Tobacco Farming and Its Implications on Alternative Crops in Kuria West Sub-County of Migori County, Kenya

Abstract

Tobacco is grown in about 120 countries of the world, occupying over 4 million hectares of land despite its poor returns compared to alternative crops. The main objective of the study was to examine tobacco farming and its implications on alternative crops in Kuria West Sub County of Migori County, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to < explore the effects of socioeconomic factors on cultivation of tobacco and alternative crops; examine the implications of institutional factors on tobacco farmers and alternative crops; and to find out the attitudes of local farmers towards cultivation of tobacco and alternative crops. The study was guided by dependency theory developed in the late 1950 by Fernando and Falleto whose tenets include power, uncertainty, duration and degree. The study design was cross-sectional, involving both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The study population comprised 2000 farmers in Kuria West. Yamane (1967) mathematical formula was used to arrive at a sample size of 320 of which 291 respondents were involved. Simple random sampling was used to select questionnaires respondents. Purposive Sampling was used to get key informants and FGDs drawn from various stakeholder categories in tobacco sector. The findings were analyzed through content analysis and presented in textual descriptions and illustrations using verbatim quotations. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires and it was analyzed using descriptive statistics by aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented in tables of frequencies and percentages. The study found that farming activities taking place in Kuria West Sub-County mainly relies on the family labor and the production of alternative crops suffered capacity and resource constraints. The study concluded that adoption of other crops would be necessary to increase the farmers' income.. The study recommended that farmers should allocate more land for alternative crops which will earn them more cash and use for home purpose. Farmers should practice modem farming which will yield high food crops and improve their living standards. The findings of the study will be useful to the Government, policy makers, NGOs and the farmers