Abstract
Abstract Tomato is among the promising commodities in horticultural production in Kenya. Over the years, tomato production in Kenya has intensified. Yields, however, continue to remain low due to a myriad of constraints. This paper describes production practices and identifies challenges and opportunities for increased tomato productivity in smallholder production in Kenya. The study uses plant health clinics as primary providers of data. Association between variables is tested using multinomial logistic regression, and Goodness-of-fit test used to examine how well the model fits the data. In addition, ANOVA and Student's t -test were used to compare group means. Smallholder tomato production in Kenya is characterised by a decline in the area under tomato cultivation. Furthermore, production is dominated by male farmers while participation by youth is minimal. Coupled with these, a diverse range of biotic constraints impede tomato production, and for their management, use of conventional synthetic pesticides is the preferred practice by farmers. The findings of this study underscore the need to increase women and youth participation in tomato production. In addition, there is a need to explore initiatives that enable farmers to access available technologies such as improved seed. For the management of biotic constraints, smallholder farmers should be encouraged to consider alternatives other than an overreliance in the use of synthetic pesticides.
Highlights
Agriculture is central to Kenya’s economy accounting for 24 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP)
Of the smallholder farmers who provided their age, 23% were between the ages 20 – 35 years
The area under tomato production ranged from 0.006 acres – 2 acres with a majority of the farmers planting tomatoes in an eighth of an acre or less (Fig. 1)
Summary
This paper aggregates results from 121 locations over a four-year period (June 2013 to May 2017). The range of these locations represented 18 different production potentials (Agro-ecological zones) (Table 1) and fell within 14 counties of Kenya: Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Machakos, Kiambu, Nakuru, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kajiado, Siaya, Narok and West Pokot. In relation to their prominence, the 14 counties account for only 11 percent of total land in Kenya, but for 23 percent of arable land.
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