Factors Influencing Grafted Mango (Mangifera Indica L.) Production In Matinyani Division, Kitui County.

ABSTRACT

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit is produced and consumed globally, regionally, and locally. The fruit is a potential source of essential nutrients including potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and is an excellent source of vitamin A and C. Mangoes can also be sold to earn income. However, most smallholder mango farmers in Matinyani Sub-county experience lack of clean planting materials, inadequate production technologies, inadequate mango varieties with long production cycles and poor transport infrastructure. In addition, higher losses are incurred due to surplus experienced during the peak of production seasons. This raise a need therefore, for enhancing agronomic and agro-processing activities on mango fruit in order to obtain products of high value and long-shelf life as a way of mitigating losses, diversifying utilization and markets. Thus, this study was conducted at Matinyani Division of Kitui County to investigate the factors influencing grafted mango production in Matinyani Division. A sample of 120 mango farmers was studied and simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents. Primary data was obtained by use of questionnaires while secondary involved review of relevant literature. Data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 20.0 of year 2009.

The results revealed that in Matinyani Division both local and grafted mangoes were grown. The local mangoes grown included: Ngowe, Dodo and Boribo. Varieties of grafted mangoes grown included: Apple, Kent, and Tommy with majority of the farmers growing Apple mangoes. It was established that, majority of respondents consumed grafted mangoes in form of a dessert with 62% in Matinyani location, 73% in Kalimani location and 74% in Kauma location. None of the respondents consumed grafted mangoes as sliced packed mangoes or dried powder. This indicated that the level of value addition in the Division was low resulting to high mango losses which translated to low income generation. The study also revealed that majority of the respondents sold their grafted mangoes within the locations with Kauma location leading with 67%, followed by Matinyani location at 60% and then, Kalimani location with 55%. None of the respondents sold their grafted mangoes outside the Sub-County which implied lack of adequate market linkages. Finally, the study established that majority of the respondents earned KES 1,000 to KES 5,000 with the highest earning KES 15,000 per annum from sale of local mangoes while, majority earned KES 6,000 to KES 9,000 with highest earning KES 20,000 per annum from sale of grafted mangoes.

The recommendations for this study were: First, farmers should be sensitized to increase grafted mango production compared to local mangoes since grafted mangoes can be processed to products of higher economic value like mango juice. Second, the County Government, NGO’s, private sector and other stakeholders need to avail adequate and up to date value addition, marketing and processing technologies to improve shelf- life of mango fruit and enhanced incomes. Third, farmers should organize themselves into self-help groups, farmers associations or co-operative societies in order to have a common collection and marketing of mango produce. This will minimize costs and maximize mango returns due to economies of scale. Finally, farmers should be sensitized to increase grafted mango production and reduce local mango production since the sale of grafted mangoes earned more income.