Factors influencing Mango value addition in Kenya: A case of group projects in Makueni County

Abstract

The economies of sub-Saharan African countries, which remain predominantly rural, are based on agricultural production systems. Food security, a major objective in the development programmes of African countries, has been put at risk by poor performance in the field of agriculture. Mango fruit as a substitute of food in Kenya is widely grown. The researcher's objective was to establish the factors influencing mango value addition. This research was conducted via a descriptive research design which generally describes the characteristics of a particular situation, event or case.

Descriptive research design is a scientific method which involves observing and describing the behavior of a subject without influencing it in any way. The research design was preferred as an ideal method for collecting data from large groups. Makueni County has over 4,000 mango growing farmers and groups; In this research report, an. attempt was made to study the aspect of Value addition in agricultural products in Kenya, with a special focus on Mango in Makueni County. The conclusions, fmdings and recommendations were arrived at after a thorough and conclusive data analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).

The study established that Makueni mango farmers were growing mangoes for export, majority of farmers lacked awareness on how to add value to the Mango fruit, the Government extension officers were not accessed by most of the farmers, the farmers were not organized in self-help groups to help them pursue value addition and that there was lack of fmancial facilities and opportunities which seemed to hinder the practice of value addition of mango fruit. The study concluded that majority of the farmers were growing mangoes for export, farmers lacked awareness on how to add value to the Mango fruit, the Government extension officers were not accessed by most of the farmers, the farmers were not organized in self-help groups to help them pursue value addition and there was lack of financial facilities and opportunities which seemed to hinder the practice of value addition of mango fruit.

The study recommends that mango value for local processing should be increased. Secondly, the Government should increase the number of Agricultural Extension Officers in Makueni County, farmers should be encouraged to organize themselves into self-help groups to help them pursue value addition and benefit from its commercial advantage and commercial banks should be encouraged to offer more credit facilities to mango farmers so that they can improve their production.