An assessment of factors influencing adoption of improved mango varieties as an adaptation to climate variability in Kibwezi division, Kenya
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Date
2014-09-08
Authors
Ngulu, James Kinyae
Journal Title
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Abstract
Farming in most sub-tropical Savannah regions in Africa is largely rain-fed.
Literature review indicates that rainfall seasons have become irregular, long rains
duration and intensity have decreased while temperatures have increased in the last
two or more decades. Farmers need to adapt to climate variability by adopting
agricultural technologies, such as improved crop varieties in order to maximise
productivity. Farmers in Kibwezi have, for a long time, been growing local unimproved
mango varieties that give low quality fruits instead of better quality and
higher yielding improved varieties. There are multiple socio-economic and agroecological
factors influencing farmers' adoption decisions, farm activities and hence
crop yields. The aim of the study was to assess the factors influencing adoption of
improved mango varieties as an adaptation to climate variability. Primary data was
collected through a survey using simple stratified random sampling. The sample size
of adopters and control group was determined by Cochran's formula. Kibwezi
Division has about six hundred farmers of improved mango varieties out of which,
234 mango farmers (adopters) and 234 control group fanners (non-adopters) were
sampled. Questionnaires were completed at farm level on socio-economic and agoecological
factors influencing farmers' decision to adopt mangoes. Statistical
Package for Social Sciences was used to analyse the data. Analyses used included
descriptive statistics: frequency, percentages and mean. Associations of variables
were tested using Chi square and r-test while relationships were done using
correlation analysis. Results indicate that there was a significant association between
adoption of the improved mango varieties and socio-economic factors including; the
main occupation of the household head (X2=21.21, p=O.OOl),education level (X2
=65.64, p=O.OOl,membership to farmer associations (X2 =7.32, p=O.OOl),visit by -
extension officers (X2 =7.32, p=O.OOl),source of information on improved mango
varieties (l =2.64, p=O.OOl), age of the respondents (p=O.002), household size
(p=O.024) and with size of land (p=O.002). Adoption of improved mango varieties
was also influenced by agro ecological factors such as farmer's perception on rainfall
fluctuations (X2 =2.21, p=O.OOl),farmer's perception of temperature variations (x:
=2.21, p=O.OOI),awareness of availability of improved mango varieties (X2 =75.32,
p=O.OOl)and availability of technical information on mangoes (X2 =2.11, p=O.OOl).
Results also indicated that an increase in adoption of improved mango varieties leads
to a significant increase in household incomes (r=O.336, p=O.OOl).The implication
of this study is that the adoption of improved varieties is significantly influenced by
both socio-economic activities and agro-ecological factors. The study recommends
that there is need to put the above mentioned factors into consideration for successful
adoption of improved mango varieties to take place which is anticipated to lead to an
increase in food security as well as economic status of the households.
Description
Department of Environmental Education, 84p. 2014, SB 379 .M2N43