Determinants Of Behavioural Intention to Adopt Food Safety Principles Among Vegetable Growers in Punjab India and Nakuru, Kenya: The Case of Good Agricultural Practices (Gaps)

Abstract

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) is a well-structured framework embraced voluntarily to ensure food safety along the entire vegetable value chain. Limited research has explored the perspective of vegetable growers’ perspectives across distinct countries and continents regarding GAP. To address this gap, our study sought to understand the factors influencing the vegetable growers’ inclination to adopt GAP in Punjab State, India and Nakuru County, Kenya. The target population for the study was 1000 vegetable growers. A sample size of 200 vegetable growers was arrived at by use of Cochran Formula. Employing an ex-post facto study design, we collected primary data through surveys conducted with 200 randomly selected vegetable growers evenly split between Punjab and Nakuru. Utilizing an interview schedule, we assessed the determinants influencing growers’ intention to adopt GAP, ranking them using the Relative Importance Index (RII). Correlation of behavioural intention on determinants and behavioural intention multiple regression on determinants were also analysed. Predominantly, growers highlighted production costs, market exclusivity, training, government support, and labour accessibility as pivotal factors influencing their GAP adoption. There was a statistically significant linear relationship between adoption determinants and behavioural intention in Punjab (r=-.225*, p < .024) and in Nakuru (r=.275**, p < .006). The overall adequacy of the multiple regression model within Punjab state did not reach statistical significance, as evidenced by an F-statistic of 1.699, yielding a p-value of 0.661 (F (15, 84) = 1.699, p = 0.066), whereas the overall model fitness within Nakuru County exhibited statistical significance, evident from an Fstatistic of 8.042 with a p-value less than 0.0005 (F (15, 84) = 8.042, p < 0.0005). Consequently, the study offers essential policy implications concerning GAP utilization within the agricultural sectors of India and Kenya