Abstract

Smallholder maize farming in Bungoma County, Kenya, continues to face labour shortages, low productivity, and inefficient farm operations, increasing the need for mechanization among smallholder farmers. However, the use of agricultural machinery remains constrained by limited awareness, inadequate credit access, and financial limitations. This study examined factors influencing the use of tractors, chisel ploughs, sprayers, and sheller machines among 330 smallholder maize farmers in Bungoma County using a multivariate probit (MVP) model. The findings revealed significant complementarities among machinery use decisions, justifying the suitability of the MVP approach (Wald χ² = 157.08, p < 0.001). Age positively influenced the use of tractors (β = 0.0369, p < 0.01) and shellers (β = 0.0272, p < 0.05), indicating that older farmers are more likely to adopt mechanization due to accumulated farming experience and financial stability. Education significantly increased the likelihood of using tractors (β = 0.3062, p < 0.01), sprayers (β = 0.3885, p < 0.01), and shellers (β = 0.2083, p < 0.10). Awareness of mechanization strongly enhanced the use of all machinery types, including tractors (β = 1.5499, p < 0.01) and shellers (β = 1.7988, p < 0.01). Cooperative membership positively affected the use of chisel ploughs (β = 0.5709, p < 0.01) and shellers (β = 0.7379, p < 0.01), while access to market information significantly increased sprayer use (β = 0.3635, p < 0.05). The study recommends strengthening extension services, cooperative-based mechanization models, and affordable credit systems to enhance mechanization uptake and improve maize productivity among smallholder farmers.

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