| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to determine the factors influencing the performance of farming and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in Kenya. The study sought to establish how productivity such as business training, business linkages and technology development; marketing r and market conditions; and utilization of enterprises' proceeds impacted MSEs performance.
The study design was a survey and the unit of analysis was performance of Embu/Meru community Passion Producer Groups. The population of the study consisted of 77 groups. Secondary data collection was gathered from Kenya BDS field office records. The data analysis ne using MS-Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software and the were presented in graphs, pie charts and frequency tables.
The study revealed that MSEs performance greatly depended on productivity factors such as, technology and business linkages. On training, all farmers had been trained and rented the skills they had acquired in the various farming aspects which improved their enterprise performance. Farmers had received technologies on production and food safety development which led to performance of the MSEs. The farming entrepreneurs had also been to other businesses such as financial institutions which facilitated access to credit thus improving the MSEs performance.
In marketing strategy and market conditions, the research findings revealed that business development services providers were majorly used as a medium of marketing passion fruit products t business performance of MSEs greatly depended upon factors such as access to the market linkage. The study found out that the performance of MSEs was attributed to marketing strategies employed by the passion farming groups. However, findings revealed several challenges farming entrepreneurs faced in marketing their products. On utilization of proceeds from the firm, the study revealed that most farmers used most of their total income per season to offset group's expenses while the surplus incomes were saved. There were several challenges that hindered farmers from saving which led to poor performance of MSEs.
Recommendations based on the findings of this study propose the following measures be taken by the organization: The MSEs passion fruit groups should embrace other providers to market their products and enhance business performance; The group farmers should be encouraged to enhance their savings the farm proceeds; The MSEs stakeholders should fast track frequent training programs for farmers; The Government departments should fast track review of. MSEs Policy environment entrenching therein legislative clauses that clearly prioritize MSEs for business linkages, especially international markets while ensuring competitive and fair prices. | en_US |
