Indexing

Abstract: Lead Bank Scheme has completed fifty years by the year 2019. Therefore, in this research study, the researcher has attempted to find out the impact of the performance of block level lead banks in all the districts of Gujarat under the lead bank scheme. In the selected state, several loans are given to farmers under the head of the agricultural sector. Most of these loans are provided under crop loans and term loan criteria. Therefore, only these two variables have been studied in the research paper. The findings revealed that all nationalized Bank, including SBI and its associate banks (NBs) was given the highest target. All the targets of NBs were risen by GSLBC in the year of 2017 to 2020 Due to which the percentage of the achievements of NBs have steadily decreased in last four years. Correlation test proves that there is a very strong relationship between crop loan disbursed amount and crop loan Achieved amount as Because both the variables are interdependent. Similarly, a very strong relationship is established between the Term Loan targeted amount and Term Loan Outstanding amount. In terms of the year, there have been attempts to measure the relationship between the targeted amount given to the bank and their outstanding amount of term loan and crop loan.

Keywords: Lead Bank Scheme, Scheduled Commercial Banks, Self Help Group, Crop Loan, Term Loan, Priority Sector Lending.

Title: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CROP LOAN AND TERM LOAN PROVIDED BY VARIOUS BANKS IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR: WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO GUJARAT STATE

Author: Mr. Rajiv G Sharma, Dr. Sejalben R. Christian

ISSN 2349-7807

International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM)

Paper Publications

Abstract: Most organization’s aim is to realize and uphold great performance. In order to achieve superior performance, organizations have enhanced strategy implementation process and concentrated efforts on strategy implementation imperatives. County governments in Kenya have fallen below expected performance due to challenges like high personnel emoluments, under-performance in own source revenue collection, low absorption of development allocation, high levels of pending bills, and weak budgetary controls. Staff competence is a strategy implementation imperative that could help in resolving these challenges and therefore this study sought to establish the effect of staff competence in addressing the county government performance. Descriptive and explanatory research design were adopted. Structured electronic questionnaire was sent to 252 respondents in the five counties in central region of Kenya. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis and overall model tested at 95 % confidence level. Results showed that staff competence had positive significant effect on the county government performance in the central region with a beta coefficient of 0.211 and a p value <0.001.This study contributes to knowledge by providing a conceptual framework for the relationship between staff competence and county government performance, it makes contribution to policy by showing areas to emphasize on for improved performance of the county governments and also, on areas management should enhance in their plans and daily activities that will enable staff to do better for improved performance.

Keywords: Strategy Implementation, County Government Performance, Staff Competence.

Title: Effect of staff competence on performance of county governments in the central region, Kenya

Author: Charity Wangui, John Muhoho, Julius Kahuthia

ISSN 2349-7807

International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM)

Paper Publications

Abstract: Optimal crop enterprise combination enables small scale farmers to earn the highest possible income under resource limiting conditions. Crop enterprise combination by small scale farmers in the study area has been sub-optimal and consequently, have been earning low annual gross margins, which is attributed to the knowledge gap in the nature of trade-offs made while making enterprise combination decisions. This paper examined the determinants of optimal crop enterprise combination by small scale farmers. The study was guided by the theory of the firm and descriptive and cross sectional research designs were adopted. The study drew a sample of 154 smallholder farmers through a stratified random sampling techniques. The primary data was collected using a structured interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive and Linear programming (LP). LP results revealed that the optimal crop combination was obtained when 0.82 and 0.87 hectares of maize and coffee are combined to give a gross margin of Kenya Shillings (KSh.) 241,810. The results further revealed that the total land and capital available for crop production was fully utilized under optimal crop enterprise combination while only 50% of available labour was utilized. Based on the results, this study recommend cultivation of 0.82 and 0.87 hectares of maize and coffee respectively to maximize farm incomes. Secondly there is need for policy makers both at national and county governments to formulate or review agricultural land use policies since land size under crops significantly affect optimal crop combination plan in the study area. Thirdly, there is need for small scale crop farmers to embrace intensive crop production technologies as land was found to be a limiting factor in crop production. Fourthly, the results on capital use imply that capital was a limiting factor of production in the study area. This study recommend that the financial institutions should provide agricultural credit that is tailored to maize and coffee production. Lastly, there is need to put in place measures by small scale farmers that would increase productivity and decrease TVC so as to increase GM. Such measures include use of high yielding crop varieties that are also resistant to pests and diseases.

