| dc.description.abstract | Literature from different parts of the world shows that horticulture farming among the youth has been faced by a lot of challenges over the years. Horticulture farming does not seem to be improving the living standards of the youths. Resultantly, this study sought to investigate challenges facing horticulture farming among the youths in Kieni west district, Nyeri County: Kenya.
The study was guided by the following objectives: To establish how youth's attitude towards agriculture, production costs, application of modem technology and marketing influences horticulture farming among the youths in Kieni West district. This study was conducted using the descriptive survey design. The target population was the youths practicing horticulture farming in Kieni West district. Systematic random sampling was used to select respondents from the youth groups practising horticulture farming in Kieni West District.
The study used questionnaires, structured interview guides and focus groups for data collection. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. According to the findings, the youths' attitude towards horticulture farming is positive and that is why most of them are practising it by choice. Positive attitude promotes horticulture farming among the youths while negative attitude makes the youth not to practice it not unless when they are forced by circumstances. The study found that major challenges to youth's participation in horticulture farming included cost of farm inputs, cost of chemicals fertilizers and transport.
Only a few youths were found to apply technology to horticulture farming to a great extent due to inadequacy of finances, lack of skills, poor networks and poor communication due to language barrier. The major problem in horticulture farming were found to be lack of market, lack of market information, stiff competition, lack of marketing skills and distance to potential markets, lack of market access due to poor roads, high youth's exploitation by middle men, lack of marketing skills and low prices.
The research recommended that youths should be educated and there should be creation of awareness towards horticulture farming. Also regular training sessions on new modem technique of horticulture farming need to be conducted. They should as well be educated on marketing and technology so that they can have the necessary skills to practice horticulture farming. In relation to production cost, the government should subsidize farm inputs to make them affordable to the youths. The researcher suggested that a similar study should be done in other areas to establish other challenges which might be influencing the youth in horticulture farming. | en_US |
