Resource use efficiency among maize producers around East African wetlands: An agricultural land-use management systems perspective

Abstract

An efficient food production system bridges the gap between sustainable food production and
wetland conservation. Often maize is grown under three agricultural land-use management
systems, namely, upland-rainfed, upland-irrigated, and wetland-only. This study assessed
technical efficiency among 300 randomly selected maize producing households at Ewaso
Narok and Namulonge wetlands in Kenya and Uganda, respectively. Data analysis utilized a
one-step stochastic frontier analysis using FRONTIER 4.1c software. The study revealed that
the upland-irrigated system was associated with the highest efficiency. Land, seeds, manure,
basal fertilizers, pesticides, and labor were among the major determinants of maize yield. Age,
group membership, gender, farming experience, distance to the extension service provider,
and upland-rainfed system were the significant determinants of inefficiency. The study
concluded that government policies should consider different wetland regimes and encourage
maize farmers to grow maize under the upland-irrigated system using subsidized alternative
sources of water to reduce pressure on wetland resources.