Keywords: Small scale crop farmers, Optimal Crop Combination, Linear Programming.

Title: ANALYSIS OF OPTIMAL CROP ENTERPRISE COMBINATION BY SMALL SCALE CROP FARMERS IN KIPKELION WEST, KERICHO COUNTY, KENYA

Author: Kirui Caleb Kipngeno, Ng’eno Elijah Kiplangat, Kibett Joash Keino

ISSN 2349-7807

International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM)

Paper Publications

Abstract: Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an agricultural activity that seeks to improve production sustainably to enhance food security and agricultural development. The use of climate-smart agricultural interventions is crucial in ensuring increased agricultural productivity, income, food security, and livelihood for the majority of small scale farmers in Kenya. To achieve this, various agricultural and economic interventions are often used to increase agricultural production. However, despite these interventions, maize production in Uasin Gishu County has declined from 4.4 million bags in 2017 to 3.7 million bags in 2018. Maize farmers have been making negative gross margins of about Kshs 2,000 per acre per year. The focus of the study was to assess the effects of adoption of CSA interventions on maize productivity. The study was guided by the diffusion innovation theory. Descriptive and cross-sectional survey designs were employed in this study. The study drew a sample of 109 small scale maize farmers’ households from a target population of 10,109 through stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Primary data were collected using a structured interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive and multiple linear regression. Multiple linear regression estimates on the effects of the adoption of CSA interventions revealed that a unit increase in adoption of early maturing maize varieties, increased herbicide use and crop rotation increased maize production by 431.7%, 644.3% and 611.5% respectively while adoption of early dry planting and tree planting reduce maize yield by 407.3% and 242.4% respectively. Therefore, in conclusion, the estimated results of this study rejected the null hypothesis that adoption of CSA interventions have no significant effect on maize productivity among small scale maize farmers’ households in Moiben Sub-County, Kenya. Based on our findings, the study recommends that more farmers need to be trained on the use of CSA interventions as this intervention will help to cut the cost of production and help farmers to realize high-profit margins from their maize output.

Keywords: Adoption, Climate-smart Agriculture, maize productivity, small scale farmer household.

Title: EFFECTS OF ADOPTION OF CSA INTERVENTIONS ON MAIZE PRODUCTIVITY AMONG SMALL SCALE FARMER HOUSEHOLDS IN MOIBEN SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Author: Noah Kemboi, Elijah K. Ng’eno, Joseph K. Rotich

ISSN 2349-7807

International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM)

Paper Publications

Abstract: Globally substantial adverse changes in the environment as a result of economic activities of individuals and organizations have become a subject of critical concern hence in light of increased global warming, environmental degradation, reduced water catchment reserves, costs of waste management, health concerns, natural resource depletion as well as reduced and unpredictable weather changes have made society to be more conscious of their environment and enact legislations and policies relating to environment conservation. Organizations are continuously reviewing their procurement operations and processes to ensure they are sustainable in light of diminishing resources. A sustainable procurement practice not only has an impact on performance but also on its brand reputation as it is perceived as a corporate social responsibility. Cement manufacturing emissions are considered to be a major cause of global warming and health hazard as a result of the hazardous air emission. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the sustainable procurement practices and performance of cement manufacturing industry in Machakos County. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: To determine the influence of reverse logistics on performance, to examine the influence of  Green purchasing on performance, to analyze the influence of legal and regulatory framework on performance and finally to determine the influence of employee  competency on performance of cement manufacturing industry in Machakos County. The theories that were used for the study were system theory, stakeholder theory, human capital theory and institutional theory. To realize this objective, a survey research design was adopted. The target population of the study constituted both managerial and staff members of cement manufacturing in Machakos County in the department procurement, waste management department, health and safety department and human resource department from which the target population was 529 respondents with a sample size of 105 respondents. The study used stratified sampling which makes up 20% of the target population. Primary data was collected from heads of departments and employees from the different manufacturing companies in Machakos. A fact sheet was used to summarize the data collected before analyzing using (SPSS) to obtain descriptive statistics; data collected was presented in the form of frequency tables.The study concluded that reverse logistics significantly and positively influenced performance of cement manufacturing companies in Machakos County.Further, the study concluded that green purchasing has a significant and a positive effect on Performance of cement manufacturing companies in Machakos County. The study also concluded that legal and regulatory framework had significant and a positive effect on performance of cement manufacturing companies in Machakos County.Finally, the study concluded that employee competency had a significant and positive effect on the performance of cement manufacturing companies in Machakos Count.

