Networking Capability, Adoption Tendencies and Commercialization Case of Decentralized Clean Seed Potato Multiplication Agri-Enterprises in Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

Quality of seed is a major yield determinant in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production and therefore global food security. Unfortunately, due to its shortage, only 2% to 2.6% of 600,000 to 800,000 potato farmers have access to certified seed potato. Consequently, about 95% of Kenyan potato farmers continue to rely on degenerated seed from the informal sector resulting in low yields. Alternatively, the semi formal system has the potential to improve the supply of clean seed, however its uptake and commercialization are low. Despite salient adoption studies, little has been done on adoption tendency, which shows an individual’s gradual willingness towards agri-enterprise uptake, based on the Trans-theoretical model of behaviour change. Entrepreneurial development can be enhanced through networking capability (NC), which ensures access to productive resources at low transactional cost. This study focused on factors influencing farmer’s adoption tendency and commercialization of decentralised clean seed potato multiplication agri-enterprises (CSPMAE) in Nakuru County. Molo, Kuresoi North, and Kuresoi South Sub-Counties were purposively selected due to their dominance in potato production. Primary data was collected through a cross-sectional survey, using a researcher administered semi-structured questionnaire on 54 clean seed potato producers (CSPMA) and 192 non-seed potato producers, who were selected through a multistage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics on adoption tendencies showed that about 53% of the households were in the pre-contemplation stage, 15% in the contemplation stage, about 10% in the preparation stage and nearly 22% in the action stage. A two-tailed t-test comparison of networking capability revealed that CSPMA had significantly high NC attributes compared to non- CSPMA. Gender, household size, proportion of potato land, farmers’ literacy level, ownership of storage and transport asset, access to certified seed, membership to potato related group, and networking capability of the household head had a significant influence on the uptake of CSPMAE. Fractional regression analysis revealed that household’s head age, household size, level of education, selling outlet, access to certified seed, and the amount of credit accessed significantly influenced the extent of clean seed potato commercialization. Nakuru County stakeholders in the seed potato value chain and donors should prioritize their support for clean seed agri-enterprises to farmers with such traits. Reinforcement of policies that promote farmers’ capacity building and access to institutional amenities is also paramount. This is likely to lead to increased uptake and commercialization of CSPMAE hence supply and access of clean seed, thereby improving potato yields in Nakuru County and ultimately in Kenya.