Thesis:

Influence of ICT factors on mango value chain in Makueni county, Kenya

This study assessed the extent to which ICT is used in Makueni county by the people involved in the mango value chain. ICT use improves effectiveness of communication and access to services in agriculture. This research will help the county administrators to know which ICT gadgets are popular, why and how they can implore upon stakeholders in the value chain to improve on their application. The researcher focused on the factors such as cost, availability of ICT infrastructure, farm factors, personal factors affecting the use of ICT and sought find out whether there are inhibiting issues that influence its application in the value chain. The study also focused on the extent ICT is used by the county government to reach stakeholders and support them and investigated whether personal factors affected use of ICTs and the effect they have on performance of the value chain During the study PRA&ME approach was used with a structured questionnaire to reach to the respondents who narrated the challenges that prevent beneficial use of ICTs in the value chain. Stakeholders such as farmers, marketers, distributors, transporters, processors, the county government agricultural policy makers as well as other researchers were involved. The study used descriptive research where the main tool used to collect data was a structured questionnaire Alongside the questionnaire, other methods including face-to-face interviews, observation and documentary reviews were used to complement the questionnaire researcher sampled 387 respondents; including 378 respondents involved in the value chain and 9 agricultural extension officers from the nine sub counties from Makueni county. Once the questionnaires were completed, they were scrutinized for accuracy, validity and consistency. The follow up after the administration of the data collection tool was done keenly to ensure their return rate was high. Data analysis was done using SPSS to obtain the descriptive statistics including the mean, standard deviation, frequencies, comparison of means and percentages. The hypothesis was tested at 95% and ascertained the validity of the premises made, that use of ICTs in the value chain improved incomes and profit levels. The use of ICT assisted in accessing information on availability seedlings, access to farm chemicals, agricultural extension services and transport services of mangoes to the markets. It was also established that it helped to access information on price levels in the markets easily, faster and globally. The researcher also established that the county was widely covered with ICTs network & had sufficient ICTs infrastructure. Notably ICT cost factors were not too prohibitive to the participants in the value chain and stakeholders procured ICTs for use in their roles in the value chain, it was found out that 100% of the respondents possessed the electronic gadgets. The extensive use of ICTs influenced the levels of output, incomes and profitability in the value chain positively. It was realized that older respondents used older technology gadgets, more females were involved in the value chain and less educated respondents were involved in it than the more educated were. The reports and narratives were presented using tables and graphs to guide the researcher on the decisions and conclusions made based on the findings from the data collected. The researcher also deduced from the responses given by the agricultural extension officers as key informants that ICT application was affecting mango value chain positively, improving production, incomes and profitability. They also indicated that the stakeholders are receptive to the new technologies. Additionally, it was found that county government and ICT department supported stakeholders and it was the reason for more application of the ICTs in the value chain.