Abstract
The study analyzed the socio-economic characteristics and production challenges of
small-scale Irish potato farmers in Nigeria and Kenya. Multi-stage sampling procedure
was adopted to select study locations in both countries. A total of 295 small-scale Irish
potato farmers were interviewed, 188 from Nigeria and 107 from Kenya. In both
countries however, farmers interviewed were beneficiaries of the Potato Initiative Africa
Project. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics to obtain results of the study. The
results from the studies disclosed that most of the farmers ranges between 36-59 age class
hence categorized as adults. Majority were reportedly married in Nigeria with 50.5%
while 29.0% of farmers in Kenya were reportedly single. The mean household size in
Nigeria was 7 members and 6 members for farmers in Kenya. More than 50% of farmers
in both countries had formal education. In Nigeria, 38.3% of Irish potato farmers were
civil servants and 100% of farmers in Kenya had farming as major activity. In Nigeria,
54.8% of farmers were members of an association (that is farmer’s association) while
51.4% of farmers in Kenya were members of farmer’s association. Major constraints that
limit Irish potato production for both farmers’ groups in Nigeria and Kenya included
blight infestation, high input costs, poor pricing and corrupt retailers, poor road network
and inadequate institutionalized credit sources. It was recommended that farmers in both
countries to leverage upon existing farmers group and adopt an integrated/unified
disease management system of conducting spraying activity collectively and at the same
time. Also, research institutes with the mandate on root and tuber crops should be
empowered and funded to conduct research intended in improving local Irish potato
varieties.
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