EFFECTS OF GROSS MARGIN, FARMER PERCEPTION AND SOCIO ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS ON CHOICE OF Tuta absoluta MANAGEMENT METHODS IN TOMATO PRODUCTION IN MWEA, KIRINYAGA COUNTY

Abstract

One of the major concern of tomato farmers globally is the effect of Tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) an invasive insect pest which continue to affect tomato production. However, in Kenya, there is scarce information on the effect of tomato farmers’ gross margin, perception and socio-economic characteristics on management methods of T. absoluta in Mwea, Kirinyaga County. The broad objective of this study was to determine the contribution of tomato farmers’ gross margin, perception and socio-economic characteristics to the choice of management of T. absoluta in Mwea, Kirinyaga County. The study employed the adoption and diffusion of innovation decision and utility expected theory. The target population was 2300 open field and 20 green-house tomato farmers in Mwea. Descriptive research design was used in the study and multistage sampling procedure was used to get a sample of 303 respondents; 283 tomato small scale farmers and 20 green house farmers. Through a survey, tomato farmers were randomly interviewed using semi structured questionnaires. Primary data on tomato sales, revenue, variable costs, perception on most efficient method of managing T. absoluta and tomato farmers’ socio-economic characteristics was collected. Socio demographic data and crop protection data was analyzed using descriptive statistics using SPSS version 26 and econometric analysis was done using Stata version 17. The average gross margin for the respondent per kilogram in one acre was at an average KES 11.44 with a minimum of KES 0.92 and a maximum of KES 132 and multiple regression model was employed to analyze the influence of tomato small scale farmers gross margin on choice of management method and crop rotation was significant at (P-value=5%) and had a positive relationship with the tomato small scale farmers gross margin. Weeding was significant at (P-value=5%) with a negative relationship with the small scale tomato farmers gross margin. Principal component analysis was used to estimate farmers’ perception and respondents’ aspects on knowledge, effectiveness of control, awareness, technicality on use and cheap had strong factor loading on component 2. Some of the respondents perceived that hired employee health, knowledge and complete control aspects had a strong factor loading on component 4. Technical, environment effect and cheap had strong factor loading on component 5. The multivariate probit model estimates showed that gender, education, age, land size, household income and extension significantly affected farmers’ choice of pest control methods in the management of T. absoluta. The negative coefficients showed that an increase in either one of socio-economic factors will help increase tomato yields which are reduced by T.absoluta. The study encourages tomato small scale farmers to use other pest management methods such as use of crop rotation and weeding so as not to rely on use of chemical pesticides alone to control T. absoluta. Tomato small scale farmers should join tomato farmers group and organizations whereby they can be trained more on tomato pest management practices. National and County policymakers should adopt policies to encourage the use of integrated pest management methods to avoid use of excess chemical pesticides in tomato production.