Tegemeo Institute, Kenya, 1997–2017
Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development is a policy research institute under the Division of Research and Extension of Egerton University in Nakuru, Kenya. The Institute conducts research and analysis on policy in agriculture, rural development, natural resources and environment. It aims at addressing micro and macroeconomic policy issues bearing on farming, transportation, processing, marketing, and trade of agricultural products and inputs; sustainability of agricultural systems and natural resources as well as the environment; and commercialization, income growth and food security. Tegemeo Agricultural Policy Research and Analysis (TAPRA) program goal was to inform and influence policies and development interventions geared towards short and long-term improvement in agricultural productivity, incomes, and food security. Tegemeo Institute, in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU), have been participating in the policy process in Kenya for the last 20 years, with several fundings from USAID.
Tegemeo Agricultural Policy Research and Analysis II Program (TAPRA II PROGRAM)
From 2012 to 2017, Tegemeo Institute in collaboration with MSU, received support from USAID to implement the Tegemeo Policy Research and Analysis (TAPRA II) program. The overall goal of this program was to improve the policy environment and investment in the agriculture and rural sectors, and also enhance capacity for policy research and analysis. Under TAPRA II, Tegemeo and MSU carried out policy research and analysis and engaged in outreach and capacity building activities in order to provide an expanded empirical basis for agricultural policy formulation and debate. Tegemeo continued to broaden and deepen the engagement of relevant stakeholders in the policy process in support of key development goals and initiatives in Kenya's agriculture sector. TAPRA's activities are organized around four broad themes/objectives:
Monitoring (tracking) trends and patterns in rural livelihoods
This involves monitoring changes at the household, commodity, sector/ sub-sector and macroeconomic levels in order to inform the interventions and policies in the agriculture sector,which are geared toward improved food security and poverty reduction. This is accomplished through collecting and analyzing household-level data in various aspects of rural livelihoods. The indicators on which changes are monitored include productivity, income and poverty, food security and nutrition, technology development and use, environment and climate change.
Policy research
Policy research is aimed at offering policy guidance by providing timely empirical information and feedback on government interventions and all other stakeholders in the agricultural sector. To achieve this objective, various activities and studies focus on the following, among others: crop and livestock value chain analysis, analysis of food/commodity prices and productivity, use of fertilizer and improved seeds, including those of drought-tolerant crops,climate variability & change, and gender issues in agriculture.
Outreach and advocacy
This entails informing public and private sector stakeholders about promising policy and investment opportunities to promote rural incomes and food security in Kenya. The relevant empirical information provided by the Institute will form a basis for meaningful discussions and interactions among researchers, policy makers,and other stakeholders. Consequently, such discussions will be based on reliable evidence based policy recommendations,which will inform and guide investment opportunities and lead to increased growth.
Capacity building
Tegemeo continues to build and strengthen the capacity of its researchers through short- and long-term training to sustain its quality policy research and analysis work. Also, to enhance public sector policy research and analysis in Kenya, the Institute proposes to build capacity of stakeholders in the agricultural sector through short-term trainings focused on survey design and implementation, data collection, management and analysis and policy analysis.
Publications and Presentations
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Weather extremes and household welfare in rural Kenya
Published on April 1, 2017
Wineman, A., Mason, N. M., Ochieng, J., & Kirimi, L. (2017). Food Security -
Maize Marketing Boards and Sustainable Intensification: Panel Survey Evidence from Kenya
Published on March 31, 2017
David Olson, Nicole M. Mason, Joyce Makau, and Lilian Kirimi, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, March 31, 2017 -
How Resilient Are Escapes Out of Poverty in Africa?
Published on February 7, 2017
Milu Muyanga, Lucy Scott, Katharina Hanifnia, Andrew Shepherd, Elsa Valli, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, February 7, 2017 -
The Effects of Kenya’s ‘Smarter’ Input Subsidy Program on Smallholder Behavior and Incomes
Published on February 1, 2017
Nicole M. Mason, Ayala Wineman, Lilian Kirimi, and David Mather. 2017. Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research Paper 41. -
The Effects of Kenya's ‘Smarter’ Input Subsidy Programme on Smallholder Behaviour and Incomes
Published on April 12, 2016
Mason, N. M., Wineman, A., Kirimi, L. and Mather, D. (2017), J Agric Econ, 68: 45-69.
FSG/Tegemeo Publications and Presentations prior to 2016 are available in the archive.
The complete Tegemeo Institute Working Paper Series is available on the Institute's site.
The complete Tegemeo Institute Policy Brief Series is available on the Institute's site.