Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L) is the major food and cash crop for many rural and semi-urban people in Kenya. It contributes to the national food security, nutrition, and income generation for those who are involved in its value chain. Despite its importance, smallholder potato farmers in Molo sub-county are still recording low potato yields which could partly be attributed to the low adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). The main aim of this study was to investigate the influence of access to credit on the adoption of GAPs among smallholder potato farmers in Molo sub-county, Kenya. The research employed a descriptive survey design. A sample of 108 smallholder potato farmers from four wards: Molo, Turi, Elburgon and Marioshoni in Molo sub-county was selected using a purposive, random sampling technique. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model was used to test the hypothesis at 5% level of significance. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 22) was used in data analysis. Therefore, the null hypothesis was access to credit has no statistically significant influence on the adoption of GAPs among smallholder potato farmers was rejected. The findings of the study were access to credit significantly (p<0.05) influences the adoption of GAPs among smallholder potato farmers in Molo sub-county. This study recommends that the government of Kenya should facilitate the lowering of the rate of interest on access to credit among smallholder potato farmers, to make it easier for them to have access to credit.

Key words: Adoption, access, good agricultural practices (GAPs), credit, influence.