Browsing by Author "Guantai, Stanley Mukindia"

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    Resource allocation in large-scale mixed farms: a case study in Trans Nzola district, Kenya
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 1980) Guantai, Stanley Mukindia
    Large-scale mixed farms in Kenya are located mainly within three Districts. One of these in Rift Valley Province, in Northwest Kenya was chosen for this study. This was Trans Nzoia District, one of the most-important and highest potential agricultural areas in the country. Dairy and commercial maize are major enterprises. Information was obtained from 12 farms in the District, chosen chiefly because they were among the few keeping records that had been under the same management for at least five years. Size ranged from 243 to 608 ha, typical for the area. Information was obtained from records, questionnaires, and discussions with farmers and extension workers. The first step in the analysis was to identify economically viable enterprises by use of gross margins. Three enterprises stood out in terms of gross margins per ha, namely citrus, coffee, and early-planted seed maize, with each close to double the next highest. Linear programming was next used to identify an optimum combination of enterprises after taking account of constraints facing the farms based on a typical or average farm of 417 ha, of which 350 ha were avalable for commercial (non-subsistence) production. Four alternative situations or plans were tested. By reorganization, net returns could be more than doubled. Production and sale of hay and wheat greatly improved farm revenue, with wheat straw a saleable by product to nearby ranch and dairy farms.Capital and labour were not found to be important constraints, but more machinery in peak periods would have increased farm efficiency. Hand weeding was found to be less costly than herbicides for ordinary maize. High-yielding dairy cows fed on straw and enriched home-made feeds to supplement grazing were found most profitable.Commercial maize production was not profitable, and sunflowers could only be justified as a livestock feed. One purpose was to test whether linear programming is a feasible and useful tool for farm planninng. It was found to have many potentialities, and detailed suggestions are given with respect to how it could be used efficiently.