Assessment of papaya distribution and its production practices in Kenya: A case study of Kiambu, Kitui and Meru counties

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) plays a vital role in human diets as a source of minerals and vitamins. Documentation of papaya distribution and its production practices is important for designing farmer training programs on its production practices to help combat food and nutrition insecurity at the household level. The aim of this study was to document papaya distribution and assess its production practices in Kenya. Survey interviews were done in Kiambu, Meru and Kitui counties, between February and April 2021. Farmers were purposively sampled, interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire integrated in an-Open Data Kit software; with focused group discussions. Descriptive analysis and comparative statistics were used to evaluate differences between farmers’ socio demographics characteristics and production practices. Results showed that most interviewed farmers were males compared to 40 and 18% females in Kiambu and Kitui, respectively. Most farmers (39%) preferred growing papaya for domestic and financial reasons and it was mostly intercropped (76%) with other crops. Farmers’ land was used both for residential and farming purposes by 69% of respondents. Farm ownership averaged at 3 acres (1.2 ha) in 57% of sampled farms with 81% of farmers practicing papaya farming on less than an acre of the total land. Use of organic fertilisers, manual watering and transplanting during dry and short rainy seasons were practiced by most farmers. Our research findings showed that there is need to enhance training of farmers on papaya production practices and the potential benefits of growing papaya to help improve nutritional outcomes and household livelihoods in Kenya. Key words: Carica papaya, Kenya, production barriers