Effect of access to market infrastructure on the production of improved maize varieties in Moyo Sub-County, Moyo District.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to find out the effect of access to market infrastructure on the production of improved maize varieties in Moyo sub-county, Moyo district. The specific objectives of the study were to describe the existing market infrastructure in Moyo sub-county, to determine the relationship between access to market infrastructure and the production of improved maize variety in Moyo sub-county and to assess the effect of farmer groups on the production of improved maize varieties in Moyo sub-county. Well-designed questionnaires were used to collect data from 80 farmers.The collected data was coded and entered into SPSS, computer software for analysis.The results of this study show that out of the 80 respondents, majority (68.8%) of farmers were males. Most farmers were accessing market information from radio. Farmers move at least two km to access the main road and an average distance of 0.74km to access the minor roads. Farmers reported that there was a market in their area which operates on a daily and weekly basis through which they would sell their maize. However, a substantial number of farmers also sell their produce through farm gates. The regression showed that there was a positive linear relationship between farm inputs, market for the produce, distance to major roads, distance to minor roads, market information and the production of improved maize variety. There was a negative relationship between processing methods and production ofimproved maize variety. Most of the farmers who belonged to a group participated in the production of improved maize verities compared to farmers who did not have any group. The study concluded that access to market infrastructure has been effective in improving agricultural productivity, influencing farmer’s adoption and production of improved maize varieties in Moyo sub-county. Based on the findings, some recommendations were made such as farmers being encouraged to form farm-based groups which will help them to find market for their products at profitable rate, policies promoting the adoption and production of improved maize varieties should take into account the nature and factors that determine the adoption rate the government should ensure that rural transportation and market infrastructure are improved to make them accessible to the rural farmers.