Influence of Banana Production Practices and Constraints in Banana Production among Small-holder Farmers in Masaba South Sub-County, Kisii County, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55677/ijlsar/V03I12Y2024-16Keywords:
Banana farming, Cavendish, Small- holder farmers, Household, Kisii.Abstract
Globally, consumption of banana (Musa spp) as fruit is due to its high nutritional and medicinal value and thus, it is considered as a powerhouse of nutrients that maintain good health. However, banana production has been influenced by various agricultural practices and faced several constraints over the years. Therefore, this study sought to establish the influence of banana production practices and constraints among small-holder banana production farmers in Masaba south sub-county, Kenya. A household survey was carried out to collect primary data. Four administrative wards were purposefully sampled for the study. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and key informant interviews. Questionnaires were administered to 196 households and 5 key informants to collect data on the influence of banana production practices and constraints among farmers. Data collected was subjected to both descriptive and inferential analysis. Williams Hybrid was found to be the most popular variety with a frequency of 82.1% followed by Gros Michel at 70.4%, Apple bananas (sugar bananas) at 69.4% while Plantains and Cavendish were at 62.2% and 55.6% respectively. Majority, 87.2% of the farmers embraced pure stand production system whereas 12.9% did not embrace the system. However, 97.5% of the farmers adopted intercropping system while only 2.5% did not embrace the system. 91.8% of the farmers adopted use of tissue culture planting materials while 8.2% did not embrace them. 100% of the farmers used suckers as planting materials. Pests and diseases were the prevalent constraints in banana production, rated at 100%. Therefore, there is need to address the influence of banana production practices and constraints among farmers in Masaba South sub county through targeted interventions and policy support is essential for sustainable banana production in Kenya.
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