Analysis of Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) among Smallholder Tomato Farmers in Buuri Sub-County, Meru County, Kenya
David. M. Kihoro *
Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management and Agricultural Education and Extension, Chuka University, P. O Box 109-60400, Chuka, Kenya.
Pauline. K. Micheni
Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management and Agricultural Education and Extension, Chuka University, P. O Box 109-60400, Chuka, Kenya.
Florence. W. Ng’ang’a
Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management and Agricultural Education and Extension, Chuka University, P. O Box 109-60400, Chuka, Kenya.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study examines the socioeconomic factors that influence the adoption of Integrated Pest Management in 152 smallholder tomato farmers in Buuri Sub-County, in Meru County Kenya. A random stratification sampling procedure was used to obtain smallholder tomato farmers and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data which was analyzed using a binary logistic regression model. The results showed that the average land size for tomato production in the area was 1 acre, with average yields of 35 tonnes per acre, Kshs 592,000 net returns/ acre for IPM adopters. The study established that gender type (5%), farm size (5%), labor (5%), and access to information (5%), and age of the farmers (5%) were statistically significant. Additionally, gender type resulted in an increase of adoption of IPM by 43%, farm size by 8%, labor by 11%, while access to information by 40%. The study concluded that different stakeholders should ensure a support system to various IPM practices to lower production costs and encourage adopting the techniques.
Keywords: Adoption, integrated pest management, production, smallholder farmer, tomato