Socio-Cultural and Institutional Determinants in the Uptake of Horticulture Farming in Aldai Division, Nandi County, Kenya

Abstract

Horticultural farming has been identified as the key to eradicating poverty and addressing food insecurity in many African countries including Kenya. However, its growth has not been as envisaged despite favorable climatic conditions, targeted policy and program implementations through several innovations. Uptake of horticultural farming by small-scale farmers supplying the domestic market continues to lag behind despite several interventions to improve production. Studies have focused on technical aspects of adoption among export farmers with little attention given to innovation mechanisms to improve production among small-scale farmers. This study therefore investigated how prevailing socio-demographic, cultural and institutional factors influence adoption of horticultural farming among small-scale farmers in Aldai division, Nandi County. The study was based on Diffusion of Innovations theory by Everett Rogers (1995) and human agency theory by Long Norman (2001). Diffusion of innovations theory argues that a complex series of influences namely; individual attributes, attributes of the social system and perceived attributes of the innovation influence individuals‟ adoption decisions. Human agency theory holds that different social formations develop under the same structural circumstances and emergent deferring social formations reflect variations in ways in which actors attempt to adapt to the situations they face. The study utilized an ex-post-facto survey research design where a sample of 400 household heads was selected from a base population of 5004 households using systematic random sampling technique. Data was collected from household heads using a semi-structured questionnaire. Expert opinions were sought through Key Informant Interviews while respondents‟ consensual opinions were sought through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Data was analyzed descriptively using percentages, frequencies, Pearsons product moment correlation, logistic regression technique and through content analysis and presented in tabular and textual form. Findings showed that females, youthful respondents and those with more respondents had adopted horticulture farming. Income from horticulture farming was controlled more by females than men and adoption of horticulture farming was positively associated with access to inputs, access to credit, group membership, availability of extension services and government interventions. However, marital status and education level indicated no relationship. Horticulture farming was prevalent among respondents owning less that two acres of land with crops namely kales (Brassica oleracea var acephala), cabbages (Brassica oleracea var capitata), managu (Solanum spp), saka (Gynandropsis spp), mitoo (Crotalaria spp), kunde (Phaseolus spp) and bananas (Musa spp) having been adopted extensively. The findings illustrate existence of favorable social, cultural and institutional environment supportive of enhanced adoption of horticulture farming. The study therefore recommends for enhanced consideration of prevailing social and cultural factors during innovation development and enhancement of approaches utilized in provision of inputs, credit and extension services for wider accessibility among targeted adopters.