Evaluating the Determinants for the Adoption of Tissue Culture Banana Technology by Small-Scale Farmers in Nyamira County, Kenya
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Date
2019
Authors
Nyang’au, Evans Motanya
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
To address food insecurity in Kenya, there has been a significant intensification of
agriculture to feed the growing population. One of the technologies used is tissue
culture (TC) banana technology. However, in spite of the exertions done to
disseminate this technology to small-scale farmers, research studies report low
adoption rates of the technology. Hence, this study seeks to establish the
determinants of the adoption of tissue culture banana technology. The study was
carried out in Nyamira North sub-County. The study objectives were; to examine
socio-economic characteristics determining the adoption of tissue culture banana
technology, to determine benefits accrued from the adoption of tissue culture
bananas and to identify constraints farmers face in the adoption of TC banana
technology. The study adopted a descriptive study design, and data collection was
mainly done through the use of questionnaires, interview schedules and direct
observation. Secondary data were collected from published materials, journals and
magazines. Qualitative data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics while
quantitative data were cleaned, coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for
Social Sciences (SPSS). Regression analysis was finally used to determine the
relationship between variables. Findings indicated that farmers’ socio-economic
characteristics such as age, gender, marital status, level of education,farming
experience, land size and access to credit affect adoption of banana tissue culture
technology. They further revealed that sources of information affect farmers’
adoption of improved banana farming practices. Farmers identified diverse
challenges like lack of capital, TC plantlets, poor extension services and poor
infrastructure affect farmers in the adoption of TC bananas. Intervention measures
were suggested on how the problems could be addressed to positively enhance
adoption of TC bananas. The study recommends formation of savings and credit
cooperatives, awareness creation among farmers, improving road network in rural
areas, establishing one nursery of TC bananas in each ward and subsidizing the costs
of TC banana plantlets. The research findings are expected to be useful to various
stakeholders boost the production of bananas and enhance food security.
Description
A Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfilment for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Geography in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences of Kenyatta University, November, 2019
Keywords
Tissue Culture Banana Technology, Small-Scale Farmers, Nyamira County, Kenya