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

AbstractGLOBAL 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.