Abstract: The agriculture sector is the mainstay of Kenya’s economy contributing 29.3% to the Gross Domestic Product. The contribution of horticulture is key to the economy of Kenya as it accounts to 80% of national employment either formally or informally. The European governments have enacted stringent food safety regulations on horticultural produce as a result of increased consumer concerns over food contamination. Developing country exporters, these upstream changes have meant that produce must be sourced through strictly supervised contracts. Under such contracts developing country exporters impose strict adherence to good agricultural practices including pest and disease management and in addition use of a reliable traceability system. In 2013 Kenyan horticultural exports were subjected to 10% inspection at all ports of entry into the EU because of inability of Kenya to demonstrate existence of an effective national traceability system for horticultural produce. There was also continued detection of pesticide residue in beans and peas beyond the recommended levels leading to a 60% reduction in exports. As a result of that, 50,000 smallholder farmers lost their jobs and incomes due to drop in production of beans and peas for exports. This study aimed at assessing the factors affecting horticulture project implementation of the National Horticulture Traceability System in Kenya, at the Horticulture Crops Directorate. Specifically, the study looked at project planning, project resource mobilization, stakeholders’ involvement, and project monitoring and how they affect implementation of the National Horticulture Traceability System. The study used descriptive survey design, where stratified, purposive and random sampling was used. The targeted population of the study was 388 people who comprise of registered exporters in system; exporters used in pilot of the system; technical and regulation department; IT department, marketing, research and product development; and USAID Project manager. A sample of 197 respondents was drawn from the population and was administered with questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS (22). Both descriptive and inferential analysis was conducted. The study found that project planning; resource mobilization; stakeholders’ involvement; and project monitoring had a positive strong correlation with project implementation. The regression analysis also provided positive beta coefficients that were all significant. The study recommends a thorough planning, availability of resources and timely release, involvement of all stakeholders in processes and activities of decision making, and having an effective monitoring framework. The study further recommends a similar study to be done in a different environment to ascertain the results of this study.
Keywords: Traceability system, Project Resource Mobilization, Stakeholders’ Involvement, Project Planning, Project Monitoring, Project Implementation.
Title: FACTORS AFFECTING HORTICULTURE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION: A CASE OF NATIONAL HORTICULTURE TRACEBILITY SYSTEM, KENYA
Author: Tricxie Akinyi Ogembo, Dr. Muchelule Yusuf
International Journal of Management and Commerce Innovations
ISSN 2348-7585 (Online)
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