Irish Potato is an important food security crop and comes second in consumption after maize. It contributes about Ksh 50 billion annually to the gross domestic product. However, the declining productivity over the last two decades is attributed to low adoption of improved technologies including certified seeds (2%), soil testing (3%), tractor services (2%), and fertilizers (12%). Past studies show there are technological efforts aimed at sustainable agricultural intensification by Kenyan government and private potato organizations. However, it remains unclear whether smallholder farmers are willing to pay for these technologies and the factors influencing their demand. We sought to investigate the determinants of Irish potato farmers’ willingness to pay for agricultural technologies, through a mixed-methods approach with contingent valuation method. Here, we selected 195 respondents out of 4,000 farmers in Nakuru County, a leading producer of Irish potato in the country. Preliminary findings reveal varying degrees of willingness among farmers to pay for innovative technologies, such as certified potato seeds (97.4%), mulching (19.5%), tractor services (66.2%), fertilizer per acre (90.8%), soil testing (48.7%), and transport services (44.6%). Farmers income levels, access to credit, education, extension advice, and experience in potato farming were the determinants of willingness to pay. Understanding farmers’ willingness to pay for agricultural technologies is crucial for tailoring effective interventions by policymakers and technology developers. By aligning technological innovation with farmers’ economic preferences, the research aims to enhance the adoption of sustainable agricultural technologies, leading to improved livelihoods and food security in Nakuru County and similar agricultural regions.

Authors:
Wiliter Momanyi, University of Tsukuba, Japan
Kenichi Matsui, University of Tsukuba, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Ms. Wiliter is a postgraduate student at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, pursuing a master's degree in Environmental Science. Her research focuses on sustainable agriculture, that enhance farmers' resilience against climate change shocks.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wiliter-momanyi-053056100/

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wiliter-Chemutai-2/research

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