Keywords: reverse logistics, green purchasing, legal and regulatory framework and employee competency.

Title: SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE OF CEMENT MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN MACHAKOS COUNTY, KENYA

Author: ABDIRIZAK MOHAMED MUHUMED, DR. SAMSON NYANG’AU PAUL

ISSN 2349-7807

International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM)

Paper Publications

Abstract: The study aims to determine the effect of the national minimum wage increase on youth unemployment in Nigeria. Within the scope of the study, firstly, the trend analysis between youth unemployment and national minimum wage is monitored with the data that was sourced from the World Bank. In the second step, the study investigates the impact of the minimum wage increase on youth unemployment with a generalized method of moments model (GMM) for the years between 1991-2019. Last section of the study, further examines whether there is a unidirectional or bidirectional causality between youth unemployment and national minimum wage in Nigeria. The results show that youth unemployment responds to changes in national minimum wages. This implies that a low minimum wage will prompt a low unemployment rate for the Nigerian economy. This result confirms the a priori expectation that any increase in national minimum wage will lead to downsizing of labor and the inability of firms to employ new youth, thereby leading to an increase in youth unemployment. However, this level should carefully be investigated for a better standard of living for the citizens. Furthermore, the study finds a unidirectional causality between youth unemployment and national minimum wage for the Nigerian economy in which the causality mainly flows from youth unemployment to national minimum wage unless a causality flowing from national minimum wage to youth unemployment.

Keywords: Minimum wage, youth, unemployment, Nigeria.

Title: THE EFFECT OF NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE ON YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA

Author: Glory Chinyere OZOEZE

ISSN 2349-7807

International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM)

Paper Publications

Abstract: Previous studies shows that competitive advantage is essential for organizations besides to the employees’ abilities that is important to the organization performance. However, the relationships between employees’ qualifications and the organisational competitive advantage need more empirical examination. Therefore, this study is an investigation for the impact of quality of academic qualification, and quality of professional qualification on the organisational competitive advantage among the ICT companies in Syria.

Materials and Methods: The target population is the senior management / executives, which include chief officers, vice president positions, and general managers. It is estimated that evet ICT sector companies could have up to 5 senior executives, which makes the target population size is 2615 and the sample size is 335.

Results: The quality of academic qualification and quality of professional qualification are found to have a significant impact on the organisational competitive advantage. For the quality of academic qualification, the P-value is 0.001, T-statistics is 3.047, the Path Coefficient is 0.035, and the effective size score is 0.035. For the quality of professional qualification, the P-value is 0.000, T-statistics is 4.310, the Path Coefficient is 0.155, and the effective size score is 0.036.

Conclusion: This study contributes to knowledge by making an empirical study to test two employees related qualification variables, which are rarely examined in the previous studies. Future work must consider more variables for examination to provide a comprehensive model that based on the knowledge capacity of the organisation. In addition, the model can be examined in different sectors and different environment to make generalisation of the proposed relationships.

Keywords: Academic Qualification, Professional Qualification, Competitive Advantages, ICT, Syria.

Title: Impact of Academic and Professional Qualification on the Competitive Advantage among ICT Companies

Author: Mohamad Nour Mosry, Valliappan Raju

ISSN 2349-7807

International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM)

Paper Publications

Abstract: The essence of the employee in any given organization can never be underestimated since their performance determines the success of the company. Based on this background, this study aims at assessing the impacts of on-job training programs on the performance of employee’s using Bank of Tanzania (BOT) as the case study. The researcher deploys several statistical methods like Cronbach alpha test and simple regression model to ascertain this relationship. The questionnaire used is reliable as witnessed by a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.82. The demographic profile of the respondents indicates that, 52.9% of the sampled population are male, majority were married and aged between 26-35. Most of the respondents were clerks and at least had a university degree. Further analysis shows that, most of the employees had attended training, and they preferred one-on-one as compared to the group training. Training procedure was identified as the most prominent hindrance factor to effective bank training. The empirical model shows that, 71.1% of employee’s performance variance can be attributed to the training offered. The model built is statistically significance at 95% confidence level. The findings of this study are important to policy makers in the banking industry. This study recommend strategic and proactive training programs in the banking industry so has to enhance employee’s performance and total output of the banks.

