Assessing the Influence of Adoption and Use of Modern Honeyextracting Technologies on Household Income of Smallholder Beekeeping Farmers in Baringo County, Kenya

Abstract

Beekeeping has remained traditional with honey the major commodity being harvested from log hives and the wild. Previous empirical work, have paid attention on pre-harvest technologies, little information is known on post-harvest technologies. The research sought to, characterize small-holder beekeeping farmers in to adopters and non-adopters, and establish the effect of adoption and use of modern honey extracting technologies on the household income and to analyze the determinants of adoption and use of modern honey extracting technologies. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. Cross sectional data was used. Descriptive and correlation research design was used. Multi-stage sampling method was used to arrive at the respondents for interviewing. 134 small-holder beekeeping farmers were interviewed. T-test demonstrated that there was significant statistical difference between the two groups in terms of age, level of education, membership to groups, access to information, experience and access to credit. OLS results pointed out that modern technologies had positive influence on household income, while traditional technologies had a negative influence on the same. Results from logistic regression model asserted that, kilograms of honey extracted, level of education, access to information, household size, age, cost of honey extractor, group membership, credit availability and off-farm income were important significant explanatory variables in influence the adoption decision. The survey recommended farmers to frequently attend trainings, seminars, workshops, shows and exhibitions in order to access information and get educated on how to make use of modern honey extracting technologies. Moreover, it is necessary for farmers to diversify income in order to eliminate the risk averse behavior common with lowincome farmers. This will enable them to purchase modern extracting technologies. Key words: Adoption, extraction, modern, smallholder, technologies, household income