Influence of Access to Extension Services on Smallholder Farmers’ Use of Certified Seed Potatoes (CSPs) in Kipipiri Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Extension services delivery remains a key driver in farmers’ uptake and use of improved farming technologies in rural areas which are predominantly occupied by poor farmers. The use of certified seed potatoes (CSPs) increases yield and potato productivity. Most smallholder farmers lack knowledge of how to use CSPs while others are not even aware of their existence. This has given farmers an opportunity to use and re-use their own seeds saved from their local storage facilities. The paper sought to determine whether access to extension services influenced smallholder farmers’ use of CSPs in Kipipiri Sub-County, Kenya. A structured, researcher-administered, questionnaire was used in collecting data from one hundred and six smallholder potato farmers randomly selected from the area. Descriptive statistics and a binary logistic model were used for statistical analysis. The findings indicated that there was a significant relationship between access to extension services and the use of CSPs. 85 per cent of the respondents were found to have access to extension services while 21 % had no access. Additionally, on the frequency, the majority of the respondents (64%) rarely accessed the services and 36% reported accessing the extension services always. These findings suggest that extension services are a major component that drives farmers’ use of CSPs in the study area. Therefore, for farmers to benefit fully, extension agents need to increase their service delivery to smallholder potato farmers. County governments also need to improve the existing farmer training centers to assist farmers to acquire knowledge on the use of CSPs. This would increase potato productivity in the area.