Institutional and Socioeconomic Drivers of Commercial Tissue Culture Banana Adoption among Smallholders in Kenya

Abstract

Tissue culture banana (TCB) technology has been promoted in Kenya to improve banana productivity, increase access to clean planting materials, and support smallholder commercialisation. However, commercial adoption remains constrained by interacting socioeconomic, institutional, and market-related factors. This study examined the determinants of commercial TCB adoption among smallholder farmers in Murang’a and Meru Counties, Kenya. A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was used, involving 210 randomly selected banana farmers drawn from county agricultural office registers and farmer group membership lists. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed through descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression, while qualitative insights were obtained from focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The results showed that 61.0% of sampled farmers had commercially adopted TCB technology, whereas 39.0% relied on conventional planting materials. Education level, farm size, access to credit, extension contact, farmer group membership, perceived economic benefits, and technical knowledge positively and significantly influenced adoption. Conversely, distance to markets and high establishment costs reduced the likelihood of adoption. The findings indicate that commercial adoption of TCB technology is shaped by farmer characteristics, institutional support, and market access conditions. Strengthening extension services, expanding affordable credit, supporting farmer organisations, improving market linkages, and enhancing access to certified planting materials and technical training may support wider adoption and banana commercialisation among smallholder farmers.