Abstract:
Agricultural production plays an important role in food security in many African countries. The main challenge of policy makers in these countries is how to attain food self sufficiency, and increased farm productivity and incomes. In Kenya, greenhouse production is among technologies promoted to improve farm output and income among smallholder farmers. Greenhouse production technology in Kenya has, until recently, been the confine of large scale export-oriented flower farmers. The technology is recently picking up among smallholder farmers. This is due to promotional efforts by government and stakeholders through training and loans to buy greenhouse equipment. In Nakuru county greenhouse technology has been adopted by smallholder farmers as one of the emerging climate change adaptation strategies. The major crop grown is tomato. Tomato yields can be increased by up to four times if grown in a controlled greenhouse environment compared to open field production. Despite these promotional efforts, low productivity remains a major challenge. The purpose of the study was to determine levels of technical efficiency and factors influencing technical efficiency of smallholder greenhouse tomato farms in Nakuru County. Three Sub Counties were purposively selected, where all 100 smallholder greenhouse tomato farmers were interviewed. Primary data was collected using observations and interviews using semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, principle component analysis, cluster analysis, stochastic frontier function and two-limit Tobit model. The mean technical efficiency of greenhouse tomato production was 28.71%. Nakuru Sub County had the mean technical efficiency of 29.47%, Rongai 29.1% and Njoro 26.26%. Technical efficiency was positively influenced by cost of greenhouse items and negatively influenced by age, distance to the input dealer and farming experience. The study recommends that farmers should be sensitized on the appropriate input application rates. Also older and experienced farmers need to adopt new and innovative farming technologies to enhance their level of productivity. Incentives should also be provided to private investors to expand their agro-input shops to rural markets for farmers to access farm inputs easily. Finally, the targeted support advocated is that Government puts in measures and processes to ensure that dealers of greenhouse items supply affordable and quality items.
