Abstract:
The study evaluates the effects of risk management strategies on agricultural output in Soy Sub
County, Uasin Gishu. Aim of the study was to establish risks facing farmers and determine risk
management strategies deployed to counter these risks and assess the effectiveness of these
strategies in meeting the overall objectives. The study was conducted to narrow the gap that exist
between knowledge of the causes of agricultural risks and the effectiveness of these risks
management strategies. This is because agriculture was considered riskier enterprise hence there
was need of more research to update farmers on how to deal with these risks in case of occurrence,
as they are unavoidable. Survey method was used as it involved data collection from a pre-defined
group of respondents to gain information and insight on risks, effects of risks and management
strategies employed. Forty one farmers were sampled randomly. In data analysis, descriptive
statistics and Pearson’s correlation was used with the help pf statistical Packaged for Social
Sciences (SPSS). The results indicated that there was a positive correlation between level of output
and training of employees, increase in level of income, risk-bearing capacity and farmers ‘attitude
towards risk. Crop failure, equipment and machinery failure, input cost and rainfall variability
correlated negatively with the level of output. The study recommends that farmers should fully
control the development status of their risk management and be adaptable; national government
and county government should check how they could support implementation of efficient and
effective risk management strategies in agriculture by carrying out various policy implementations
and activities.
