The horticulture sub-sector contributes substantially to the Kenyan economy, but smallholder productivity is low. This study investigated the role of information literacy on smallholder horticultural productivity performance in a lower highland zone of Belgut Sub-county, Kericho County, Kenya. The study used descriptive cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected between January and April 2019. Smallholder horticulture farmers who previously participated in a program; NALEP, in Belgut Sub-county were purposely selected and interviewed. Data was collected from 31 respondents through face-to-face household interviews using pre-tested semi-structured interview schedules and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Descriptive statistics were utilized to document the farmers’ information sources. Associations between attributes were analyzed by running Goodman and Kruskals’ gamma and Somers’ d. Findings indicated that the smallholder horticulture farmers obtained horticultural information mostly from the public extension, but also from private companies, NGOs/FBOs, mass media, and other farmers. Farmers’ level of formal education, organizational skills, accounting, and farming skills; as indicators of information literacy, showed moderate strength of relationship with productivity and profitability (Gamma = 0.200 to 0.563) but showed mixed strength with horticultural produce quality (Gamma = 0.138 to 0.948).Somers delta showed similar patterns (Somers d = 0.089 to 0.684). When the four indicators of information literacy were amalgamated into an information literacy score, there was evidence of a moderate strength monotonic relationship between information literacy and performance as measured by the Spearman rank correlation; rs (29) = .571, P = .001.The study concludes that farmers obtain horticultural information from diverse sources. Information literacy contributes to the productivity and profitability of smallholder horticulture. Capacity building of the farmers on information literacy is recommended.

Soil erosion is an issue of global concern due to its effects on the natural resource base in which agriculture is based on. In Kenya, low utilisation of soil conservation technologies (SCTs) has been blamed for continued land degradation. A study was designed to examine association of selected farmers’ and farm attributes with knowledge on SCTs using an ex post facto survey design. A sample of 138 farmers was accessed in the hilly terrains of Nandi County, Kenya through a multi-stage sampling technique. The study was based on the trans-theoretical model and its stages of change, with a focus on its initial stages. Data was questionnaire-based and the data was analysed for associations using Gamma and Sommers’ delta. Kruskal-wallis (KW) test was utilised to test for differences between groups. Post hoc tests are based on Bonferroni correction. Results indicate that there was significant influence of formal education levels, gender, duration of residence and farmers income levels on knowledge in SCTs. Significant KW test results on differences in knowledge levels on SCTs were; Education, H (2) = 9.359, P= 0.009; Age, H (3) = 9.938, P=.019; Gender, H (1) = 3.429, P = .064; duration in current farm, H (2) = 6.122, P = .047 and income levels, H (2) = 8.710, P = 0.013. There were no significant differences based on household size, farm gradient and farm size. Information literacy on SCTs was low among lowly-educated and low-income categories. Deliberate investments in soil conservation measures targeting these categories are recommended. An in-depth study on the underlying causes for the face-value association is recommended.

Aims: Sugarcane ranks among top ten commercial crops grown in Kenya, but its productivity has been on the decline. This study investigated influence of scale of farm operation and farmers' risk aversion on productivity. Risk aversion was based on farmers' perceived risks associated with new high yielding, early maturing varieties. Study Design: The survey study adopted an ex post facto research design. Place and Duration of Study:The study was carried out in Nandi County, Western parts of Kenya along a sugarcane growing belt. Data was collected between April and September, 2019. Methodology: An enumerator-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 198 respondents. Purposive and stratified random sampling techniques were used to select participants. Data was analyzed with the aid of SPSS Version 20. Chi square test and its related measure of strength of association; Cramer's V, were utilized to estimate relationships between variables. Welch's ANOVA (W-test) was run to test for yield differences between groups. Significant differences were subjected to post hoc tests using Games-Howell test to separate the means. Results:There was a significant association between farmers scale of operation and productivity; 2 (2, N = 198) = 14.11, P = .001, V = .267. Farmers scale of operation significantly influenced productivity based on W-test (P = .001). Medium scale farms were significantly more productive per unit of land than both small and large scale. Risk aversion as measured by perceived risks of changing to new varieties was associated with sugarcane productivity; 2 (2, N = 198) = 9.25, P = .01, V = .216. Those who perceived high risks associated with new varieties recorded significantly lower yields compared to low risks (P = .001). Conclusion: Small scale and large scale farmers experienced low sugarcane productivity compared to medium scale. Risk aversion among the farmers appeared to negatively influence sugarcane productivity. Capacity building of the farmers on crop management best practices and risk management strategies is recommended.

Coffee (Coffea arabica) is an important cash crop for export earnings and livelihoods in Kenya. Coffee production has, however, declined from about 130,000 metric tons in the 1990s to about 43,000 in 2018, partly attributed to low farm-level productivity. Previous studies further attribute this to weak adherence to agronomic practices. The current study investigated the farmer’s information inputs, as a precursor of agronomic practices, for their potential sway on coffee productivity. The study assessed the level of information inputs among smallholder farmers and its potential influence on coffee productivity in areas west of Rift, Kenya. Data on information inputs for best practices in cultivation, soil fertility management, canopy management, intensive land use, crop protection and cherry harvesting were collected from 140 participants sampled through purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. The study adopted an ex post facto survey design and utilized semi-structured interview schedules for data gathering. Relationships between information inputs and productivity were estimated using chi squares’ Contingency coefficient and the more robust Welch’s ANOVA and its associated measure of strength, Eta squared (Eta2). Results suggest diverse levels of information inputs among the smallholder farmers. Information-inputs on soil fertility management showed a particularly strong association with yields (Welch P < .001, Eta2 = .108). Information-inputs on canopy management had significant association with cherry quality (P < .05, Eta2 = .078). Other information-input areas showed none to small associations with yield and quality. The study concludes that information inputs in smallholder coffee farms are at different levels and have a direct consequence on coffee yields and quality. It is recommended that the delivery of information inputs by extension agents should emphasize soil fertility management and canopy management for enhanced coffee productivity. Further study to unearth the latent facts for the differentiated information-input levels is recommended.

Smallholder farms in Kenya continue to suffer from crop-productivity declines due to loss of soil quality as a result of soil erosion among other factors. Low adoption of soil conservation technologies persists in spite of previous interventions. This study was conducted to investigate links between farmers’ socio-demographic factors and the adoption of soil conservation technologies. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. Purposive and multi-stage random sampling techniques were used to select a sample of 150 farmers from six catchment areas of the hilly terrain of Tinderet in Nandi County, Kenya. A total of 138 participants were accessed. Questionnaires administered by enumerators were used to collect data. Data was analysed to generate descriptive statistics. Kendall-Stuart Tau-c and Goodman-Kruskal’s gamma were used to estimate correlations between socio-demographic factors and adoption. Age, Gender, duration of residence and farm size were not significantly associated with adoption (P > 0.05).Education levels, household size, level of awareness and income were positively associated with adoption (Gamma =.359, P = .034), (Gamma = .229, P = .088), (Gamma = .485, P = .000) and (Gamma = .282, P = .042) respectively. It is recommended that stakeholders address soil erosion problems through farmers’ capacity-building, particularly for low-income farmers.