Adoption Patterns and Determinants of Prosopis juliflora Management Interventions Among Households in Baringo South Sub-county, Kenya

Prosopis juliflora is a highly invasive species in Kenya's semi-arid lands, presenting significant ecological threats while simultaneously offering potential livelihood opportunities. This study aimed to examine the adoption patterns and determinants of its management interventions by using a cross-sectional research design, collecting data from 270 households in Baringo South Sub-County through a multistage sampling technique. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a Generalized Poisson Regression Model (GPRM) to identify adoption patterns and assess the intensity of adoption of the Prosopis juliflora management interventions, respectively. The study findings reveal that the most prevalent management interventions are low-value options, dominated by charcoal production (84.85%) and firewood production (47.73%), whereas there is limited adoption of higher-value alternatives such as livestock feed processing (12.88%) and biochar production (5.68%). The regression analysis showed that adoption intensity is positively influenced by landholding size (p<0.01) and distance to the market (p<0.01), and on the contrary, it is negatively associated with household size, access to credit, casual labour occupation, training, access to information, and awareness of legal frameworks. These findings highlight a critical need for targeted interventions to promote sustainable and diversified Prosopis juliflora management. The study recommends implementing tailored training programs, enhancing market access for higher-value products, and establishing supportive policy frameworks to improve both ecological restoration and livelihood opportunities for local communities.