Keywords: Training, Task, Adaptive and Contextual performance, Bank of Tanzania.

Title: Assessing Effect of Job Training on Employees Performance at Bank of Tanzania

Author: Kashumba Rosemary Mutakyamirwa

ISSN 2349-7807

International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM)

Paper Publications

Abstract: The general objective in this study was to examine the effectof risk management practices on the performance of infrastructure projects within Kiambu County. The main objectives included; determining the effect of risk identification oninfrastructure projects performance; to examine the effect of risk mitigationon the performance of infrastructure projects; to determine effect of the risk monitoring on the performance of infrastructure projects and finally, finding out the effect of risk assessmenton the performance of infrastructure projects. The study used descriptive design because it enhanced systematic description that is as accurate, valid and reliable as possible regarding the responses. The target population therefore comprised of 484 respondents who weredrawn from the infrastructure companies from Kiambu County. This study utilized a sample size of 145. The response rate was drawn from 121 questionnaires that were fully filled and returned. The researcher used questionnaires as the research instrument to gather the relevant data.The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as multiple regression analysis. The analysis was conducted scientifically through SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). The findings of the study concluded that risk identification has the highest positive influence on the performance of infrastructure projects in Kiambu County, followed closely by risk mitigation. The study also concluded risk monitoring and risk assessmenthad significant and a positive effect on infrastructure projects in Kiambu County. The study recommends that the management of infrastructure companies of Kiambu County should put in place cost-effective measures for timely risk identification to ensure that their performance of infrastructure projects are not impacted negatively.Among the recommendations to be considered, include proper risk mitigation planning, and putting in place risk control and monitoring management strategies. Moreover, the companies should consider having a risk analysis and evaluation management strategy to enhance performance of infrastructure projects.

Keywords: risk identification, risk mitigationon, risk monitoring and risk assessment.

Title: EFFECT OF RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA

Author: PAUL HABWE EBOLE, DR. SAMSON NYANG’AU PAUL

ISSN 2349-7807

International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM)

Paper Publications

Abstract: The banking sector is viewed as a significant sector in economic development. However, banks do not operate in a vacuum and their overall lending behavior is generally influenced by the environmental factors particularly the regulatory and macroeconomic factors. The banking sector is vulnerable to macroeconomic instability, which leads to higher credit risk of banks. Macroeconomic shocks across the credit risk transmission channel thus affect banks' balance sheets, resulting in a deterioration in credit portfolio quality, which can result in significant losses for banks and even the onset of a banking crisis. This study therefore sought to assess the effect of macroeconomic variables on repayment of bank loans by retail borrowers in Kenya with respect to inflation, economic growth, exchange rates and interest rates. This study adopted a descriptive research design and the target population included the 40 quarter year observations from the 41 banking institutions in Kenya. This study thus collected quarterly secondary data on loan repayment rates by retail customers from the 41 banking entities in Kenya using a data collection sheet for a period of 10 years from 2010 to 2019. The study used correlation and the ordinary least squares (OLS) methods to analyze the retrieved data using the STATA statistical software. The analyzed data was presented in graphs and tables. The correlation analysis results revealed that inflation (CPI), economic growth (GDP) and exchange rates had a negative association with loan repayment rate while interest rates had a positive association with loan repayment rate by retail borrowers in Kenya. Regression analysis results that revealed that inflation (CPI) had a negative and significant effect on loan repayment by retail borrowers whilst economic growth (GDP) had a negative and significant effect on loan repayment rate by retail borrowers in Kenya whereas exchange rates had a negative and insignificant effect on loan repayment rate by retail borrowers in Kenya. The study also found that lending interest rates had a positive and significant relationship with loan repayment rate by retail borrowers in Kenya. The study concluded that inflation (CPI), economic growth (GDP) and lending interest rates statistically and significantly affects loan repayment rate by retail borrowers in Kenya. The study recommended that the government through it line ministries and policy institutions should institute effective inflation control measures to mitigate the effects of inflation on loan repayment by retail borrowers and the management of commercial banks should evaluate the existing economic conditions before they advance loans to retail borrowers since under favorable economic conditions, household have sufficient resources to service their debts. The study also recommended that retail loan borrowers should always review and check any increase in lending interest rates and repay off their loans since rising interest rate increases borrowing costs and affect the borrower’s ability to repay off flexible loans. The major limitation is that the research majorly relied on quarterly secondary data which has several limitations one of them being that secondary data is historic in nature. The findings are also limited to the Kenyan context and may not be generalized to other countries.

