Social Networks and Commercialisation of African Indigenous Vegetables in Kenya: A Cragg’s Double Hurdle Approach

Abstract

This paper employs a two-stage Cragg’s double-hurdle model to assess the effects of market information networks on commercialisation decisions of smallholders of African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs). We explore sources of market information and social networks for information exchange as determinants of the decision to sell and how much volume to sell. The paper is based on household survey data collected in Western Kenya from 202 farmers, using multistage sampling. Findings show market information networks to have positive effects on the second stage decision of volumes sold. Bridging social capital depicted by information received from people outside farmers’ own village had the likelihood of increasing volumes of AIVs sold. Other determinants of commercialisation were farm size and household size which reported positive marginal effects while age, livestock units and off-farm income reported negative marginal effects. We recommend the need to have policy frameworks that strengthen network linkages for farmers aimed at promoting market information exchange, as this will have a positive effect in the commercialisation of indigenous crops.

Keywords

• social networks
• commercialisation
• african indigenous vegetables
• double hurdle
• market information