Factors Influencing Sustainability of Horticultural Farming in Kenya: A Case of Kiambu County

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the factors influencing Sustainability of Horticultural farming in Kiambu County. In order to realize this, three research questions guided the process namely: to what extent does empowerment influence sustainability of horticultural farming in Kiambu County in Kenya? to what extend does credit accessibility influence sustainability of horticultural framing in Kiambu County in Kenya? and How does adoption of emerging technology influence the sustainability of horticultural farming in Kiambu County in Kenya? A descriptive survey research design was adopted targeting horticulture farmers in Kiambu. The study applied cluster sampling by dividing the county into sub-counties from which a few farmers were selected. In the study, Krejcie and Morgan formula was adopted to determine the sample size. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire that contained both open and closed ended questions. To ensure reliability and validity of the researcher designed questionnaire, a test-retest method was adopted. The data was collected was analyzed in terms of both descriptive and inferential statistics. These were in terms of mean, median, mode and standard deviation. Others were frequency tables, pie charts, graphs, correlation, ANOVA and regression analysis. Regarding research question one, the study found that through farmers groups in the County, the farmers receive training and financial support to improve their farming activities (49.6%) and that the government rarely organizes training for horticultural farmers in the County. Majority of the farmers rarely attend training on modern horticultural farming methods (59.5%). For those who have participated in the training, this has enhanced their productivity and hence sustainability (62.8%). The linear regression analysis revealed that empowerment positively and significantly predicted sustainability of horticultural farming, leading to rejecting the null hypothesis that empowerment has no significant influence on sustainability of horticultural farming. The study finding of research question two echoed that there is need for financial capital to improve and sustain farming ventures (73.6%), that farmer groups do not provide sufficient funds for farmers to invest in horticulture (43.1%). Similarly, majority of the respondents 193 (56.6%) disagreed that the government provides affordable credit to horticulture farmers for their activities. Respondents however, acknowledged the role of credit in improving their ventures through investing in modern technology and practices.The linear regression analysis of the study revealed that credit accessibility significantly predicted sustainability of horticultural framing, leading to rejecting the null hypothesis that credit accessibility style has no significant influence on sustainability of horticultural farming. In response to research question three this study found that majority of the respondents was adequately aware of the available technology for use in horticulture farming. They were aware that the use of technology in horticulture farming has enhanced productivity and sustainability of their venture (29.9%). However, the study found that the respondents were not able to afford the available technology for use in horticultural farming (72.7%), despite majority indicating that the use of technology has made it possible to store products in good conditions thus attracting good value (43.1%). The regression analysis revealed that emerging technology positively and significantly predicted sustainability of horticultural framing, leading to rejecting the null hypothesis that emerging technology has no significant influence on sustainability of horticultural farming. Based on the findings, the study made various conclusions. In terms of the first research question, the study concludes that farmers congregating in groups promote their activities and enhance their empowerment which is not exhaustively used to provide training and financial support to improve their farming activities. On the second research question, the study concludes that there is absolute need for financial capital in horticultural farming and that farmers’ groups play a significant role in sourcing for capital for the members. On the third research question, the study concludes that the level of knowledge on available and relevant technology is low thus contributing to low adoption of such technologies in horticultural farming. Based on the findings of the first research question, the study recommends that the ministry of gender and social services in collaboration with ministry of agriculture should encourage formation of horticultural farmers’ group how about County government? Through the groups, the government will be able to organize regular trainings to help improve the knowledge of the farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture and County government should seek donor fund targeted at horticultural farming to ensure availability of training support and funding for various technologies in agriculture. Finally, the study recommends that through extension officers and the farmers’ cooperative societies, farmers should be encouraged to acquire and use modern technologies in horticulture.