Influence of Plant Health Clinic Advisory Services on Potato Production among Smallholder Farmers in Molo Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Potato is one of the most widely cultivated crops in Kenya and a crucial source of income and food. Despite the importance, potato production has been constrained by pests and diseases resulting in low yields and returns among the smallholder farmers precise those in Molo Sub-County. Plant health clinic advisory services are extension services that benefit farmers in terms of changes in knowledge, skills and management of crop pests and diseases leading to production improvement. Although are considered important mechanism in solving plant health problems, not much is known about their influence on potato production. This study sought to determine the influence of plant health clinic advisory services on potato production among smallholder farmers in Molo Sub County, Kenya. The study used a cross section survey design. The accessible population of the study was 6000 smallholder potato farmers and 10 key informants. Simple random sampling was used to select a sample of 152 respondents from four wards and purposive sampling for key informant. Data collected were analyzed using frequency tables, percentages and multiple regression analysis. Frequency of contact with adviser, use of advisory services, usefulness of plant health clinic services and type of advisory information access were found to have statistically significant influence on potato production p = 0.000, p = 0.000, p = 0.007 and p = 0.000 respectively with R2 = 0.618. The study recommendation is that the Ministry of Agriculture in the study area should enhance the provision of plant health clinic advisory services to potato farmers in the area. This could help in the identification of possible areas of intervention in utilization and access so as to improve potato production.