Factors Influencing the Adoption of Tissue Culture Banana (Musa Paradisiaca) Technology in Kisii County, Kenya
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Date
2024-09
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Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
To attain food security across the nation, the Kenyan government has made efforts over
the years, although with varying degrees of success. Agriculture has been considerably
intensifying to feed the expanding population. One technology utilized is the tissue
culture banana technology. Kisii region is an important contributor to Kenya’s food
security due to its long history in food production for instance banana production.
However, food production in the area has been on decline as a result of difficulties arising
from social economic factors. Most research studies reveal low technology adoption
rates, in Kisii County despite efforts to spread this technology to small-scale farmers.
Therefore, the specific objectives of the study were; i) to examine the socioeconomic
aspects affecting implementing tissue culture bananas in Kisii County. ii) to ascertain
how tissue culture banana knowledge influences the use of tissue culture banana
technology in Kisii County, and iii) to investigate the advantages brought about by Kisii
County's small-scale farmers' adoption of tissue-cultured bananas. The study adopted a
descriptive study approach. Simple random sampling was performed to select 200
respondents for the study. Data collection utilized survey forms, interview schedules, and
checklists for observation A five-Likert scale analysis was utilized to collect farmers'
degrees of awareness regarding Tissue Culture bananas and the benefits realized. Farm
socio-economic characteristics were related to tissue culture banana adoption using
comparative statistical procedures. For numeric characteristics, means between adoption
categories were significant at p<0.05 using t-tests. Chi-square tests were conducted
between adoption and categorical variables and significant relationships between the
variables were declared at p<0.05. The study used a logistic regression model using
maximum likelihood estimation to estimate the probability of tissue culture banana being
adopted by farmers as influenced by several socio-economic characteristics. Mean
comparison procedures were used to show the relationships between tissue culture
banana knowledge items and tissue culture banana adoption. The means were also used to
display the relationship between tissue culture banana benefits and adoption. Results
showed that the size of household (p=0.05, Std=1.8), the availability of extension
services (p=0.000, χ
2=79.1), ability to purchase land (0.006, χ
2=16.3), access to financing
(p=0.007, χ
2=7.468), education level (p=0.015), ability to afford seedlings (p=0.000,
χ
2=17.6), labour availability (p=0.005, χ
2=10.735) and availability of farm inputs
(p=0.000, χ
2=35.9) had a profound effect on the uptake of tissue culture bananas.
Responses from qualitative data were analyzed and presented in narrative form. Adoption
of bananas from tissue culture was found to be significantly impacted by the farmers' low
level of knowledge about the subject. Majority of farmers were aware of the advantages
of tissue-cultured bananas, but were constrained by socioeconomic issues that prevented
them from implementing the technology. Socio-economic factors should be taken into
consideration in anticipation to help a variety of stakeholders’ increase banana production
through tissue culture adoption and improve food security
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Environmental Science in the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences of Kenyatta University, September 2024
Supervisor:
1. Monicah Wanjiku Mucheru-Muna
2. Benson Kamau Mburu