The Influence of Labor and Cost of Production on Rice Production at Ahero Irrigation Scheme, Kenya

Abura Micah; Ouma G; Kwach J. K

doi:10.2022/ajest.v6i4.729

Abura Micah Department of Agribusiness Management, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, P.O Box 2224 40100, Kisumu
Ouma G Department of Agribusiness Management, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, P.O Box 2224 40100, Kisumu
Kwach J. K Department of Agribusiness Management, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, P.O Box 2224 40100, Kisumu

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2022/ajest.v6i4.729

Keywords: Cost of Production, Irrigation Scheme, Labor

Abstract

Rice production is done in over one hundred nations. Its harvested areas cover around 158 million hectares, with a milled rice production of over 700 million tons yearly. Asia produces almost 640 million tons and this represents 90% of the global rice production. (FAO 2014) In the developing world, rice has become the most demanded food crop and staple food to over half of the total population. In Kenya, rice is ranked the third most used staple food after wheat and maize. It is a cash crop to most of the small-scale farmers in the country. This study is focused to determine the influence of labor and cost on rice production in Ahero Irrigation Scheme. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used in this survey. Surveys were used to collect quantitative data. The descriptive study ensured that the respondents’ events, profiles, and situations were accurately captured. The target rice producers in Ahero irrigation scheme from which a sample of 285 respondents were randomly selected. The sample size calculation was arrived at using the Cochran and Snedecor (1989) formula, research applied a two-stage sampling procedure. The first stage involved a purposive selection of Ahero irrigation scheme paying attention to their importance on the number of farmers, the area under farming, and their geographical location. The collected data was then analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and STATA 14 where descriptive and cross tabulations were done. Logistic regression was also performed and the effects of the independent variables on rice production were determined. The results were presented in the form of tables and charts. The results show that from the total participants 182(63.86) were male while 103(36.14) were female. The majority of the participants were above 41 years 103(36.01). The regression analysis results inform that the rice farmers who used between Kenya shillings (Kshs) 1,000-3,000 buying the seeds were 5.76 times more likely to produce a high quantity of rice 162(68.35) as compared to the farmers who used below Kshs 1,000 on the seeds purchases with a p-value of 0.011 (COR=5.76, 95% CI=1.48-22.32). The findings reveal that the household with 11 and above occupants was 4 times likely to produce a high quantity of rice production as compared to those with 1-5 occupants with a significant p-value of 0.003 (COR=4, 95% CI=1.61-9.96). Rice production is affected by both cost and labor availability, in the study it is evident that high-quality seeds are costly and the farmers who afford them produce more rice than those who use less amount of money to buy their seeds. On the other hand, labor availability is a crucial factor in rice farming, the results have shown that the households with more than 11 occupants are a source of labor to their farms and their rice yields are high compared to the households with fewer occupants.

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