Articles
FARMERS’ KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTIONS ON BANANA (MUSA SPP. L.) MANAGEMENT IN MURANG’A SOUTH DISTRICT, MURANG’A COUNTY, CENTRAL KENYA
Article number
1090_5
Pages
29 – 33
Language
English
Abstract
In Kenya banana (Musa spp.
L.), a major crop in the horticultural sub-sector, is ranked first in production.
Abiotic and biotic challenges including pests and diseases, low production, climate shocks, poor marketing and market linkages are key challenges to banana production in Kenya.
In 2012, a study was conducted in the Maragua division, a transitional banana growing area of Muranga South District, in Muranga County to assess the farmers knowledge and perceptions on banana crop management.
Data was collected from interviews with 102 (66.7% men and 33.3% women) randomly selected households and key informants using semi-structured questionnaires and check lists.
Data was analyzed using SPSS (statistical package for social scientists) and Microsoft Excel.
Farmers ranked banana first in terms of food security and income generation.
In all the agro-ecological zones, the crop was allocated the largest (1.1 ha) portion of household land compared to other crops.
Lack of adequate information on banana production and management practices (34.5%), high cost of clean planting materials (25.5%), organic fertilizers (17.5%), inaccessibility of manure (18.3%), inadequate quantities of manure (9.1%), high labour in terms of watering and manure application (4.0%) and lack of capital (3.0%) were identified as major reasons for non-adoption of recommended crop production technologies with 7.3% having no tangible results while 1% did not believe in using inorganic fertilizers on their farms.
Capacity building addressing all segments of the banana crop value chain including marketing and market linkages is recommended together with government intervention of fertilizer prices for improved crop productivity and crops benefits to the farmers and the country.
L.), a major crop in the horticultural sub-sector, is ranked first in production.
Abiotic and biotic challenges including pests and diseases, low production, climate shocks, poor marketing and market linkages are key challenges to banana production in Kenya.
In 2012, a study was conducted in the Maragua division, a transitional banana growing area of Muranga South District, in Muranga County to assess the farmers knowledge and perceptions on banana crop management.
Data was collected from interviews with 102 (66.7% men and 33.3% women) randomly selected households and key informants using semi-structured questionnaires and check lists.
Data was analyzed using SPSS (statistical package for social scientists) and Microsoft Excel.
Farmers ranked banana first in terms of food security and income generation.
In all the agro-ecological zones, the crop was allocated the largest (1.1 ha) portion of household land compared to other crops.
Lack of adequate information on banana production and management practices (34.5%), high cost of clean planting materials (25.5%), organic fertilizers (17.5%), inaccessibility of manure (18.3%), inadequate quantities of manure (9.1%), high labour in terms of watering and manure application (4.0%) and lack of capital (3.0%) were identified as major reasons for non-adoption of recommended crop production technologies with 7.3% having no tangible results while 1% did not believe in using inorganic fertilizers on their farms.
Capacity building addressing all segments of the banana crop value chain including marketing and market linkages is recommended together with government intervention of fertilizer prices for improved crop productivity and crops benefits to the farmers and the country.
Authors
V. Gathaara, S.W. Mwaniki, L. Wasilwa, E.G. Thuranira, P.W. Kimenju, P. Wachira
Keywords
banana, farmer, production
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