Low Adoption of Greenhouse Technology among Small Scale Tomato Farmers in Kericho County: Socioeconomic and Institutional Perspectives

Millicent Adhiambo Otiende^1, , George Kere Mbira¹ and Jenifer Opunga²

¹University of Kabianga, P.O. Box 2030, Kericho, Kenya

²Department of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kericho County, P.O. Box 50, Kericho, Kenya

Cite this paper:
Millicent Adhiambo Otiende, George Kere Mbira and Jenifer Opunga. Low Adoption of Greenhouse Technology among Small Scale Tomato Farmers in Kericho County: Socioeconomic and Institutional Perspectives. Journal of Food Security. 2025; 13(3):92-98. doi: 10.12691/jfs-13-3-2

Abstract

Tomato is one of the most popular vegetables in Kericho County albeit low production and productivity due to various abiotic, biotic and managerial factors. Greenhouse production system is known for profitable and quality year-round tomato production. However, adoption of this system is low in the County. The reasons for low adoption of greenhouse tomato production among small scale farmers remain unclear. The study evaluated socio-economic and institutional factors influencing adoption of greenhouse tomato production technology among small scale tomato farmers in Kericho County. The study employed descriptive survey design.Data was collected from a sample of 135 small scale tomato farmers. Semi structured questionnaires were used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data and analysed using SPSS statistical package. The study revealed that the following socio-economic attributes: age, marital status, education, employment, and monthly income had significant (p≤ 0.05) positive effect on greenhouse adoption. About 51% of those practicing greenhouse productions were in the economic active age (18-40 years) associated with high level of productivity. Education and age significantly increased adoption of greenhouse tomato production. Most of the respondents (88.9%) did not have alternative source of income and therefore relied on farming as the main economic activity. Access to extension services and credit facilities did not hinder adoption of the technology. Low income from tomato sales and inadequate training negatively influenced adoption of greenhouse tomato production. The government should continually offer regular trainings and demonstrations on greenhouse management to enhance its adoption.

