Factors Influencing the Adoption of Greenhouse Farming by Smallholders in Central Imenti Subcounty in Meru County.

Abstract

The role of technology in agriculture production has continued to grow in importance over time. One method which has been proposed to address continued food production throughout the year and to meet the growing food demand is adoption of greenhouse farming more so by the small holder farmers who do it for own consumption and generation of income from the sale of surplus produce. Despite the known benefits of greenhouse farming technology, only a few small holder farmers have adopted it and most quit after a short time citing some constraints which serve as their major setback. This study therefore, aimed at assessing the factors influencing the adoption of greenhouse farming by small holder farmers in Central Imenti Sub County in Meru County. This study was guided by three objectives: to establish the extent of adoption of greenhouse farming by the small holder farmers in Central Imenti, to identify the factors influencing the adoption greenhouse farming by smallholders in Central Imenti sub county, and to assess the approaches optimized by the small holder farmers in Central Imenti to overcome the constraints to adoption of greenhouse farming. The study adopted descriptive survey research design having sampled 380 respondents by use of Stratified random and systematic sampling. Primary data was collected by use of scheduled interviews, questionnaires, observation and photography while secondary data was collected by reviewing ministry of agriculture and county reports Descriptive and inferential analysis were used in analyzing quantitative data and content analysis for the qualitative data. The presentation of the data focused on tables, frequencies, mean, percentages, pie charts, bar graphs and photographs. The study revealed that the level of adoption of greenhouse farming by small holders in Central Imenti Sub County was low at 42% compared to other counties. The study revealed that financial support which addresses the cost of greenhouse, availability of resources (land, water, labour), Technical experts support and the farmer’s attributes like monthly income Level, knowledge, skills and experience with the technology influenced the adoption of greenhouse farming by small holders in Central Imenti Sub County. The small holder farmers in Central Imenti Sub county optimized in group greenhouse farming, online marketing and crops diversification in order to overcome constraints like high costs, lack of land, farm labour, water and marketing of their produce. It was evident that Lack of sufficient small holder farmer support systems in terms of Credit, water and farm inputs remained a key constraint hindering greenhouse adoption. The study concluded that the adoption of greenhouse farming by small holders in Central Imenti was low compared to other counties. The high cost of greenhouse installation and maintenance was identified as the major limitation to the adoption off greenhouse farming by small holder farmers. The study recommended on awareness creation by the ministry of Agriculture through the Counties on the potential of greenhouse farming which could be done through seminars, workshops, trainings, farm demonstrations, and stakeholder forums. This was expected to enhance adoption of this advanced technology by small holder farmers and diversification in the crops being cultivated. The government ought to develop and implement policy guidelines which creates a friendly and supportive environment for small holder farmers to adopt and sustainable remain farming using this specialized technology. The policy guidelines need to factor proper market price regulation, water provision to the farms and enhanced access to credit and farm inputs by the small holder farmers thereby promoting their adoption of the technology. The study recommended to the small holder farmers on the need to use local materials to build improvised greenhouses thereby cutting on the initial cost of farming using greenhouses and to organize themselves into groups in order to access credit, extension service and to bargain for better prices for farm inputs and their produce.