Farmers’ Knowledge on the Occurrence and Management of Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera Spp.) in Kenya: A Diagnostic Survey-based Case Analysis

Farmers’ Knowledge on the Occurrence and Management of Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera Spp.) in Kenya: A Diagnostic Survey-based Case Analysis | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Farmers’ Knowledge on the Occurrence and Management of Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera Spp.) in Kenya: A Diagnostic Survey-based Case Analysis EUNICE NAITUTAE SAITIEU, Maurice Edwards Oyoo, Miriam Karwitha Charimbu, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7618085/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Potato cyst nematode (Globodera spp.) is a global quarantine pest that threatens potato production in Kenya. Since its first detection in 2015, Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) has spread across major potato-growing wards and can cause yield losses exceeding 80% if unmanaged. Farmers’ knowledge of PCN occurrence, symptom recognition, and management remains limited, yet it is critical for early detection and the adoption of effective control strategies. This study assessed farmers’ knowledge, sources of information, and socio-demographic and institutional factors influencing PCN awareness and management. A cross-sectional survey of 188 farmers was conducted in the major potato-growing wards of Narok (Olloropil, Olokurto, Melili) and Elgeyo Marakwet (Lelan, Chepkorio, Kabiemit). Data were collected using pretested semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Results showed that 56% of farmers were aware of PCN, but only 14% could accurately identify its symptoms or mention effective management practices. Awareness varied markedly, with Olloropil (Narok) showing the highest (79%) and Chepkorio (Elgeyo Marakwet) the lowest (0%). Key information sources were fellow farmers (68%), extension officers (27%), and mass media (6%). Training (β = 5.344, p < 0.001), soil testing (β = 2.928, p < 0.001), and pest management challenges (β = 1.975, p = 0.013) were significant predictors of awareness. However, only 6.9% had accessed resistant varieties, and 13.3% had conducted soil tests for PCN. The findings highlight fragmented knowledge shaped by informal networks, limited institutional engagement, and uneven diagnostic access. Strengthening extension services, farmer education, and access to soil testing, alongside scaling resistant varieties, is essential to promote PCN management and safeguard potato production in Kenya. Cyst Farmers Knowledge Nematodes Management Potato Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Sep, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 17 Sep, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 17 Sep, 2025 First submitted to journal 15 Sep, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7618085","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":516294512,"identity":"a5541c69-7444-41b1-aa64-58355e6ccb12","order_by":0,"name":"EUNICE NAITUTAE SAITIEU","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA9UlEQVRIie3PsYrCMBjA8XwEsuW6Vhx8hR7Ohw/iorga5w415CikSx/AQfQVdOmcEKhLwVVwucPVwbFwcFzibQe13iaYPyR8w/cjBCGf70FT7iIIBEKxnTAWdxLiSOUItJPfiD0g3dRCgpBpVce899JL3090NR8GmSV1XDSSzmI20nllXiWBtE+LHVsYEJBXx0YSHaaRAanAEtmlRcmEJRhkMxlcyTcfWJJ90WXJ1m0kCh0ReOxewVQkbNNGwuoc6bw0E0nGaWdZKra1RN/6S5BN+5c64W/rdPd5OSecrfZGf9RxM/mbud7q7n0b/8+yz+fzPUk/8fJbRx9eP8YAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Egerton University - 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Since its first detection in 2015, Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) has spread across major potato-growing wards and can cause yield losses exceeding 80% if unmanaged. Farmers’ knowledge of PCN occurrence, symptom recognition, and management remains limited, yet it is critical for early detection and the adoption of effective control strategies. This study assessed farmers’ knowledge, sources of information, and socio-demographic and institutional factors influencing PCN awareness and management. A cross-sectional survey of 188 farmers was conducted in the major potato-growing wards of Narok (Olloropil, Olokurto, Melili) and Elgeyo Marakwet (Lelan, Chepkorio, Kabiemit). Data were collected using pretested semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResults showed that 56% of farmers were aware of PCN, but only 14% could accurately identify its symptoms or mention effective management practices. Awareness varied markedly, with Olloropil (Narok) showing the highest (79%) and Chepkorio (Elgeyo Marakwet) the lowest (0%). Key information sources were fellow farmers (68%), extension officers (27%), and mass media (6%). Training (β = 5.344, p \u0026lt; 0.001), soil testing (β = 2.928, p \u0026lt; 0.001), and pest management challenges (β = 1.975, p = 0.013) were significant predictors of awareness. However, only 6.9% had accessed resistant varieties, and 13.3% had conducted soil tests for PCN. The findings highlight fragmented knowledge shaped by informal networks, limited institutional engagement, and uneven diagnostic access. Strengthening extension services, farmer education, and access to soil testing, alongside scaling resistant varieties, is essential to promote PCN management and safeguard potato production in Kenya.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Farmers’ Knowledge on the Occurrence and Management of Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera Spp.) in Kenya: A Diagnostic Survey-based Case Analysis","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-09-25 21:23:26","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7618085/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2025-09-17T18:14:56+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-09-17T06:09:03+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-09-17T06:04:26+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Potato Research","date":"2025-09-15T04:29:43+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"potato-research","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"potr","sideBox":"Learn more about [Potato Research](http://link.springer.com/journal/11540)","snPcode":"11540","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/potr/default2.aspx","title":"Potato Research","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"12c99c1c-4ecf-4fef-9b9a-d2fc5f50de71","owner":[],"postedDate":"September 25th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"in-revision","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-13T11:01:53+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-09-25 21:23:26","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7618085","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7618085","identity":"rs-7618085","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}