Keywords: inflation, economic growth, exchange rate, interest rates and repayment of bank loans.

Title: EFFECT OF MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES ON REPAYMENT OF BANK LOANS BY RETAIL BORROWERS IN KENYA

Author: MIKA KITUKU, DR. OLUOCH OLUOCH

ISSN 2349-7807

International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM)

Paper Publications

Abstract: The financial services sector plays a critical role in the economy of a nation. The Commercial banks have established themselves so as to serve their customers and get some income to sustain them. The banks mainly make business by giving loans and charging interest for it. Prior regulation, interest charged was fairly high in some banks even to a tune of say 30%, while interest earned by savers remained low. This provoked members of parliament to control the spread to ensure that banks were not ultimately the sole beneficiary. Their argument was that banks were exploiting its customers. It is not clear whether this argument has a scientific basis given the limited studies investigating this phenomenon, specifically in the study area. Thus, a need to inquire into the relationship between interest rates regulation spread and financial performance of Commercial Banks in Bomet County. A survey research design was used in this study where the target population was 158 Credit officers working in Commercial Banks in Bomet County. Census sampling method was used where a total of 158 questionnaires were administered and only 142 questionnaires were properly filled and returned indicating a response rate of 89.9% which was very good. Reliability of data was actualized by doing a pilot study in Commercial Banks in Kericho County where Cronbach Alpha of above 0.75 was actualized in every research variable. Research instrument was validated by experts who gave their views which were incorporated into the research instrument. Data was collected using self administered structured questionnaire whose response was processed and analysed using SPSS version 24. The results of this study may be beneficial to commercial banks who will use the information to review their performance so as to review their lending amount and reduce on their lending risk for them to remain competitive.

Keywords: Commercial Bank Performance, Interest rates, Profitability, Interest Rates Spread.

Title: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTEREST RATES SPREAD AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN BOMET COUNTY, KENYA

Author: Wilson Ronoh, Dr. Isaac Naibei, Dr. Peter Cheruiyot

ISSN 2349-7807

International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM)

Paper Publications

Abstract: The study sought to establish the effect of information technology adoption on the financial performance of SACCOs. The study was guided by agency theory where a cross sectional descriptive research design was used. A sample size of 308 were purposively sampled from a target population of 1338 who were top management staff working in SACCOS where responses were received from 273 respondents indicating a response rate of 88.6%. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaire which was administered to the sampled respondents. Content validity of the instrument was determined through expert judgment which involved discussing the items in the instruments with the supervisors and lecturers. Their suggestions for change were incorporated in the final instrument that was used in the actual study. The reliability of the research instruments was established through a pilot study done in SACCOs in Kericho County through a testing and retesting and Cronbach’s Alpha was used to test the internal consistency of the research instruments where a co-efficient values of 0.886 was actualized denoting that the instrument was reliable. The findings of this research may help the co-operative officials, members and even the staff of the Ministry of Co-operative Development in designing financial growth strategies. The findings and conclusions of this study may be of significance to the management of SACCOs who will be able to appreciate how financial performance of their SACCOs is influenced by the study variables. Based on the findings the management of SACCOs can be able to understand the strategies to be taken in order to improve the financial performance of the respective SACCOs in their counties and in Kenya at large.

Keywords: Financial Performance of SACCOs, Savings and Credit Cooperative Society, Information Technology.

Title: EFFECT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION ON THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF SAVINGS AND CREDIT COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN BOMET COUNTY, KENYA

Author: Hilda Koech, Dr. Isaac Naibei, Dr. Peter Cheruiyot

ISSN 2349-7807

International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM)

Paper Publications