IDENTIFICATION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING UPTAKE OF BANANA VALUE ADDITION BY FARMERS IN CHUKA SUB-COUNTY, THARAKA NITHI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Banana farmers in most parts of the country have not embraced uptake of banana value addition despite its accrued economic benefits and emphasis by stakeholders. A study was done in Chuka Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County to identify the socio-economic factors affecting uptake of banana value addition by farmers. The study was based on diffusion theory and value-added concept to establish the relationship between farming experience, group membership, access to credit and uptake of banana value addition. It was noted that only 31.9% of farmers uptake banana value addition and there were no banana value addition technologies identified with 35.6% and 64.4% of those who uptake doing banana ripening for sale and bulk packaging respectively. The results (P=0.05) showed that group membership (p=0.019) and access to credit (p=0.004) had a positive and significant effect on the uptake of banana value addition by farmers at varying levels. It was observed that farming experience had a positive effect on the uptake, but was statistically insignificant. The study recommended that; farmers should be encouraged to form cooperatives on value addition and the government and other stakeholders in conjunction with financial institutions need to streamline policies to enhance farmers access credit for effective farming among others