Examinando por Autor "Pertet, Abigael Simaloi"

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Sustainable agriculture microfinance based on agricultural limitations of the maasai in Kajiado Country, Kenya.
(Universidad EARTH, 2016-12) Pertet, Abigael Simaloi; Yeomans, Jane
Inaccessible monetary services from the formal financial systems are quite striking. Microfinance Institutions (MFI) have emerged as an alternative to satisfy the demand for financial services. Despite the rise of MFIs, the majority of low-income workers in developing countries are still excluded from the financial system. Access to finance is a crucial issue in the productivity of agriculture. Kajiado residents in Kenya depend on pastoral agriculture directly for their livelihoods; most are smallholder farmers who often lack sufficient financing for their activities. A survey was conducted in the five constituencies of Kajiado County, using an online platform for the questionnaire, and with 99 people responding to a general interview guide. The information was used to design a pilot project for Maasai women in Maparasha region in Kajiado County. The Maasai people own extensive lands, generally between 1 ha and 5 ha, and in some cases, more than 50 ha of land. Agriculture is practiced directly by 58.6 % of those who responded to the survey, with 43.4 % of them devoted to the livestock sector, 32.3 % in mixed farming and only 5.1 % to exclusively growing crops. Technical agricultural services are not readily available, especially for the rural communities in the county. The main limitations to production advances are lack of skills and water scarcity, which has been triggered by long drought. Limited finance also has proven to be a barrier to advancing production; only 55 % of those who responded to the survey have, at some time, applied for loans from financial institution. Lack of information and high interest rates are mentioned as the key factors for not requesting for loans. Most of those interviewed prefered using banks for their financial transactions compared to other MFIs. Funding a pilot project to train women in Maparasha on technical management in sustainable production of dairy goats would prove to be profitable venture, providing a utility of US$ 3,275 through the first year of production. Applying microfinancing based on the agricultural limitation of the Maasai people forms a potential focus area for sustainability achievement and poverty eradication.