Abstract:
This study investigated how total land size owned influenced Jatropha curcas adoption in Yatta District. The
study applied quantitative research method where questionnaires were administered to 240 respondents selected
through multi-stage sampling technique. Data analysis was carried out using regression analysis and chi square
test. It was found that farmers who had adopted Jatropha curcas cultivation were significantly low at 15.4%. It
was also found that total land size owned was not a major factor influencing land size allocated to Jatropha
cultivation since total land size owned accounted for only 28% variance of land size allocated to Jatropha
cultivation and 78% of respondents were not willing to convert their pasture lands to Jatropha farms. An area of
248 acres was under Jatropha cultivation in the district which is equivalent to 0.038% of the total district area
coverage. It was concluded that adoption of Jatropha in Yatta District was low. There was a negative correlation
between total land size owned and land size allocated to Jatropha cultivation. Total land size owned did not have
substantial influence on size of land allocated to Jatropha cultivation as willingness to convert pasture land to
Jatropha farms, lack of alternative land for farming, land tenure and control and population density influenced
on land size allocated to Jatropha cultivation.
