Determinants of farmers' participation in Irish potato production in Mokhotlong district, Lesotho

Abstract

Potato farming is a very important activity in Mokhotlong, Lesotho contributing significantly towards household’s food security and income. However, farmers are constraint from sustainable potato production by several factors. The main aim of this study was to analyze factors that influence participation of farmers in potato production in Mokhotlong, Lesotho. The survey used cross-sectional data that was obtained in 2024 from 99 potato farmers. A two-stage sampling procedure which includes purposive and simple random sampling was employed to construct a sample. Descriptive statistics and Binary Logistic Regression Model were used to analyze these factors. The results revealed that farmers are constraint from participating in potato by factors which include high production costs, lack of transport, pests and diseases encountered, lack of storage facilities and poor access to quality seeds. The Binary Logistic Regression Model results revealed that gender, age, social media access, source of income, level of education, access to seeds and distance to the market influence farmers to participate in potato farming. In light of these, it is recommended that the government should address the constraints and challenges. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition should assist farmers in developing value chains and formulating marketing tactics to enhance their competitiveness. The Ministry should also encourage women ‘s participation in potato farming and establish training initiatives aimed at improving soil fertility and implementing crop rotation to boost women’s participation in potato production.