Vol 13 Issue 3 July 2026-September 2026
Esther Jelimo Tum, Paul Odwori, Julius O. Okora
Abstract: Spring onion is a short-cycle vegetable that can generate frequent income for smallholder households, yet yields in Bomet County remain below attainable levels. This study examined the association between household socio-economic characteristics and spring onion yield. A descriptive and explanatory cross-sectional design was used. A multistage procedure selected 395 farmers from five sub-counties; 302 questionnaires were returned and 196 complete observations were retained for the regression analysis. The questionnaire had high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.86). Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were applied. Seasonal yield averaged approximately 2.6-3.4 t ha−1 across the reported sub-counties. The socio-economic model was significant (R = 0.894, R² = 0.800, adjusted R² = 0.791; F = 93.414, p < 0.001). Education, household size, primary occupation, farming experience and annual farm income were positively associated with yield, whereas age and gender were not statistically significant after adjustment. The results indicate that management capability, timely family labour, accumulated experience and liquidity matter more than demographic headship characteristics alone. County interventions should therefore combine crop-specific training with simple production calendars, group labour arrangements, seasonal input finance and farmer-group procurement. Because the study is cross-sectional and relies partly on farmer recall, the reported coefficients should be interpreted as adjusted associations rather than causal effects.
Keywords: Allium fistulosum; farm income; household labour; smallholder horticulture; socio-economic factors; vegetable productivity.
Title: Socio-Economic Determinants of Spring Onion Yield among Smallholder Farmers in Bomet County, Kenya
Author: Esther Jelimo Tum, Paul Odwori, Julius O. Okora
International Journal of Recent Research in Interdisciplinary Sciences (IJRRIS)
ISSN 2350-1049
Vol. 13, Issue 3, July 2026 - September 2026
Page No: 1-11
Paper Publications
Website: www.paperpublications.org
Published Date: 14-August-2026
