USAID - Prescaling Nethouse Technology

The questionnaires designed by Microfinanza Srl with other partners' support, aimed to integrate data and information available for drafting the business plan regarding the scale-up stage of net house technology in Kenya. And at the same time, the survey also helped to identify the farmers' preferences in accessing financial services. The questionnaires have been administered by AtoZAgroZ/TGDL staff from July 24th to August the 15th 2017, and then data has been entered by the same team, on a pre-determined matrix, and made available at the end of September 2017. Overall 218 people have been interviewed: 26 extension officers, coming from 11 counties; 44 agro-dealers, coming from 16 counties, 21 brokers, coming from 8 counties, and 127 farmers, coming from 16 counties. 70 of these farmers had a greenhouse, 27 had a net-house, and 16 of them had both; 46 farmers grew their crops in open field. 70% of interviewed farmers were males and 30% females. The average size of plots was 6,88 acres, ranging from 0.25 to 400 acres, with 39% of such areas smaller than 2 acres, and 28% between 2 and 3 acres. The sample of farmers has been random, but not randomized; therefore results cannot be inferred for general conclusions. Actually, because of the need to target greenhouse and net house owners, who are potential early adopters of the Net House, the sample is probably including farmers with better financial conditions and background than the average in the country.