ASSESSING READINESS OF INDIGENOUS VEGETABLE WOMEN FARMERS IN KAKAMEGA COUNTY TO SATISFY QUALITY STANDARDS OF HIGH VALUE MARKETS

ABSTRACT

African indigenous vegetable (AIV) farmers have limited information in

the areas for training and readiness to access and produce vegetables to satisfy the

growing demands by retailers in Kenya. The study assessed the readiness of

women AIV farmers in Kakamega County to satisfy quality standards for high

value markets (HVMs). Descriptive survey design, multistage sampling technique

and interview schedule were used to collect data from 276 farmers. Observations

and discussions with key informants were used to collect primary data. Statistics

such as frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation and appropriate

correlation coefficients were used to describe and/or identify the relationships

among respondents.

Results of the study revealed that farmers had low knowledge on quality

standards, especially the transaction attributes. The public extension was the main

source of information but the perception of farmers on status of resources was

low. The male headed households allocated less land for vegetables compared to

females. Farmers were willing to a large extent to satisfy quality standards but

had low competencies. Famers’ readiness to satisfy standards of HVM depends

on knowledge, perception of resources, educational attainment, infrastructure,

finance from credit institutions, contact with extension officers, number of years

of marketing vegetables and membership to an organization. The study

recommends among others that the Ministry of Agriculture train farmers on AIV

production and marketing and develop trade policy to ensure that retailers

purchase vegetables from certified local farmers.