Determinants of Productivity of Small-scale Holdings of Arabica Coffee in Kenya: A Case Study of Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

This study explores the effects of farm size, the use of fertilizers and chemical sprays on the productivity of coffee farms in Kiambu County in Kenya. The study uses both fixed and random effects techniques to estimate the magnitude of the contribution of each factor to coffee productivity. The study findings show that there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between coffee output and quantity of fertilizer used in zone UM2. However, a negative and statistically significant relationship is found for zone UM3. Moreover, this study finds a positive and statistically significant relationship between the quantity of spray used in litres and coffee output for zone UM1. The estimation results also indicate that both the farm size and the quantity of triple 17 and CAN fertilizers used are positively and statistically significant related with coffee output; this relationship, however, does not hold for the case for sumithion type of fertilizer. Based on the findings, this study  recommends that farmers should increase the quantity usage of compound fertilizer in the form of triple 17, and those who do not use fertilizers have to be encouraged to use triple 17 fertilizer. It is also recommended that the government ought to subsidize the cost of fertilizers and spray chemicals in order to increase the productivity of coffee farms in Kenya.