Evaluation of Constraints Limiting Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) Production in Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

Aims: Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) is among the most important fruit crops in Kenya, which are produced for both local and export markets. In Uasin-Gishu County, passion fruit had recently emerged as an important cash crop for the small-holder farmers. Despite the importance of passion fruit, its production in the county has declined. This study sought to determine the causes for the decline in passion fruit production in Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya. Study Design: The study was a baseline survey that used purposive sampling to select the respondents among passion fruit farmers across five sub-counties Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya. Place and Duration of Study: The objective of the study was to identify constraints limiting passion fruit production in Uasin-Gishu County between February 2017 and January, 2018. Methodology: The sample size of a total of 150 farmers used in the study was determined proportionately using the respective total population, where purposive sampling technique was used to select farmers for the study in passion fruit growing areas. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire that were personally administered to farmers who were growing the crop at the time of the survey. Besides the survey, focused group discussions were employed on both the farmers who were still growing the crop and those who had quit producing the crop. The data was subjected to descriptive analysis using SPSS software. Results: The results showed that more than 50 % of the farmers were constrained by seed unavailability of quality seed source and high phenotypic variability within/between the farms, drought, pests, diseases, birds that destroyed the flowers and the fruits. Conclusion: Lack of irrigation water and diseases were identified as the main causes for the decline in passion fruit production in Uasin-Gishu County. There is need for researchers and other stakeholders to look for measures to limit the effects of these constraints for improved production of passion fruit.