Abstract
Inappropriate use of chemical pesticide in horticultural production is an emerging problem causing undesirable human health and environmental effects in developing countries including Kenya. Thus, objective of this study is to evaluate the determinants of the intensity of uptake of alternative pest control methods among small-scale tomato farmers in Nakuru County, Kenya. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select a sample of 384 tomato farmers. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire administered by trained enumerators. Alternative pest control methods which were identified during the survey were categorized into four groups using principal component analysis. Determinants of the intensity of uptake of alternative pest control methods were estimated using multivariate tobit model. Group membership, age, education and number of training increased the intensity of uptake of alternative methods. Participation in off-farm activities and farm size decreased the intensity of uptake of alternative methods. These results indicate that farmers’ awareness that involves comprehensive training programs and enhancing the capacity of farmer groups as change agents is warranted. Moreover, these research findings could also inform policymakers while formulating and implementing targeted interventions aimed at promoting the use of alternative pest control methods that minimize negative health and environmental effects from overuse of pesticides. Key words: Alternative pest control, pesticides, intensity, food safety, multivariate tobit model.
Highlights
Tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. is one of the chief vegetable crops in Kenya
Small-scale farmers heavily depend on chemical pesticides to combat pest problem which has raised public concern due to food safety issues, adverse human health and environmental effects (Macharia et al, 2009; Macharia et al, 2013)
As the studies focusing on householdsdeterminants of intensity of uptake of alternative pest control methods are limited, the objective of this paper is to examine the determinants of the intensity of uptake of alternative pest control methods among small-scale tomato farmers in Kenya
Summary
Solanum lycopersicum L. is one of the chief vegetable crops in Kenya. It is rich in minerals and vitamins (C) which make it an imperative nutritional component among households in Kenya (Sigei et al, 2014). Despite its crucial role in the development of the national economy, farmers are faced with insect pest and disease outbreak which is a major production constraint (Waiganjo et al, 2006) They cause crop loss leading to loss of farm income. Examples of tomato pests include cutworm, leaf miners, nematodes, bollworms, tuta absoluta, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies and aphids (Desneux et al, 2010; Mueke, 2015; Sigei et al, 2014). To address this problem, farmers employ numerous methods including chemical methods for crop protection against pests and to prevent crop loss increasing agricultural output. Small-scale farmers heavily depend on chemical pesticides to combat pest problem which has raised public concern due to food safety issues, adverse human health and environmental effects (Macharia et al, 2009; Macharia et al, 2013)
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