The Influence of Standards Compliance in Input Use on the Internationalisation of Kenyan Horticulture

Abstract

Input use during horticulture farming has a direct impact on safety and quality of crops and it is still difficult for farmers to respect the established standards in this respect. This situation undermines the competitiveness of exports for the Kenyan horticulture produce. Among the factors that justify why farmers are not meeting the standards related to input use in horticulture farming, there are: difficulties in getting appropriate seeds, fertilisers and chemicals, lack of required skills and inadequate trained manpower; insufficient quantity of water and its continual declining quality. This paper sought to investigate the influence of Standards Compliance in input use on the Internationalisation of Kenyan Horticulture; by discussing various challenges related to availability and affordability of recommended seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, and management of water in the Kenyan horticulture Sector.

This paper was guided by a positivism research philosophy and a descriptive and explanatory research design was applied to achieve its purpose. The population of the study was the total number of ordinary members of the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK). The target population was 161 Fresh Produce Exporters, corresponding to the total number of FPEAK registered ordinary members by March 2017. Yamane's (1967) formula was used to calculate the sample size of the respondents and therefore, a stratified random sampling of 115 units was selected. A semi-structured questionnaire incorporating input use in horticulture was used to collect information about standards compliance in input use and internationalisation. The analysis was based on 108 respondents who completed and returned the questionnaires, corresponding to the response rate of 94%. The descriptive statistics including percentages and frequencies and the inferential statistics comprising of Pearson Correlation and linear regression model were generated. Qualitative data collected through interviews, focus groups, and open ended questions were processed and analysed following the thematic approach.

This paper finds that recommended seeds are well known and available at the local markets but at a high cost. The seeds produced and certified locally are not of good quality, and seed importers buy more of those with high demand in the local market. Some specific seeds that may contribute to the diversification of Kenyan horticulture produce for export are not available at the local market because the importers are not interested in them as they do not have high demand. Smallholder producers are facing challenge of getting water for their farming due to limited capability of getting boreholes for irrigation. Furthermore, there is lack of knowledge related to rainfall water harvesting technology or treatment of waste and/or poor quality water for irrigation. Finally, the need of water testing is not yet understood. Except for herbs, recommended fertilisers and pesticides for other horticulture produce are known and available at the local market. Due to the high cost of the recommended fertilisers and pesticides, some producers use counterfeit or banned products.

This paper recommends that more research should be conducted in order to develop locally appropriate seeds in horticulture farming; with emphasis on specific crops that would bring a competitive edge. A comprehensive program of seed production in horticulture farming should be established, and training of competent personnel organised accordingly. The Government in conjunction with horticulture producers and exporters need to broaden the horticultural development strategy by diversifying horticultural crops. A systematic risk assessment of soil and water is needed, as well as an extensive research on crops which are less demanding in water. In addition, there is a need to develop and disseminate alternative methods of water management including rainfall water harvesting, treatment of waste water, and encourage efforts in irrigation. Pest Control and Products Board (PCPB) should put in place a controlling mechanism to ensure that subsidies to fertilisers and pesticides lead to the affordability of products, and at the same time, it should set up an efficient monitoring system of illegal and counterfeit products.