Browsing by Author "Gathungu, Geofrey K."

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5

Analysis of Institutional Factors Affecting Optimization of Coffee Yields in Chuka Sub-County, Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya
(Research gate, 2020) Kihoro, David M.; Gathungu, Geofrey K.; ; ;
The importance of coffee production in the world economy cannot be ruled out due to its contribution in the developing countries in areas such as creation of employment and rise in foreign exchange. Most of the coffee producing countries in the world have come up with strategies to increase their quantity and improve the quality of their produce. In Kenya, the government have also come with numerous policies to support coffee production at the farm level but production of coffee in Kenya has since 1989 crop year been declining. There has been emergence of other enterprises that are profitable than coffee production such as real estate and dairy sector in most of the coffee-growing zones, but there are many farmers who have been determined to maintain coffee production. Despite the efforts made by the government to maximise coffee production in terms of quality and quantity, production has shown a downward trend, with some farmers completely doing away with production This study was aimed at assessing the factors that affect optimization of coffee production in Chuka sub-County, Tharaka-Nithi County. Proportional stratified random sampling was used to select a sample of 153 respondents from a population of 7,428 small-scale coffee farmersfrom ten cooperatives in the sub-County. The findings of the study indicated that access to extension, access to research and management of coffee cooperative were essential in coffee production with a mean agreement of 58.33%. The research established that access to extension (5%) and management of cooperatives (5%) were statistically significant while access to research at (5%) was statistically insignificant. Similarly, access to extension services increased optimization by 91%, poor management of coffee cooperatives reduced production by 45.1%, while access to research increased coffee production by 51%. Therefore, it is important to ensure farmers access extension services, research and there is improved management of coffee cooperatives.
Effect of Institutional and Farmer Based Climate Change Adaptation Measures on Crop Production in Mavuria Ward, Mbeere South Sub-county, Embu County, Kenya
(Research gate, 2020) Nyaga, Samuel K.; Gathungu, Geofrey K.; Nyaga, Justin; Njeru, Jafford R.
Africa is under pressure from climate stresses and is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In Kenya, agriculture is the backbone of the economy making it an important contributor to food security of rural households. Currently crop productivity is being affected by continued climate variations and decline in soil fertility. Adaptation to climate change requires to be given high and urgent priority for sustainable crop production. A study was conducted in Mavuria ward, Mbeere South Sub-County, Embu County to evaluate the effects of climate change adaptation on crop production. The study used both descriptive and experimental research designs. The primary data on adaptation measures was collected from farmers and institutions using questionnaires. In the data analysis, descriptive statistics were used to organize the climate data and that of the respondents into frequencies. Further, a Pearson correlation test was done to determine therelationship between farmer and institutional based mechanisms on adaptation to climate change at α=0.05. The main adaptation mechanisms identified were soil fertility improvement, soil and water conservation, early planting, pest and disease control, provision of certified seeds, and awareness creation. In view of these findings, the study recommends continuous implementation of these measures that can help strengthen farmers and institutional adaptation mechanisms towards climate change for improved crop production.
The Optimization of Multiple Responses of Watermelon to Organic Manure Using Response Surface Methodology
(2017-03) Muriithi, Dennis K.; ArapKoske, J. K.; Gathungu, Geofrey K.
This paper discusses the use of Central Composite Design approach to plan the experiments for growth and yield of watermelon with an overall objective of optimizes the multiple responses of watermelon to organic manure. Response Surface methodology (RSM) has been adopted to express the output parameters (responses) that are decided by the input process parameters. Poultry manure, cow manure and goat manure were the independent variables to optimize the response values of interest that includes; watermelon fruit weight, number of branches and vine length per plant. The predicted values were found to be in good agreement with the experimental values which define the propriety of the models and the achievement of CCD in the optimization of multiple responses of watermelon. The results of the study found that the optimal values of responses were 93.148 ton/Ha of fruit weight of watermelon in the study area, 8 branches of watermelon plant and vine length of 224 cm at 8weeks.Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that farmers in the study area apply 17.125 tons/Ha of poultry manure, 13.27 tons/Ha of cow manure and 18.08 tons/Ha of goat manure for increased growth and yield of watermelon. Finally, this study represented the development of mathematical models for crop production based on statistics that can be useful for predicting and understanding the effects of experimental factors. Also, it would be a scientific and economic approach to obtain the maximum amount of information in a short period of time and with the lowest number of experiments.
Optimization of seed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber yield and size distribution through integrated irrigation water, nitrogen and phosphorus mineral nutrient application.
(Science Domain International, 2013-12-16) Gathungu, Geofrey K.; Aguyoh, Joseph N.; Isutsa, Dorcas K.; ; ;
Potato is the world's fourth important food crop after wheat, rice and maize because of its great yield potential and high nutritive value . In Kenya, potato is constrained by low seed tuber production in the informal sector. This is partly due to improper fertilizer regimes and irregular rainfall patterns. Therefore, a study was conducted in a rain shelter at the Horticultural Research Farm of Egerton University in Kenya from 19th August to 19th December 2011 (Trial I) and 5th April to 6th August 2012 (Trial II) to determine the effects of integrated irrigation water, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) supply on tuber yield and size distribution. The layout was a split split plot design with irrigation (40%, 65% and 100% field capacity) assigned to main plots, N (0, 75, 112.5 and 150 kg N/ha) to subplots and P (0, 115, 172.5 and 230 kg/ha P2O5, corresponding to 0, 50.6, 75.9, 101.2 kg P/ha) to sub-subplots. The treatments were replicated three times and repeated once. The irrigation water rates were applied in drip tube lines.Nitrogen was supplied as urea (46% N) in two equivalent splits, at planting time and at 5 weeks after planting. Phosphorus was supplied at planting time as triple superphosphate (46% P2O5). Data were collected on number, yield and size distribution of tubers at harvest and subjected to analysis of variance. Significantly different means were separated using Tukey’s Studentized Range Test at P= 0.05. The 65% irrigation water and the high N and P rates resulted in relatively high number, yield and quantity of seed potato sizes I and II. The 100% irrigation water increased the ware -sized seed potato tubers and reduced the quantity of chats. Therefore, integration of moderate irrigation water and high rates of N and P is recommended for optimizing seed potato tuber grades.
Socio-economic Factors Affecting Uptake of Banana Value Addition among Smallholders in Chuka Sub-county, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya
(Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 2021-01-11) Muigai, Josphat K.; Gathungu, Geofrey K.; Thogori, Miriam
Banana farmers in most parts of Kenya have not embraced 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 the diffusion of innovations theory to establish the relationship between farming experience, group membership, access to credit and uptake of banana value addition. The study adopted a descriptive research design whereby frequency tables were generated whilst both qualitative and quantitative data was collected. The target population was 20,180 banana farming households in Chuka Sub-County and 3 key informants. Purposive sampling, Random sampling and snowballing techniques were used to select the 156 banana farmers. A pilot study of 24 (15% of sample size) households was done in Imenti South and the questionnaire was found to be reliable (Cronbach alpha value, α˂0.785). With a 90% questionnaire return rate, the data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 25 and presented using frequency tables. Binary logistic regression was used to test the levels of significance of variables and the model through the Hosmer & Lemeshow test of the goodness of fit suggested that the it was good for fit to the data as p=0.480 (>0.05) while ANOVA analyses were used to check the presence of multicollinearity. It was observed 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 farmer’s access credit for effective farming among others.