Integration of Non-Food Biofuel Feedstock Enterprise in Smallholder Farms in Nyeri, Laikipia and Lamu Counties, Kenya

Abstract

Agricultural farming is a predominant enterprise in developing countries and mainly Africa. This is attributed to land availability, abundant labour from its vast population, favourable climatic conditions and food demand among other factors. Most of the rural households depend on subsistence farming to meet their food requirements with minimal commercialization which mainly target the export market. There is thus need for caution on introduction of another enterprise in the smallholder farms so as not to distort the vulnerable food production enterprise. There is however evidence that most farms are not optimally being utilized. Hence increasing on the portfolio of the farm enterprises on the household level need not necessarily hinder or reduce their food production capabilities. One such additional enterprise could be non-food biofuel feedstock farming which has a dual potential of generating income and as a source of energy in the households. In Kenya, biofuel potential production areas have been zoned taking cognizance of the food production requirements, climatic conditions and biodiversity requirements in the midst of the energy demand and supply situations prevailing in the country. There is however ample evidence that the taking up of biofuel feedstock farming by the smallholder farmers is slow even though the government and a number of non-governmental organizations are deeply involved in its promotion. The study thus seeks to identify the factors within the smallholder farms that hinder the adoption of the Jatropha and Croton biofuel feedstock. A survey was conducted in three agro-ecological zones being Laikipia, Nyeri and Lamu of which a representative random sample of 273 was selected for the study with 136 having the crop in their farms and 137 being the control group. The study used a logistic regression econometric model sorted by crop type to take care of the uniqueness of each crop in terms of their agro-ecological requirements. The factors that influence the integration of croton in the smallholder farms are household size and proximity to the urban centre. Gender of the household head, land size and access to off-farm farm income were the main determinants of farmers’ decision to adoption of Jathropa.

Keywords: biodiesel, biofuel, feedstock, integration