In Africa, the initiatives targeting bean value chain have been implemented in order to improve bean seeds varieties. Despite the initiatives, some studies indicate that smallholder farmers have been sceptical and reluctant to adopt the improved varieties, which seem to be potential in improving productivity. This paper analyses the socio-economic factors influencing the adoption of improved varieties among smallholder farmers in bean value chain. A cross sectional research design involving 166 smallholder farmers including adopters and non-adopters was used for comparative purposes. The household survey and key informant interviews were used for data collection. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis while quantitative data were analysed using multiple response analysis, chi square, and binary logistic regression. The findings indicate that sex of the head of the household, availability of extension of services, education level, and membership to farmers’ groups or associations were significant socioeconomic predictors in the adoption of improved bean variety (p<0.005). The study concluded that the adoption of improved bean seeds variety is not impulsive as it depends on a number of pull and push socio-economic factors among smallholder farming households. The study recommends that the provision of extension services and training should be improved through the provision of advanced trainings on usefulness and application of improved varieties to enable smallholder farmers acquire the necessary skills and knowledge. This would enable them improve productivity, household incomes, and subsequently their livelihoods.
Justus et al. (Tue,) studied this question.