The Farm-Level Value Addition among Small-scale Mango Farmers in Machakos County, Kenya

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to evaluate the determinants of farm-level value addition and the extent among small-scale mango farmers in Mwala sub-county, Machakos county. A sample size of 352 small-scale mango farmers were proportionately selected from six wards of the sub-county. A structured interview schedule was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics were analysed using frequency and percentages and Heckman two-stage selection model was used in data analysis. The first stage of the model results revealed that; off-farm income, access to cold storage facilities, price of value-added products, livestock equivalence, group membership, extension services, farmers’ awareness, and hired labour positively influenced mango farm-level value addition. In the second stage, training, farmers’ awareness and access to cold storage facilities positively influenced the extent of mangoes value added at farm-level, whereas the distance to market and livestock equivalence influenced the extent of mangoes value-added negatively. As a result of this, the relevant authorities should provide adequate and up to date value addition technologies to increase the shelf-life of mango fruits and enhance farmers’ income.