Abstract:
The transformation of agricultural production from subsistence to commercially oriented outcomes is a topical
matter in the rural and socio-economic development discourse. Cassava crop is being promoted for
commercialization because of its tolerance to harsh climatic conditions experienced in arid and semi-arid areas.
Furthermore, there is high potential for the tuber crop to improve household income. In Kenya, a number of
interventions have been directed towards commercializing cassava. The effect of commercialization on
household income has not been established. Distinct from other studies, this study estimated the effect of cassava
commercialization on three different income measures namely per capita, annual and per acre revenue. A
household survey was conducted in Kilifi County in Kenya where 200 respondents were randomly selected. Data
was collected using a structured questionnaire. A two-stage endogenous switching regression model was fitted to
determine the effect of commercialization on the different income measures. The proportion of households that
commercialized was 69% while the remaining 31% did not. The study found that majority of the households
marketed low value-added cassava products. The results reveal that farmers who engaged in cassava
commercialization enjoyed relatively more income than their counterparts. Off-farm income, age of the
household head and distance to market had a negative significant influence in all the income estimates. Group
membership was only significant for the per acre income while household size was negative and statistically
significant in both per acre and per capita incomes. Findings point out the importance of promoting policies that
will enhance cassava commercialization.
