Browsing by Author "Njogu Martin Kagiki"

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    Effects of Socio-Economic Characteristics on Choice of Tuta Absoluta Management Methods in Tomato Production in Mwea, Kirinyaga County
    (Science Publishing Group, 2024-10-31) Mwaniki Poline Wawira; Gathungu Geofrey Kingori; Njogu Martin Kagiki; Ireri Dave Mwangi
    The study assessed the effect of socio-economic characteristics on the management methods of T. absoluta in Mwea, Kirinyaga County. The target population was 2300 open fields and 20 green-house tomato farmers in Mwea. A descriptive research design was used in the study, and a multistage sampling procedure was used to get a sample of 303 respondents. Through a survey, 283 open-field tomato small-scale farmers were randomly interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Socio- economic and crop protection data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and econometric modeling. The multivariate probit model estimates showed that gender, education, age, land size, household income, and extension significantly affected farmers' choice of pest control methods to manage T. absoluta. The negative coefficients showed that an increase in either one of the socio-economic factors would help increase tomato yields reduced by T. absoluta. The study results encourage small- scale tomato farmers to use other pest management methods, such as crop rotation and weeding, so as not to rely on chemical pesticides alone to control T. absoluta. To learn more about tomato pest management practices, Tomato small-scale farmers should join farmers' groups and organizations. National and County policymakers should adopt policies to encourage integrated pest management methods to avoid excess chemical pesticides in tomato production.
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    Smallholder Farmers’ Perception of Sunflower Commercialization: A Case in Kimilili Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya
    (Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, 2024-10-20) Wafula Elijah Barasa; Oloo-Abucheli Grace Opetu; Njogu Martin Kagiki; Ireri Dave Mwang
    Low-income generation among Smallholder farmers could be attributed to their low sunflower commercialization with subsequent effects from their knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, commercializing efforts, and trust in critical stakeholders in the agricultural value chain. Thus, this study analyzed smallholder farmers’ perception of sunflower commercialization, which may contribute to improving sunflower commercialization. A pilot study was carried out in Kabuchai Sub-County before the Kimilili Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya survey. 288 sunflower smallholder farmers were interviewed using an open and close-ended questionnaire where a multi- stage sampling procedure was applied. The study used factor analysis and structural equation models to analyze the perception of smallholder farmers on sunflower commercialization. The factor analysis model reflected that smallholder farmers firmly trust agricultural cooperatives, media, and the national government in sunflower commercialization. However, they moderately trusted producer groups, farmer groups, and neighbour farmers. Smallholder sunflower farmers also strongly trusted different market outlets based on Factors 1 and 2. They strongly trusted exporters, producer groups, and neighbor farmers under factor 1 as their market outlets but lowly trusted brokers and supermarkets. Further, they highly trusted brokers and supermarkets under factor 2 as their market outlets and lowly trusted exporters, producer groups, and neighbor farmers as their market outlets. Additionally, smallholder farmers expressed their proactiveness strongly on commercial impact, commercial efficiency, and farmers’ view concerns about their sunflower commercialization. They lowly suggested marketing channels contracts, and commercial contributions to their livelihoods to shape their proactiveness on sunflower commercialization. An alpha reliability scale of over 0.79 per measurement variable and a KMO value of over 0.8 was obtained for this study, showing the internal consistency of the data. The SEM analysis showed that smallholder farmers’ entrepreneurship, trust in institutions, and market outlets influenced sunflower commercialization. However, their proactiveness negatively affected sunflower commercialization. The study recommends support of sunflower smallholder farmers in access to market information and strengthening their trust through institutions viable outcomes on them through the agricultural cooperatives, the national government, and coordination by the international markets.