Awiti, Caroll Atieno (2013) Determinants of Sustainability of Greenhouse Farming Technology among Farmers in Kakamega County, Kenya. Masters thesis, University of Nairobi.
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Abstract
The sustainability of greenhouse farming has been a major concern worldwide as countries like Canada have emphasized on the use of integrated pest management strategies rather than the use of pesticides, other countries like Netherlands have looked at how technical knowhow of their farmers can be improved, how efficient use of water can be achieved and how energy can be used more efficiently. In Kenya according to KARI (Kenya Agricultural Research Institute) sustainability is still faced by many challenges including lack of technical back up on the innovation. In Kakamega County 30% of farmers own greenhouses but after a period of 2 to 3 years only 5% of them still own these greenhouses despite the fact that a comparison done worldwide through literature review shows that the uptake of this technology is increasing. The purpose of the study was to investigate the determinants of sustainability in greenhouse farming technology amongst farmers in Kakamega County, Kenya. This study was guided by the following objectives: To determine how integrated pests and disease management influence the sustainability of greenhouse technology in Kakamega County, To assess the extent to which utilization of energy influences the sustainability of greenhouse farming technology among farmers in Kakamega County, to examine how modern irrigation influences the sustainability of greenhouse farming technology and, to establish the level at which technical training influence the sustainability of greenhouse technology among farmers in Kakamega County. Descriptive survey design was used. The sampling frame of 202 was provided by the County Director of agriculture Kakamega, where a sample size of 132 farmers was identified using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) formula for determining the sample size. The study used questionnaire to collect data. Pilot testing was used as an important step in making the instrument reliable for the purpose of the study. The Cronbach‟s coefficient for determination of reliability of data collection instruments was calculated as 0.769. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. The study established that there was a significant positive correlation between the results seen with the integrated pest and disease management system and the sustainability of greenhouse farming technology in Kakamega County (N=127; r=0.47; p˂0.01). A significant positive correlation was also noted on whether or not a farmer had challenges with the integrated pest and disease management system and the sustainability of greenhouse farming in Kakamega County (N=127;r=0.57; p˂0.05). The analysis established that there was a significant positive correlation between the utilization of renewable energy and sustainability of greenhouse farming technology in Kakamega County (N=127;r=0.32; p˂0.05).There was a significant positive correlation between the use of modern irrigation systems and the sustainability of greenhouse farming technology in Kakamega County (N=127;r=0.29; p˂0.05).There was also a significant strong positive correlation between technical training of farmers and sustainability of greenhouse farming technology in Kakamega County (N=127;r=0.61; p˂0.05).The study recommends sensitization and strengthening on: the concept of integrated pest and disease management system in greenhouse farming technology, benefits of utilizing the renewable energy sources as a way of further reducing the cost of fuel used in the greenhouse farming technology and, adoption of modern irrigation system to enhance the sustainability of greenhouse farming technology
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Mr Nahum Osman |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Jun 2016 08:09 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Jun 2016 08:09 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/521 |
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