Statistical determination of factors influencing customer satisfaction with research technologies in the Kenya sugar Industry, Kenya

Abstract

The objectives of the Kenya Sugar Research Foundation (KESREF) are to generate and introduce new cane varieties, new or updated cane management policies and practices, and disseminate this information to relevant stakeholders, referred to as clients, the most important ones being the farmers. Adoption of these research technologies is important for the improvement of sugarcane and sugar yields in Kenya. This paper deals with evaluation of factors that influence adoption of research technologies. Logistic regression, in particular binary logistic regression has been used to evaluate these factors, which have been identified as determinants of technology adoption. The extent of adoption of the technologies by the sample farmers has also been determined. The data used was collected from farmers through a survey of 5 sugarcane growing zones. The size of the sample in this study was relatively small, only intended to provide baseline information on clients’ adoption of research technologies. From the study, the factors which were found to be significant in influencing adoption of research technologies by farmers were venues of interaction with sugarcane researchers and the frequency of interaction. The extent of adoption by the sample farmers was found to be 24%