Factors affecting potato production in rural Kenya. A case of small-scale potato farmers in Molo Sub - County

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is among the promising commodities in horticultural production in Kenya. Over the years, potato production in Kenya has intensified. Yields, however, continue to remain low due to a myriad of constraints and factors. This paper was focused on the factors such as farmer’s age, gender, education, potato farming experience, membership in farmer group, land ownership, access to credit, quality potato seeds, extension services that affect the production of potato small-scale in Molo Sub-County, Kenya. The study adopted cross-sectional survey design which was used to obtain information to determine the existing phenomena. The target population was 6000 both male and female consisting of small-scale farmers. The estimated sample size was 413 from the target population using Yamanne’s formula. The study employed purposive sampling to include all the wards; proportionate allocation was used to determine the number of farmers from each ward that would be the respondents in the study. Simple random sampling was used to select the actual respondents from the wards. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential methods. Multiple linear regressions results revealed that factors such as membership to a farmer group, farmer’s education, access to extension services, access to quality potato seeds, access to credit are determinants of potato production, each had p–values [0.024, 0.036, 0.015, 0.000, 0.005], (R2=83.8 % F= 135.390 and P-Value= 0.000), which shows a significant positive relationship between these factors and potato production. Therefore, the conclusion is that the farmers should develop their education level, be a member to a farmer group, access extension services, access quality potato seeds, access credit to maximize their potato production. The study recommends that the government should encourage small-scale farmers to seek the extension services, quality potato seeds, credit, join farmer groups and improve their education. Keywords: Access to credit, Access to extension services, Multiple Linear Regression, Potato production, small-scale farmers