Preferences for and Exposure to Climate Resilient Potato Varieties : Case of Smallholder Farmers in Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

Production of Potato (Solanum tuberosum. L) has been declining over the years in Sub- Saharan Africa (SSA) due to climate change and variability. This has resulted to low food supply and low income among smallholder farmers exacerbating levels of food and nutrition insecurity and poverty. Climate Resilient Potato Varieties (CRPVs) are said to have the potential to address this problem by increasing the resilience of farmers to climate variability. However, previous studies show that uptake of these varieties is still significantly low. This study sought to contribute to enhanced farmers’ resilience to climate variability through increased adoption of CRPVs. Multistage sampling technique was used to sample 384 farmers from Meru County. Focus group discussions and structured questionnaires through household survey were used to collect primary data. Chi-square was used to compare adaptation practices across different agro-ecological zones. Average" Treatment Effect framework was used to determine true population adoption rates and factors affecting exposure to and adoption of CRPVs. To estimate preferences and willingness to pay for CRPV attributes, a discrete choice experiment was conducted and Mixed Iogit model was used for analysis. SAS, SPSS and STATA softwares were used for designing choice cards, data processing and data analysis respectively. Results revealed that the main adaptation practices among potato farmers in Meru County were irrigation, intercropping, crop rotation, soil conservation, use of organic fertilizers and use of CRPVs. Farmers from Abogeta West and Abothuguchi West were more adapted to climate variability than farmers from Kiirua/Naari and Kibirichia wards. Results further revealed that the main factors influencing exposure to CRPVs positively were education, training and access to credit. Access to information, access to quality seeds, training, group membership and variations in agro- ecological zones were the main factors affecting adoption. The actual population CRPVs adoption rate was 6.3% whereas the potential adoption rate was 30.7% revealing an adoption gap of 24.4% due to partial exposure. Resistant to pests and diseases was the most preferred trait indicated by the high value of willingness to pay. To improve adoption rates for CRPVs, more effort should put in exposing farmers to CRPVs. Finally, breeding programs should also focus in developing potato varieties that are highly resistant to pests and diseases, are high yielding, have low water requirements and short maturation period of less than three months as they are preferred most by farmers for adaptability to climate variability.