Agricultural intensification, diversification, and commercial production among smallholder coffee growers in central Kenya

The research summarized in this article establishes direct links between the scale, process, and output of agricultural production by examining the dynamics of intensification, crop diversification, and commercialization. Small farm survey results from Kirinyaga District, Kenya show that diversified production provides smallholders with the opportunity to select a particular crop or crops for commercial production (such as coffee, French beans, or tomatoes) in order to increase farm-generated income while meeting increasing demands for local farm produce and export crops. The study shows that income per hectare (acre) does not consistently increase with increasing farm size, regardless of the level of commercialization. Smallholders operating at the 1.2 to 1.6 hectare (3-4 acre) scale appear to engage in higher-risk, more diversified, commercial production strategies than those with less area under production. These findings expand upon induced intensification theory and support the thesis that increased agricultural productivity results from both subsistence- and commodity-based production, though the research focuses on the latter.