Analysis of factors affecting dairy goat farming among small Scale farmers: a case of marakwet east sub county

Abstract

Agricultural sectors are the backbone of most developing countries like Kenya. These countries depend entirely on Agriculture for the economy. For instance, in Kenya agriculture contributes to 24% of the GDP. Also, agriculture employs 70% of the labour in the country. Despite the great contribution, agricultural performance has been declining. The future expansion of earnings from the sector is expected to be more from improvement of various agricultural sectors including dairy goat farming enterprise hence this study calls for the analysis of the factors affecting dairy goat farming, the factors are; the income level of the farmers, availability of extension services, technological level and the land size. This case study is focussing on the small-scale farmers of Marakwet east Sub -County in Elgeyo Marakwet County. Descriptive research design has been used targeting a sample size of 90 small-scale farmers. The aim of this study is to analyze the factors affecting dairy goat farming in order to increase production and minimize the cost. Closed questions and also interview and observations have been used to collect data. The secondary data is also collected from agricultural newspapers, magazines, textbooks and internet. The descriptive and inferential statistics, which include chi – squire percentages and tables are used in data analysis. Statistical Packages for Social Scientists (SPSS) program is used in processing the collected data. This study is significant because it is hoped that findings of the study are expected to help the researcher in making conclusions and making recommendations, which will assist the dairy goat farmers to carry out the farming as an enterprise and improve the production. Analysis was done and it was shown that this factor influence dairy goat faming. Farmers in the area have low levels of technology in dairy goat farming due to their low education level. Insufficient extension services too contributes to the poor performance in the sub-sector. Farmers are not able to receive the services in time hence contributing to low production. Land size too is another limiting factor in the study area. Most of the farmers have less than one acre of land to carry out farming, both crop production and animal rearing making this land not to be sufficient. Income levels also is a factor that affect dairy goat farmers in the area. Majority of the farmers earn less than ksh.10,000 which will not be sufficient to meet the family needs as well farming. In conclusion this factors were analysed and recommendation were made based on the results.