Keywords:
Greenhouse Technology Adoption Tomatoes profitability extension

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Kenya Network for diseminationof Agricultural Technologies (KENDAT), Hortic Value Chains, Kenya (2015).
[2]	Match Maker Associates (MMA), Horticulture study: Phase 1-mapping of production of fruits and vegetables in Kenya. (2017).
[3]	Ochilo W, Nyamasyo G, Kilalo D, Otieno W, Otipa M, Chegea F, Karanja T, Lingeera E. (2019). Characteristics and production constraints of smallholder tomato production in Kenya. Scientific African, 2: 1–10.
[4]	Horticultural Crops Development Authority(HCDA). Horticulture data 2016-2017 Validation Report, Kenya. 2017.
[5]	Factfish website. Kenya: Tomatoes, production quantity (tons). 2018.
[6]	County of Kericho, Department of Agriculture and Livestock data. (2021).
[7]	Research Solutions Africa (2015). Report of a study on fresh vegetables market in Kenya.
[8]	Sanzua LJ, Saha HM, Mwafaida J. (2018). Status of Greenhouse Farming in the Coastal Humid Climatic Region of Kenya. Universal Journal of Agricultural Research 6: 165–172.
[9]	Omoro PA, Shitandi A, Aming’a NN, Basweti E. (2015). Assessing the extension staff farm visits frequency effect on greenhouse technology performance in small scale farms in Gusii Highlands, Kenya. Open Access Library Journal, 2: 1–10.
[10]	Ateka J, Onono-Okelo, PA, Etyang M. (2019). Does participation in farmer field school extension program improve crop yields? Evidence from smallholder tea production systems in Kenya. International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development, 9: 409–42.
[11]	Karuku G, Kimenju W, Verplancke H. (2016). Farmers’ perspectives on factors limiting tomato production and yields in Kabete, Kiambu County, Kenya. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal, 82: 70–89.
[12]	Van der Spijk, C. A. (2018). Greenhouse technology adoption among small and medium-scale tomato farmers in Kenya. MSc Thesis, Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
[13]	Agriculture and Food Authority (2018). The validated horticulture data report (2016-2017). Available: http:// kilimodata. developlocal.org/ dataset/ 3534b0b9-e49e-4c72-a90a-e423844a83a2/ resource/ c7758a80-9102-481e-a6c2fa983081221d/ download/ horticulturevalidated –data -2016-2017.pdf.
[14]	Mallya SF. (2019). Factors for Adoption of Greenhouse Farming Technology among Farmers: A case of Kinondoni District in Dar es Salaam Region. Master’s Thesis, Mzumbe University, Tanzania.
[15]	Dwasi CO, Rombo CM, Osogo JA. (2017). Factors influencing adoption of greenhouse farming technology among small scale horticulture farmers in Gem Sub-County, Kenya. MSc Thesis, University of Nairobi Digital Repository.
[16]	Tuitoek DK, Odhiambo OH, Kipyego KE, Kiprono SS, Kipkoech BM. (2019). Factors Influencing the Adoption of Greenhouse Technology among Smallholder Tomato Farmers in Nakuru County, Kenya. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, III (VI).
[17]	Tanti PC, Jena PR, Aryal JP, Purna CT, Pradyot R.J, Aryal PJ, Rahut DB.(2022). Role of institutional factors in climate‐smart technology adoption inagriculture: Evidence from an Eastern Indian state. Environmental Challenges,7(2022).
[18]	Mazhar R, Ghafoor A, Xuehao B, Wei Z. (2021). Fostering Sustainable Agriculture: Do institutional factors impact the adoption of multiple climate-smart agricultural practices among new entry organic farmers in Pakistan? Journal of Cleaner Production. 283, 124620.
[19]	Pagliacci F, Defrancesco E, Mozzato D, Bortolini L, Pezzuolo A, Pirotti F, Pisani E, Gatto P. (2020). Drivers of farmers’ adoption and continuation of climate-smart agricultural practices. A study from North Eastern Italy. Science of Total Environment. 710, 136345.
[20]	Aryal JP, Jat M.L, Sapkota TB, Khatri-Chhetri A, Kassie M, Rahut DB, Maharjan S. (2018). Adoption of multiple climate-smart agricultural practices in the gangetic plains of Bihar, India. International Journal of Climate Change Strategiesand Management. 10: 407–427.
[21]	Jena PR. (2021). Extension services as key determining factor for adoption of minimum tillage practice in Kenya: A plot level analysis. Journal of Public Affairs. 22(2).
[22]	Marenya PP, Gebremariam G, Jaleta M, Rahut DB. (2020). Sustainable intensification among smallholder maize farmers in Ethiopia: Adoption and impacts under rainfall and unobserved heterogeneity. Food Policy, 95, 101941.
[23]	County Government of Kericho (2013) First County Integrated Development Plan 2013 - 2017, Kenya. pp 350.
[24]	Yamane Y. (1967). Mathematical Formulae for Sample Size Determination.
[25]	Mugambi DM, Wambui B, Marani M. (2020). Factors influencing the adoption of greenhouse farming by small holders in Central Imenti Sub County, Meru County. Master’s Thesis, .University of Nairobi.
