Abstract:
The study conducted an estimate of the mean technical efficiency and the
determinants of technical efficiency for the open field tomato farmers in Kiambu,
Kenya. A multistage sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 75
respondents who participated in the study. A two stage analysis using a Cobb
Douglas stochastic frontier analysis and a Tobit regression to compute the mean
technical efficiency and determine factors influencing technical efficiency
respectively. All the analyses were computed using Stata versions 13. Results
indicated a mean technical efficiency of 65 percent ranging from 26.7 percent to
96.3 percent implying that there is room to increase efficiency by 35 percent.
Education, family size and Experience positively influenced technical efficiency while
gender and farm size had a negative significant influence. The study demonstrated
that farmers had a lower level of experience (5 years) and education (9 years) as
compared to the national and other local areas within the country despite their
positive significant influence on technical efficiency. The implication from the study
findings is that greater attention should be paid towards farmer training to enhance
their knowledge and farming experience with regard to tomatoes. A few farmers
(16 percent, 14 percent and 8 percent) had received credit, extension and
agriculture support facilities. Extension is very important as it bridges the gap
between researchers and farmers whereas credit access enables farmers to buy
farming inputs like fertilizers. Investments in farmer education without appropriate
dissemination techniques may not cause any impacts. The study therefore
recommends that accessibility to these services be enhanced.
