Abstract:
v ABSTRACT Mango ( Mangifera indica L.) fruit is produced and consumed globally, regionally, and locally. The fruit is a potential sou rce of essential nutrients including potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and is an excellent source of vitamin A and C . Mangoes can also be sold to earn income . However, most smallholder mango farmers in Matinyani Sub - county experience lack of clean planting materials, ina dequate production technolo gies , inadequate mango varieties with long production cycles and poor transport infrastructure . In addition , higher losses are incurred due to surplus e xperienced during the peak of production seasons. Th is raise a need therefore, for enhancing agronomic and a gro - processing activities on mango fruit in order to obtain products of high value and long - shelf life as a way of mitigating losses, diversify ing utilization and markets. Thus, this study was conducted at Mati nyani Division of Kitui County to investigat e the factors influencing grafted mango production in Matinyani D i vision. A sample of 120 mango farmers was studied and simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents . Primary data was obtained b y use of questionnaires while secondary involved review of relevant literature . Data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientist s ( SPSS ) version 20.0 of year 2009 . The results revealed that in Matinyani Division both local and g rafted mangoes were grown. Th e local mangoes grown included : Ngowe, Dodo and B oribo . V arieties of grafted mangoes gr own included : Apple, Kent, and T ommy with majority of the farmers growing Apple mangoes. It was established that, majority of respondents co nsumed grafted mangoes in form of a dessert with 62% in Matinyani location, 73% in Kalimani location and 74% in Kauma location . None of the respondents consumed grafted mangoes as sliced pack e d mangoes or dried powder. This indicated that the level of valu e addition in the D ivision was low resulting to high mango losses which translated to low income generation . The study also revealed that majority of the respondents sold their grafted mangoes within the location s with Kauma location leading with 67%, foll owed by Matiny ani location at 60% and then, Kalimani location with 55%. N one of the respondent s sold their grafted mangoes outside the Sub - County which implied lack of adequate market linkages. Finally , the study established that majority of the respondent s earned K ES 1,000 to KES 5,000 with the highest earning KES 15,000 per annum from sale of local mangoes while, majority earned KES 6,000 to KES 9,000 with highest earning KES 20,000 per annum from sale of grafted mangoes. The recommendations for this st udy were: First, farmers should be sensitized to increase grafted mango production compared to local mangoes since grafted mangoes can be processed to products of higher economic value like mango juice . Second , the County Government , NGO’ s, private sector and other stakeholders need to avail adequate and up to date value addition , marketing and processing technologies to improve shelf - life of mango fruit and enhanced incomes . Th ird , farmers should organize th em selves into self - help groups , farmers associat ions or co - o perative societies in order to have a common collection and marketing of mango produce . This will minimize costs and maximize mango returns due to economies of scale . Finally , farmers should be sensitized to increase grafted mango production an d reduce local mango production since the sale of grafted mangoes earned more income.