: 10.56472/25835238/IRJEMS-V4I8P125
Caroline M. Nzilu, Eric K. Bett, Jayne N. Mugwe, Christopher N. Kamau. "Duration Analysis of ISFM Technology Adoption Among Smallholder Green Gram Farmers in Kenya" International Research Journal of Economics and Management Studies, Vol. 4, No. 8, pp. 235-245, 2025. Crossref. http://doi.org/10.56472/25835238/IRJEMS-V4I8P125
Despite the well-documented benefits of Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) technologies, adoption among green gram farmers in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya, remains limited and delayed. This study addresses a critical gap by examining not only the incidence but also the timing of adoption for three key ISFM practices: improved seeds, intercropping, and agroforestry. Using a multistage sampling approach, data were collected from 330 smallholder farmers in Chiakariga and Igambang’ombe sub-counties through structured household surveys. The study employed Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and the Cox Proportional Hazards model to examine adoption timing. The Kaplan-Meier results indicate that most adoptions occur within the first ten years of awareness, followed by a plateau. The Cox model highlights variation in adoption speed across practices but consistently identifies green gram acreage, access to credit, education, and farming experience as significant determinants. The study concludes that timely ISFM adoption is shaped by access to affordable credit, exposure to extension and training services, and farmers’ understanding of ISFM practices. Policy recommendations include expanding access to affordable, input-specific credit (e.g., for improved seeds, fertilizers, and tree seedlings), strengthening extension systems, and promoting targeted interventions for resource-constrained farmers. This methodological approach offers a basis for designing more adaptive and effective ISFM promotion strategies in semi-arid smallholder systems.
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Adoption, Cox Model, Duration, ISFM Technologies, Kaplan-Meier, Smallholder Farmers.