Assessment of the Knowledge and Perception of Yellow Maize Farmers in Homa-Bay County, Kenya

Although yellow maize is the least preferred among the Kenyan populace, its production and consumption are common in Western Kenya, especially in Homa-Bay County. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and perceptions of yellow maize farmers in the area to understand what makes this community unique in terms of yellow maize production and consumption. Data was collected through a survey by interviewing 385 yellow maize farmers in the region. The results show that both men and women are involved in yellow maize cultivation, primarily among youths and middle-aged individuals aged 18 to 60 years. Most farmers had primary or secondary education, accounting for 70%, while 13% had no formal education. Yellow maize farming was mostly rainfed, small-scale, and practiced with low input levels, yielding less than 1 ton per hectare for subsistence. Overall, farmers displayed good knowledge and positive attitudes. They recognized the importance of fertilizer use, with most favoring inorganic over organic fertilizers, although application was limited since the crop is regarded as low-input. Yellow maize was deemed nutritious by 70%, however, only 60% were aware of its nutritional status in terms of Vitamin A and the vulnerable groups that need to be targeted. Over 70% of farmers considered early maturity, high yields, good taste, and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses as very important traits. Most respondents were aware of climate change and its perceived impacts, mainly addressing them through intercropping and agroforestry, with radio programmes and indigenous knowledge serving as primary sources of agricultural and weather information. Farmers have a strong attachment to yellow maize with attributes perceived to make it superior to withstand various stresses and still guarantee food for the household. Key challenges include low yields and low nutritional awareness that need to be overcome to ensure the potential of this crop to provide food and nutritional security is realized. Key words: Yellow maize, Vitamin A, Homa-Bay, survey, Knowledge, perception, traits, climate change