Agronomic and Market Drivers of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Productivity among Smallholder Farmers in Siaya County, Kenya

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an important fruit crop in Kenya, but productivity in Siaya County remains constrained by agronomic and market-related factors. This study examined the agronomic and market drivers of mango productivity among smallholder farmers in four sub-counties of Siaya County: Rarieda, Bondo, Ugenya and Alego-Usonga. Specifically, it assessed farmers' socio-economic characteristics, the influence of farmer group affiliation, the effects of agronomic practices on yield, and the role of marketing channels in sales and farm income. A cross-sectional analytical design was used. Data were collected in 2022 from 396 randomly selected mango farmers and 12 purposively selected ward agricultural officers through questionnaires, focus group discussions, interviews and secondary sources. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and t-tests were used to analyse relationships between production drivers and outcomes. The findings showed that gender, labour source, extension access and credit availability shaped the adoption of improved practices and participation in markets. Group-affiliated farmers recorded higher yields and better bargaining capacity than non-affiliated farmers. Organic manure application, pruning, and pest and disease management were associated with improved productivity. Marketing channels also influenced income, with structured outlets offering more favourable returns than brokers or farm-gate sales. The study concludes that improving extension support, farmer organisation, gender-sensitive services and structured marketing systems is essential for increasing mango productivity and incomes in Siaya County.