Determinants of Agro-Ecological Practices Application among Self-Help Group Farmers in Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed at investigating the determinants of agro-ecological practices application among self-help group farmers in Makueni County, Kenya. The study specifically examined the effect of information source, motivation, accelerator and barrier factors on agro-ecological practices application in Makueni County, Kenya. Methodology: Quantitative research approach and cross-sectional descriptive design was employed in the study. Crop growing farmers of 30 self-help groups were reached out as the target population of the study. A sample size of 163 respondents from 280 targeted farmers of self-help groups was obtained through stratification and proportionate sampling technique. Findings: The findings of the study revealed that access to information (B = 0.978, SE = 0.437, Wald = 4.999, p = .025), with an odds ratio of 2.659, accelerator (B = 2.080, SE = 0.773, Wald = 7.240, p = .007), with an odds ratio of 5.655 and motivation (B = 2.728, SE = 0.525, Wald = 27.007, p < .001), with an odds ratio of 7.417, factors significantly affect agro-ecological practices application. Additionally, the study revealed that barriers (B = -2.752, SE = 0.732, Wald = 14.132, p < .001), with an odds ratio of 0.064 significantly reduce application probability. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The need to design context-specific mitigation strategies for barriers to agro-ecological practices application necessitated this dual focus study that enhances agro-ecological transitions’ effectiveness and informs policy frameworks to strengthen sustainable agriculture. Reflects on determinants of agro-ecological practices application in arid and semi-arid areas in order to incorporate local innovations and indigenous farming practices in agricultural development. Hopefully, the goal is to inform county-level agricultural policies and assist customize interventions by NGOs and government agencies supporting sustainable farming. The study advances for prioritization of the development of integrated intervention models that improve information accessibility to crop growing farmers, strengthen motivational and accelerator factors like training programs, incentives and farmer networks.