Socio-Economic Attributes Hindering Adoption of Alternative Crops to Tobacco Farming in Kehancha Division, Kuria West Sub-County, Kenya
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Date
2017-07
Authors
Maroa, Mariba John
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Studies have documented many negative social, economic and environmental
implications of tobacco farming. Tobacco farming puts an extra stress on ecosystems and
causes specific health and socio-economic problems for poor populations engaged in the
activity. Through research, environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative crops to
tobacco farming such as soya beans, watermelons, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, cabbages,
among others, have been identified. However, the rate and level of adoption of such crops
is low in many regions, Kuria region being one of them. This study focused on examining
the socio-economic attributes hindering adoption of alternative crops to tobacco farming
in Kehancha Division, Kuria West Sub-County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were;
to examine the influence of farmer attributes in the adoption of alternative crops, to
explore the influence of farm characteristics in the adoption of alternative crops to
tobacco farming, and to examine the contribution of extension, credit and market access
in the adoption of alternative crops to tobacco farming in Kehancha Division. Descriptive
survey design was used in the study since it was appropriate in capturing issues in their
natural setting. The target population was tobacco and non-tobacco farmers in the
division. Proportional stratified sampling and simple random sampling were used to
select sub-locations and villages. Simple random sampling was also used to select
adopters and non-adopters to get the required sample size, which was 108. Purposive
sampling was used to get key informants. Primary quantitative and qualitative data were
collected through household surveys using structured questionnaires and interviews using
interview schedules with both closed and open-ended questions while secondary data
were collected from relevant documented sources. Quantitative data were analyzed
through simple descriptive statistics such as frequency distributions, totals and
percentages. Relationships amongst variables were analyzed through correlation by
regression analysis. Qualitative data were cleaned, organized, coded and analyzed
through emerging themes. Based on objective one, the study found that age, education
level and household size influenced adoption of alternative crops to tobacco farming with
correlation coefficient of 0.444, 0.226 and -0.406 respectively. On objective two, it was
found that input challenge influenced adoption of alternative crops negatively with a
correlation coefficient of -0.554. Household land size and the level of production had no
significant influence in the adoption of alternative crops to tobacco farming. In regard to
objective three, the source of agricultural information, agricultural information challenge,
credit and market access had significant influence in the adoption of alternative crops to
tobacco farming with correlation coefficients of -0.281, -0.177, 0.176 and 0.162
respectively. The study, therefore, recommends that the national and county governments
in collaboration with other key stakeholders including the local NGOs make efforts to
encourage farmers to adopt alternative crops through awareness creation, provide inputs,
adequate extension services, affordable credit facilities and enhance market structures for
alternative crops especially for those farmers willing to adopt alternative crops to tobacco
farming in the area. In addition, the farmers should be encouraged to form commodityspecific
cooperative societies so as to aid their participation in marketing their produce.
Description
A Research Project Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the
Award of the Degree in Masters of Environmental Studies (Community Development)
in the School of Environmental Studies of Kenyatta University