Analysis of Socio-Economic Factors That Affect Agroforestry Adoption among Smallholders in Temiyotta Location, Nakuru County

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to assess the households’ socio-economic factors influencing agroforestry adoption in Temiyotta location. The hypotheses for the study were; there is no significant relationship between household size and agroforestry adoption in Temiyotta location. The household head’s level of education was not significantly related to agroforestry adoption in Temiyotta location; and there was no significant relationship between the household head’s income and agroforestry adoption in Temiyotta location. The study variables included socio-economic factors, agroforestry practices adopted by the residents and the benefits of agroforestry. The data was got from a sample of three out of nine villages based on demographic and socio-economic factors and randomly picking the households in the identified villages to collect data from the household heads. The study used a sample size of 86 households with a proportionate distribution of households from every village. The data was collected through administration of questionnaires to the household heads. The result showed that there was a significant relationship between residents’ household size and agroforestry adoption in Temiyotta location. The Chi square analysis (X2=27.468), revealed that there was a significant relationship between the head of household’s level of education and agroforestry adoption in Temiyotta location. This statistical test was significant at p<0.05. Furthermore, the Chi square analysis (X2=16.347), revealed that there was a significant relationship between the household’s income and agroforestry adoption in Temiyotta location at p<0.05 significance level. Most of the smallholders’ total annual income was estimated at Kshs. 20,001 – 100,000 Kenya shillings thus had enough for agroforestry practices. The Chi square analysis (X2=15.001), revealed that there was a significant relationship between the size of household and agroforestry adoption in Temiyotta location. This statistical test was significant at p<0.05. Based on the findings, the study recommends for the need of agroforestry extension services for the smallholders in the area so that they can be guided on agroforestry adoption and the appropriate trees to plant as regards the various agroforestry practices.