INFLUENCE OF FORMAL AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION ON UPTAKE OF TISSUE CULTURE BANANA IN KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the influence of agricultural education on uptake of tissue culture banana in Kiambu County. The first objective determined the influence of formal agricultural education on uptake of improved agricultural technology using a Likert scale of 1-5. The second objective examined the influence of non-formal agricultural education on uptake of improved agricultural technology using a five-point scale. The study was carried out in Kiambu County, Kenya in 2022.

 The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The study targeted 1881 farmers in the 12 sub-counties in Kiambu County. The purposive sampling method was used to select 6 sub counties that were part of the study. The stratified random sampling method was used to select the farmers in the selected sub counties. The study sample size was 302 respondents. The study collected quantitative data which was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23) was used. A linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Multiple regressions were also conducted to determine the relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable. The study found that formal agricultural education has significant influence on uptake of improved agricultural technology of tissue culture banana in Kiambu County. The study recommends that the government should increase its funding on agricultural education in learning institutions. This would ensure that more learners take agriculture as a subject in schools.