Infrastructure and Market Factors Influencing Implementation of Agri E-Commerce Platforms among Smallholder Potato Farmers in Kenya (Published)
The implementation of Agri e-commerce platforms among smallholder potato farmers is increasingly recognised as a pathway to improving market efficiency, transparency, and better farmer incomes. However, adoption in rural settings remains constrained by critical infrastructure and market-related factors. This study examined the influence of these factors on the uptake of Agri e-commerce among potato farmers in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. Using a mixed methods research design, the study targeted smallholder farmers, Farmer association representatives and ICT county official. Data was collected from 162 farmers, 10 FA representatives and 2ICT officials from the county through structured questionnaires supported by qualitative insights from focus group discussions and key informant interviews respectively. Findings revealed that infrastructural limitations, particularly inadequate internet connectivity, low smartphone ownership, and limited digital literacy significantly hinder farmers’ ability to engage with e-commerce platforms. Market factors also severely reduced participation; high transportation costs (40.37%), excessive dependence on brokers (32.92%), poor market structures (21.12%), and lack of storage facilities (5.59%) created substantial barriers to market engagement by the farmers. Chi-square test through a Tobit regression analysis further indicated a significant association between farmers’ main source of income and the challenges they experience (χ² = 25.577, p < 0.001), as well as between marketing challenges and main buyers (χ² = 21.574, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings reinforced these results, highlighting persistent market inefficiencies, power imbalances caused by broker dominance, and the economic burden of logistics as key deterrents to digital market participation. The study concludes that effective implementation of Agri e-commerce requires parallel investments in rural digital infrastructure, affordable access to smart devices, and value-chain improvements that reduce transaction costs enhancing the farmers’ bargaining power. Strengthening market systems and addressing structural constraints remain critical for realising the transformative potential of Agri e-commerce among smallholder farmers in potato production.
Keywords: Agri e-commerce, Infrastructure, Kenya, Market Access, Smallholder Farmers, market constraints
Socio-Economic Determinants of the Performance of Small-Scale Palm Oil Producers in Abia State (Published)
This study examines the socioeconomic determinants of palm oil production among smallholder farmers in Abia State, focusing on four local government areas: Isiala Ngwa North, Obingwa, Ukwa East, and Ukwa West. Primary data were obtained using a well-structured questionnaire from 312 small-scale palm oil producers in the study area. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, mean ratings and ordered logit regression. The descriptive statistics showed that oil palm production in the study area is predominantly female led, with an average age of about 46 years and average household size and monthly income of 4 persons and 128,000 naira, respectively. The ordered logit regression results showed that socioeconomic factors such as age, education, household size, years of experience, income and tax are significant determinants of palm oil production in the study area. In particular, age and tax significantly decrease the probability of reporting output growth (from low, moderate to high) by 6.07% and 0.94%, respectively. Interestingly, household size and education significantly increase the probability of reporting output growth (from low, moderate to high) by 0.5% and 4.3%, respectively. Similarly, income and years of experience in the palm oil processing significantly increase the probability of reporting output growth (from low, moderate to high) by 3.6% and 6.3%, respectively. This finding highlights the importance of income and years of experience in enhancing palm oil production in Abia State. In addition, the results showed that the constraints affecting palm oil production in the study area include difficulty in acquiring modern processing equipment, inadequate access to funding, high cost of hired labour, high processing cost, lack of storage facilities, and quick deterioration of palm fruits. Given the findings, this study recommends that the Abia State Government should encourage people to venture into palm oil production at a young age to reduce the negative implications of age on the performance of small-scale palm producers.
Keywords: Income, Palm Oil, Smallholder Farmers, education and Abia State, output growth
Factorial Analysis of Challenges Encountered By Smallholder Cotton Growers in Eswatini (Published)
Cotton is the second most important cash-crop in Eswatini, yet production continues to decline. This study identifies the challenges and solutions for ameliorated productivity. Data were collected through questionnaire-guided interviews from 308 growers and 5 key informants. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis and inferential statistics were applied for data analysis. The production-related challenges include drought, inflators of production cost, lack of credit, poor input and mechanical technology supply, ineffectual cooperativism and low-yielding varieties. Market-related challenges include low prices, monopsony, limited market channels and lack of value addition options. Gender, location, farm size and household size revealed significant effects on production-related challenges at p<0.01. Labour, location and age revealed significant effects on marketing-related challenges at p<0.01, and p<0.05, respectively. Identified solutions include subsidies, credit funding and high-yielding varieties under irrigated-farming. Establishment of stakeholder-inclusive regulatory organ is recommended to address the identified challenges. Further redress of cooperativism is recommended to promote cotton productivity.
Keywords: Challenges, Eswatini, Exploratory Factor Analysis, Smallholder Farmers, cotton production, perceived solutions