FACTORS INFLUENCING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS IN KENYA: A CASE OF AMIRAN AND YOUTH ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT FUND PROJECTS IN MURANGA COUNTY

Abstract

Agriculture in Africa is not sustainable because average yields have been stagnating for decades due to underinvestment, especially in the development of agricultural markets, crop improvement and the sustainable management of agricultural systems. Low public sector funding for agricultural research and lack of incentives for the private sector to operate in areas where there is no market largely explain the yield gap in many food importing developing countries. Yet, there are effective ways in which the public and the private sector could work together and jointly improve agricultural sustainability in poor countries. The public sector provides a favorable institutional environment for the development of agricultural markets and investment in rural infrastructure facilitates local business development and funds research with local relevance. The private sector, in return, brings its considerable expertise in product development and deployment. This research shows how new forms of public-private partnerships (PPPs) for agricultural development can work in challenging environments. It discusses the relationship between YEDF and Amiran in proving greenhouse farming. The study was led by the following objectives; establish the extent to which technical expertise by Amiran officials influences implementation of YEDF/Amiran partnership, examine how the level of financial support by YEDF has influenced the implementation of the partnership, to establish ways in which the level of education of the youth influences the implementation of the partnership and the extent to which the community support influences the implementation. The study used descriptive design with a sample of 190 respondents. Questionnaires and interview guide were used to collect data and the study used descriptive statistics as the main methods of analysis, since the data collection is both quantitative and qualitative in nature. The analysis and presentation of the data focused on the frequencies, percentages, and tables. The study established that respondents received training on how to maintain and manage the green houses by Amiran Officials. The study found that, making agriculture attractive is the only way Kenya can ensure food security and sufficiency as stated by Amiran officials. Thus, Amiran and YEDF encourage commercial farming supported by technology to drive agricultural development, by helping youths who are normally in groups of 5-10 in the start up of green houses. The study concludes that Amiran and YEDF Partnership is designed to enhance the mutual sharing of costs, risks and benefits of infrastructure projects between the two (private and public) sectors by exploiting the strengths of either side. The study further concludes that, making agriculture attractive is the only way Kenya can ensure food security and sufficiency as stated by Amiran officials. Based on the findings, this study recommends, formation of more Public-private partnerships should be encouraged and the government should promote the transparency in the different phases of Public Private-Partnership projects through a legislative action to combat any kind of corruption.