MBA Theses and Dissertations
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Find here Theses and Dissertations for the award of Master of Business Administration (MBA). These works have been scanned and passed through the OCR. We do not hold liablity for correctness of content.
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Browsing MBA Theses and Dissertations by Subject "Agriculture"
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- ItemFactors affecting adoption of improved agricultural technologies among smallholder tea farmers in Kericho County(Strathmore University, 2021) Ekwang, CarrenTea is an important crop in Kenya’s economy accounting for 26% of foreign exchange earnings. In order to improve productivity, the Tea Research Institute has developed improved agricultural technologies to enhance tea yields. However, Small holder farmers have not fully adopted the improved agricultural technologies and therefore their yields remain low. The general objective of this study is to establish the factors that influence adoption of improved agricultural technologies among small holder among small holder farmers in Kericho County. The specific objectives are, to determine the effect of personal farmer characteristics on adoption of improved agricultural technologies, to establish the influence of economic factors on adoption of improved agricultural technologies and to investigate the effect of institutional factors on adoption of improved agricultural technologies among smallholder tea farmers in Kericho County The study used a descriptive design. The number of farmers was divided into six factories that the farmers supply leaf to namely Chelal, Toror, Tegat, Momul Kapkatet and Litein Tea factories. Proportionate random sampling was applied to select the number of farmers from each factory. A questionnaire was used to collect data on the personal farmer characteristics, economic and institutional factors influencing technology adoption. A multivariate probit model was used to determine how the independent variables (personal, economic and institutional factors) relate to the dependent variable (adoption of improved farming technologies). The results show that, higher education levels, age, years of experience in tea farming and household size positively influenced adoption of improved agricultural technologies. On gender, female managed farms are less likely to adopt soil conservation and IWM. Land size did not influence adoption of improved agricultural technologies. Credit constrained households were also less likely to adopt fertilizer use and improved tea varieties. Alternative income enhanced adoption of IWM and soil testing. Membership to a formal or informal institution enhanced adoption of soil conservation and use of improved tea varieties. There is no relationship between provision of extension services and adoption of improved agricultural technologies because the quality of the service offered is poor
- ItemFarmer factors for targeting in the certified maize seed market of Western and Coastal Kenya(Strathmore University, 2015) Githinji, Pauline Bilha WairimuAgricultural input organizations at best group farmers on the basis of geography and yet customers, the farmers, are the final arbiters on the financial performance of the organization. This research investigated multiple characteristics of farmers for farmer factors that may be used for targeting in the certified maize seed market of Western and Coastal Kenya. The latent class finite mixture method of cluster analysis was used to model a survey sample data of 313 observations and, therefore, to first define the farmer groups or segments in the study market and then investigate for those farmer factors that would be influential in targeting social or extension initiatives and marketing strategies to the farmers. The study found that the study market is dominated by smallholder farmers at 98%, and that the farmers may be grouped into two distinct farmer groups, the empowered smallholder farmer and the challenged smallholder farmer, with a proportion of 85% and 15% respectively. The empowered farmer has the desired positive agronomic practices but is socioeconomically challenged, while the challenged farmer has poor or negative agronomic practices and is socioeconomically adverse. Socioeconomic status and gender continued to be significant factors in the smallholder dominated market but negative or resistant agronomic practices were found to have the strongest associations. Consequently, farmers may be addressed as belonging to one of either profiles, and the empowered farmer profile may be the focus for marketing strategies design while the challenged farmer profile may be the focus for social initiatives design. Additionally, seed recycling resistant behavior should be a key factor and in the context of other factors as well.
- ItemA survey of credit risk measurement and management of agricultural financing in Uganda(Strathmore University, 2016) Lukwiya, Brian OkotThe agricultural sector has been identified as key enabler of economic growth and development in Africa. It is the largest employer in sub-Saharan Africa. Governments, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), multi-lateral organizations, and companies have made concerted efforts to invest in the sector to drive economic growth, profitability and improved standards of living. Extension of credit to the agricultural sector would contribute towards the growth in the industry. Financing agriculture is considered riskier than other sectors in the economy, which has resulted in several institutions avoiding the sector or investing reservedly. Agricultural clients are perceived to be at higher risk of default because of the uncertainty inherent in the sector. Studies have been done on general risks affecting agriculture ranging from systemic to idiosyncratic. This study was a qualitative research focused on credit risk because it is a key indicator financial institutions consider before disbursing loans. It explored how credit risk in the agricultural sector is managed and evaluated, the sufficiency of the current tools, processes and systems, and the innovative methods being implemented by financial institutions to resolve the challenge of credit risk. The survey was carried out of selected banking and non banking financial institutions with major agricultural loan portfolios in Kampala, Uganda. The results show that financial institutions employ conventional risk models and risk management measures in agricultural finance, although a few are innovating with different approaches to managing agricultural risk such as value chain financing and financial literacy training for borrowers. Such innovative solutions were found to be effective in managing risk, thereby enhancing extension of credit to agricultural sector. The study recommends adoption of a holistic approach to measurement and mitigation of risk in the agricultural sector. Responsibility for managing credit risk cannot be borne solely by the financial institutions. An integrated model of measuring and mitigating risk from the production to the market stage, with financial intermediaries as key enablers of the process, would be successful and eventually lead to expansion of credit to the agricultural sector.