Kenyan Farmers' Policy Priorities During Economic Crisis and Stability: Insights From a Best-Worst Scaling Experiment

Abstract

Amid rising food and fertilizer prices, understanding farmers' policy preferences is critical for effective crisis response. We use best-worst scaling experiment to assess Kenyan mobile-owning crop farmers' preferences for government support under high and normal price scenarios. Farmers consistently favored market-oriented and public goods investments—for example, market access, infrastructure, and extension—over subsidies and cash transfers. Input subsidies ranked fifth out of seven policy options in both scenarios. While overall rankings were stable, preference intensities sharpened under high prices. These findings challenge subsidy-focused crisis responses and highlight the need to align agricultural policy with farmer priorities to build long-term resilience.