[26]	Ateka JM, Mbeche RM, Kavoi M, Muendo M. (2021). Determinants of protected tomato production technologies among smallholder peri-urban producers in Kiambu County, Kenya. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics, 122: 43–52.
[27]	Aduwo OE, Aransiola JO, Ikuteyijo LO, Alao O T, Deji OF, Ayinde JO, Oyedele, DJ. (2017). Gender differences in agricultural technology adoption in developing countries: a systematic review. In African Vegetables Forum, 1238: 227-238.
[28]	Peterman A, Quisumbing A, Behrman J, Nkonya E. (2010) Understanding gender differences in agricultural productivity in Uganda and Nigeria (No. 1003) International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
[29]	Negussie FA. (2022). Impact of row planting teff tech-nology adoption on the income of smallholder farmers: The case of Hidabu Abote District, North Shewa Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia. International Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology, 6:195–203.
[30]	Fikire AH, Asefa AB. (2023). Determinants of teff row planting technology adoption on small farms yield in North Shewa zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia. Cogent Social Sciences, 9: 2202022.
[31]	Mignounal DB, Manyong VM, Mutabazi KD, Senkondo EM. (2011). Determinants of adopting imazapyr resistant maize for Striga control in Western Kenya: double-hurdle approach. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 11: 572-586.
[32]	Lavison R. (2013). Factors Influencing the Adoption of Organic Fertilizers in Vegetable Production in Accra. MSc. thesis, Accra, Ghana.
[33]	Etim NAA., Etim, NN. (2019). Rural farmers’ adaptation decision to climate change in Niger Delta region, Nigeria. In W. Leal Filho (Ed.), Handbook of climate change resilience (pp. 1–15). Springer International Publishing.
[34]	Mwangi M, Kariuki. S. (2015). Factors Determining Adoption of New Agricultural Technology by Smallholder Farmers in Developing Countries. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 5: 208- 216.
[35]	Kumar A, Takeshima H, Thapa G, Adhikari N, Saroj S, Karkee M, Joshi PK. (2020). Adoption and diffusion of improved technologies and production practices in agriculture: Insights from a donor-led intervention in Nepal. Land Use Policy 95 (2020) 104621.
[36]	Sahu S, Das S. (2016). Impact of agricultural related technology adoption on poverty: A study of select households in rural India. In Technology, 141–156.
[37]	Berg Van den J. (2013). Socio-economic factors affecting adoption of improved agricultural practices by small scale farmers in South Africa. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 8: 4490-4500.
[38]	Petros T. (2010). Adoption of Conservation Tillage Technologies in Metema Woreda, North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. MSc thesis, Haramaya University, Ethiopia.
[39]	Sitomwe F, Asfaw S, Abate T. (2016). Determinants of agricultural technology adoption under partial population awareness: The case of pigeon pea in Malawi. Agricultural and Food Economics, 4 (7).
[40]	Forkuor G, Amponsah W, Oteng-Darko P Osei G. (2022). Safeguarding food security through large-scale adoption of agricultural production technologies: The case of greenhouse farming in Ghana, Cleaner Engineering and Technology 6, 100384.
[41]	Ali A, Rahut DB, Imtiaz M. (2019). Affordability linked with subsidy: Impact of fertilizers subsidy on household welfare in Pakistan. Sustainability, 11: 5161.
[42]	Jimi NA, Nikolov PV, Malek MA, Kumbhakar S. (2019). The effects of access to credit on productivity: Separating technological changes from changes in technical efficiency. Journal of Productivity Analysis, 52: 37–55.
[43]	Nasereldin YA, Chandio AA, Osewe M, Abdullah M, Ji Y. (2023). The Credit Accessibility and Adoption of New Agricultural Inputs Nexus: Assessing the Role of Financial Institutions in Sudan. Sustainability, 15, 1297.
[44]	Adong A. (2014). “Impact of Households’ Membership of Farmer Groups on the Adoption of Agricultural Technologies in Uganda: Evidence From the Uganda Census of Agriculture 2008/09.” Agrekon 53: 108–136.
[45]	Mwanajuma SO, Oughton E, Garrod G. (2020). Significance of farming groups for resource access and livelihood improvement of rural smallholder women farmers, Development in Practice, 30: 586-598.
[46]	Julius A. (2015). “Comparative Analysis of Cooperative and Non-Cooperative Farmers’ Access to Farm Inputs in Abuja, Nigeria.” European Journal of Sustainable Development 4: 39–50.
[47]	Meier zu Selhausen F. (2016). “What Determines Women’s Participation in Collective Action? Evidence from a Western Ugandan Coffee Cooperative.” Feminist Economics, 22: 130–157.
[48]	Mabuza M, Ortmann G, Wale E. (2015). “Collective Action in Small-Scale Mushroom Production in Swaziland: Does Organizational Form Matter?” Development in Practice, 25: 1025–1042.