From the concept of agricultural transformation two things are learned: increasing agricultural productivity is key for food security & poverty reduction, and the non farm sector becomes developed and stimulated through growth of these linkages.  However, agricultural productivity is low and stagnating in Kenya despite the regions high potential.  Major impediments lacking of use are productivity-enhancing inputs e.g, chemical fertilizers, improved seed and pesticides because of the unavailability of liquid capital to finance such expenditures, risk averse nature of small scale farmers, and the low returns to input use.  Yet both credit and crop insurance markets are missing.

This presentation is based on the AMA Innovation Lab project Evaluating the Socio-economic Impacts of Western Seed's Hybrid Maize Program in Kenya. This project seeks to analyze the impacts of Western Seed Company's (WSC) hybrid maize program on the welfare of smallholder farmers in Kenya's mid-altitude regions.

This presentation took place at the Sarova Panafric Hotel Nairobi, Kenya on February 8, 2017.