Determinants of Irish Potato (Solanum Tuberosum) Commercialization in Nyandarua County, Kenya

Agricultural commercialization has been promoted as a pathway for enhancing households' welfare in developing countries. However, little is known about the factors that support or dissuade smallholder farmers’ decisions to commercialize. This paper assesses the extent and determinants of commercialization among smallholder potato farming households in Nyandarua County, Kenya. Data were collected through a survey of 388 potato-producing households and analyzed using crop commercialization index (share of the value of potato produce marketed) and Tobit regression model. The results show that the potato commercialization index was 0.4 (in a scale on 0-1) indicating a moderate level of commercialization. There were significant differences in potato commercialization levels across gender, education level, productivity, potato land size and farmers knowledge on production and marketing. The results of the Tobit model show that gender, age, education of the household head, household income, attitude toward potato marketing, and distance to the market all had a negative impact on potato commercialization. Conversely, land size, acreage under potato, knowledge index, and participation in FFBS (Farmer Field Business School) had a positive influence on potato commercialization. The positive effect of group participation and access to extension services, especially through FFBS suggests the importance of encouraging farmers to join agricultural groups and providing extension services in improving smallholder commercialization.