Determinants of adoption of GLOBAL G.A.P. standards: Evidence from smallholder French beans farmers in Murang’a County, Kenya

Abstract

GLOBAL Good Agricultural Practices (GLOBAL G.A.P.) standards have appeared to increasingly control the exchange of horticultural products in the international market. To make horticulture exports viable and lucrative, smallholder farmers need to invest in GLOBAL G.A.P. While research has focused on the impact of adoption on the welfare of farmers, the factors stimulating the adoption of these standards have been ignored. This study examines the determinants of the adoption of GGAPs (GLOBAL G.A.P.) among smallholder French bean producers in Murang’a South Sub-County. The study used cross-sectional data from a random sample of 215 farmers. The adoption index was used to determine adoption levels per household while a “gologit model” was applied to assess factors influencing the adoption of GGAPs among farmers. The adoption index results indicate that farmers on the contract had higher adoption levels (66%) relative to non-contracted farmers (34%). Based on the gologit findings, the determinants of farmer’s compliance levels were age (P < 0.01), gender (P < 0.1), education (P < 0.01), household size (P < 0.01), training (P < 0.01), extension service (P < 0.05), group membership (P < 0.05), farming experience (P < 0.05), vertical coordination options (VCO) (P < 0.1) and market availability(P < 0.01) and reliability (P < 0.05). Therefore, this study recommends an incentive that will promote the improvement of agricultural extension to facilitate contract farming for the adoption of GGAPs. Additionally, the government should put in place measures to safeguard farmers from market exploitation.

Keywords:

• GLOBAL G.A.P. adoption
• gologit
• French beans farmers

Public interest statement

GLOBAL G.A.P. standards have appeared to increasingly control the exchange of horticultural products in the international market. With the growing demand for safe and quality agricultural products in the global market, the Kenyan government has made substantial efforts to promote vertical coordination options in linking farmers to the global markets. The call for traceability and safety of horticultural food products has necessitated farmers to adopt good farming practices to remain competitive on the global market. Despite the measures taken by farmers in complying with GLOBAL G.A.P., knowledge of the role of vertical coordination options and other factors in stimulating the adoption of these standards is useful to the private sector, county and national government for policy formulation. The empirical findings from this study emphasize the importance of contract farming, training and farmer group organizations in facilitating the adoption of GLOBAL G.A.P.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data used in this study is available upon request. We understand the share upon reasonable request data policy https://github.com/Naomi-Chebi/Naomi-Chebiwot-Chelang-a/blob/main/GOLOGIT%20DATA.dta.

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no funding to report.

Notes on contributors

Naomi Chebiwot Chelang’a

Naomi Chebiwot Chelang’a PhD student in Agribusiness management at Egerton University, Kenya. The second author is a senior lecturer of Agricultural Economics at Egerton University. The third author is a professor of Agricultural Economics at Egerton University and the Director for Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural policy and Development. The fourth author is a doctor of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development, Egerton University.