Effect of adoption of tobacco growing on the profitability of small holder farmers: a case of Kijomoro sub-county Maracha district

Abstract

This research was about assessing the effect of adoption of tobacco growing on the welfare of small holder farmers, a case of Kijomoro sub-county, Maracha district. The research aimed at the socioeconomic and demographic factors affecting the changing prices of tobacco and its profitability among smallholder farmers in Kijomoro sub-county. The sampling frame was the tobacco farmers and farmers who do not grow tobacco in Kijomoro sub-county, Maracha. A sample of 96 farmers was used and this estimated using a formula adopted from Fisher’s formula and Systematic sampling method was used to get the sample the farmers in Kijomoro. Data was collected using questionnaires drafted and interviews carried out. Analysis of collected data was done using SPSS. Descriptive statistics was done to examine the farmers’ knowledge about price fluctuation and then the profits gotten. From the findings, majority of the tobacco farmers were males lying in the age group of 51 – 60. All of them were married and most had acquired at most primary education. All of them owned land which was gotten through inheritance with most having more 2 acres. Majority weren’t receiving free inputs, more so, from organizations. Majority of the farmers were ready to quit tobacco growing but had no other occupation since they had entirely dependent on tobacco for survival. The costs encountered on inputs in tobacco growing and transport costs were the only mainly costs encountered by the farmers. The study recommended that, farmers should be trained on other farming methods such that they can adopt mixed farming and avoid over dependence on tobacco farming. More and better roads should be established in order to ease access for movement of inputs and farm output in order to reduce expenses on transport. The study concluded that, tobacco farmers from Kijomoro sub-county made profits from their tobacco sale though the profits gained were limited by the costs incurred which were basically variable costs such as inputs and transport costs.