Participatory Project Planning and Performance of Mango Farming Projects in Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to create awareness of the need for a robust mango policy and practice paradigm shift from traditional planning methods to participatory project planning, to enhance performance. It is based on an empirical scientific research for PhD thesis carried out in Makueni County Kenya, focusing on the influence of participatory project planning and performance of mango farming projects. Project Management theory formed the basis that guided the study, descriptive cross-sectional study design was used while pragmatism research paradigm which uses mixed method approach was adopted. A sample of 375 respondents was selected from a population of 12,622 mango farmers using multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using both self-administered questionnaires and interview of 15 key informants. Both descriptive and inferential data analysis techniques were applied. Null hypothesis which stated that, there is no significant relationship between participatory project planning and performance of mango farming projects was tested through F-test and correlation. The findings showed that there existed a statistically significant correlation between the two variables at 95% confident levels with Df (2,367), F=2.402, t=1.469, p=0.000<0.05, r= 0.339 and R 2 = 0.115. It was concluded that there was significant relationship between participatory project planning and performance of mango farming projects and the null hypothesis was rejected since it was not supported by the results. Based on the findings this article recommends that, in order to improve performance, participatory project planning considerations supported by an appropriate iterative combination of planning measures which are inherent along the project management life cycle. Participatory project planning should always be embraced in crafting of policy for optimal practice directions, to enhance performance.