Cost benefit analysis of a netting technology package in real farming conditions among smallholder farmers in Kenya

Mujuka Esther, Parrot Laurent, Baird William, Delettre Emilie, Simon Jim, Mburu John, Martin Thibaud. 2023. Cost benefit analysis of a netting technology package in real farming conditions among smallholder farmers in Kenya. In : Proceedings of the International Symposium on Value Adding and Innovation Management in the Horticultural Sector. Mathé S. (ed.), Neven D. (ed.). ISHS. Angers : ISHS, 153-158. (Acta Horticulturae, 1380) ISBN 9789462613799 International Horticultural Congress (IHC 2022): International Symposium on Value Adding and Innovation Management in the Horticultural Sector. 31, Angers, France, 14 Août 2022/20 Août 2022.

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1380.19

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Résumé : Net house technology is a novel climate smart innovation for tackling many of the challenges of pesticide restrictions, pesticide resistance, standard and norms compliance. Net houses are relatively low-cost structures covered with insect nets that act as physical barriers against several insect pests and predators such as birds. In addition, net houses protect crops from periodic hail, preserve soil moisture content, reduce evapotranspiration and further buffer the extreme climate conditions (high temperature and humidity) due to ventilation. We conducted tests of the pest exclusion technology package composed of a net house, drip irrigation, and adapted seed varieties under real farming conditions. We tested this technology package among smallholder farmers producing tomatoes, cabbages and French beans in Kenya. We assessed the profitability and return on investment in net house technology using Cost Benefit Ratios (CBR). Even trials are rarely optimal. We considered real farming conditions with sub-optimal production and pesticide practices, farm-gate price diversity, and natural hazards (weather variation, pest attacks, etc.). The results show that yields for tomatoes were four times higher than open field, and at least twice higher for cabbages and French beans. The main factors affecting the marketable yield and the CBR were the farm-gate prices, seed varieties (for tomatoes), drip irrigation (all three crops), and the proficiency of the farmer in handling the components of the technology package (all three crops). Other secondary, factors were natural hazards (droughts, pest attacks, etc.). Support policies should simultaneously target investments, extension services and market access strategies among farmers.

Mots-clés libres : Climate-smart agriculture, Cost Benefit Ratio, Netting, Pest exclusion, Kenya

Agences de financement hors UE : United States Agency for International Development

Projets sur financement : (USA) Project BioNetAgro

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