ‘Gender discrimination and its impact on income, productivity, and technical efficiency: evidence from Benin’, Agriculture and Human Values 27: 5769.Google Scholar
Lal, R. (2006), ‘Enhancing crop yields in the developing countries through restoration of the soil organic carbon pool in agricultural lands’, Land Degradation & Development 17: 197209.Google Scholar
Mureithi, J.G., Gachene, C.K.K., and Ojiem, J. (2003), ‘The role of green manure legumes in smallholder farming systems in Kenya’, Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems 1(2–3): 5770.Google Scholar
Mwangi, N.S. (2011), ‘The role of smallholder farmer groups in delivery of agricultural services for improved livelihoods in Murang'a district, Kenya’, Thesis, Kenyatta University, Nairobi.Google Scholar
Nkonya, E., Pender, J., Jagger, P., Sserunkuuma, D., Kaizzi, C., and Ssali, H. (2004), ‘Strategies for sustainable land management and poverty reduction in Uganda’, Research Report No. 133, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Obare, G.A., Omamo, S.W., and Williams, J.C. (2003), ‘Smallholder production structure and rural roads in Africa: the case of Nakuru District, Kenya’, Agricultural Economics 28(3): 245254.Google Scholar
Odendo, M., Obare, G., and Salasya, B. (2011), ‘Farmers’ perception of soil fertility depletion and its influence on uptake of integrated soil nutrient management techniques: evidence from Western Kenya’, in Bationo, A., Waswa, B., Okeyo, J.M., Maina, F. and Kihara, J.M. (eds), Innovations as Key to the Green Revolution in Africa: Exploring the Scientific Facts', Berlin: Springer, pp. 10551059.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ogunlela, Y.I. and Mukhtar, A.A. (2009), ‘Gender issues in agriculture and rural development in Nigeria: the role of women’, Humanities and Social Sciences Journal 4(1): 1930.Google Scholar
Okalebo, J.R., Gathua, K.W., and Woomer, P.L. (1993), Laboratory Methods of Soil and Plant Analyses: A Working Manual, Technical Publication No. 1, Nairobi: Soil Science Society of East Africa.Google Scholar
Ovuka, M. (2000), ‘Effects of soil erosion on nutrient status and soil productivity in the Central Highlands of Kenya’, Ph.D. thesis, Department of Physical Geography, Earth Sciences Centre, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.Google Scholar
Ovuka, M. and Lindqvist, S. (2000), ‘Rainfall variability in Muranga District, Kenya: meteorological data and farmers’ perception’, Geografiska Annaler, Series A: Physical Geography 82(1): 107119.Google Scholar
Pagiola, S. (1999), ‘Economic analysis of incentives for soil conservation’, in Sanders, D.W., Huszar, P.C., Sombatpanit, S. and Enters, T. (eds), Incentives in Soil Conservation: From Theory to Practice, Oxford and New Delhi: World Association of Soil and Water Conservation and IBH Publishing.Google Scholar
Rutunga, V., Steiner, K.G., Karanja, N.K., Gachene, C.K.K., and Nzabonihankuye, G. (1998), ‘Continuous fertilization on non-humiferous acid oxisols in Rwanda “Plateau Central”: soil chemical changes and plant production’, Biotechnology, Agronomy, and Social Environment 2(2): 135142.Google Scholar
Saito, K.A., Mekonen, H., and Spurling, D. (1994), ‘Raising the productivity of women farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa’, World Bank Discussion Paper No. 230, Africa Technical Department Series, World Bank, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Sherlund, S.M., Barrett, C.B., and Adesina, A.A. (2002), ‘Smallholder technical efficiency controlling for environmental production conditions’, Journal of Development Economics 69(1): 85101.Google Scholar
Simmons, P. and Weiserbs, D. (1979), ‘Translog flexible functional forms and associated demand systems’, American Economic Review 69(5): 892901.Google Scholar
Sombroek, W.G., Braun, H.M.H., and van der Pouw, B.J.A. (1982), ‘Exploratory soil map and agro-climatic zone map of Kenya’, Kenya Soil Survey, Exploratory Soil Survey Report No. E1, Ministry of Agriculture, Nairobi.Google Scholar
Stafford, J. and Werner, A. (eds) (2003), Precision Agriculture, Wageningen Academic Publishers.Google Scholar
Stephens, W. and Hess, T.M. (1999), ‘Modelling the benefits of soil water conservation using the PARCH Model – a case study from a semi-arid region of Kenya’, Journal of Arid Environments 41(3): 335344.Google Scholar
Thomas, D.B. (ed.) (1997), Soil and Water Conservation Manual for Kenya, Nairobi: Ministry of Agriculture, Soil and Water Conservation Branch, and Livestock Development and Marketing.Google Scholar
Udry, C., Hoddinott, J., Alderman, H., and Haddad, L. (1995), ‘Gender differentials in farm productivity: implications for household efficiency and agricultural policy’, Food Policy 20(5): 407423.Google Scholar
Vitousek, P.M., Naylor, R., Crews, T., et al. (2009), ‘Nutrient imbalances in agricultural development’, Science 324(5934): 15191520.Google Scholar
Widawsky, D., Rozelle, S., Jin, S., and Huang, J. (1998), ‘Pesticide productivity, host-plant resistance, and productivity in China’, Agricultural Economics 19(1–2): 203–127.Google Scholar
Winklerprins, A.M.G.A. (1999), ‘Local soil knowledge: a tool for sustainable land management’, Society & Natural Resources 12(2): 151161.Google Scholar
Woomer, P.L., Karanja, N.K., and Okalebo, J.R. (1999), ‘Opportunities for improving integrated nutrient management by smallholder farmers in the Central Highlands of Kenya’, African Crop Science Journal 7(4): 441454.Google Scholar
World Bank (2008), World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development, Washington, DC: World Bank/IBRD.Google Scholar
World Bank (2010), World Development Report 2010: Development and Climate Change, Washington, DC: World Bank/IBRD.Google Scholar
World Bank (2011), World Development Indicators 2011, Washington, DC: World Bank/IBRD, [Available at] http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.CON.FERT.ZS.Google Scholar