FACTORS AFFECTING ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES GROWN BY SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN KENYA: A CASE STUDY OF MWEA SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Indigenous vegetables have long been part of traditional diets in communities worldwide. They are valuable sources of nutrients with some having significant medicinal properties and contributing greatly to food security. Their consumption is by-passing the production in Kenya due to health check by many consumers. In Kenya, indigenous vegetables have been faced by various challenges that include land size, quality, and cost of input and agronomic factors that in turn reduce returns earned by farmers. This research was conducted in Mwea sub-County to assess the major factors that affect the profits earned by indigenous vegetables small-scale farmers. Stratified sampling and snowballing techniques were used in carrying out the research in four locations where indigenous vegetables are rigorously grown. Data was collected using questionnaires and observations and the population targeted was indigenous vegetables farmers only. The survey results demonstrate that land size affected profitability of small-scale farmers since cost of many inputs was constant regardless of farm size. More than 80% of farmers reported that size of land determined the profit returns of indigenous vegetables. Furthermore, agronomic factors like mode of management and type of seed used also affected production. Water availability, soil fertility, pests and diseases had a negative effect on leaf quality and therefore affected production. The study recommends policy interventions to reduce transaction costs as well as awareness creation on agronomic and post-harvest management on cultivation of indigenous vegetables.