Selected Factors Affecting Adoption of Improved Finger Millet Varieties by Small- Scale Farmers in the Semi-Arid

Finger millet is one of the important traditional, nutritious and drought tolerant food crop grown by small scale farmers in most arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of the world. In the ASALs of Kenya, the small scale farmers mainly grow unimproved finger millet varieties of low yields. Despite availability of improved high yielding and recommended varieties, the farmers ’ adoption is very low contributing to persistent food insecurity experienced in these areas. The purpose of this study was to establish selected variety technical factors affecting the adoption of improved finger millet varieties by small scale farmers in the ASAL Mogotio District in Baringo County. The factors studied were the finger millet varieties technical attributes of maturity period, yield, grain colour, grain usage; making of `ugali’, porridge, tradition brew and other uses (sale, baking, tradition gifts). * Corresponding author