Relationship between livestock development programme and dairy cattle production among small scale farmers in Homa Bay and Ndhiwa Sub-Counties

Abstract

Since independence Kenya has relied on the agriculture sector which includes livestock as a base for economic growth. Livestock Development Programme (LDP) was a Finnish programme that was initiated in Homa Bay and Ndhiwa sub-counties in 1991-2003 to address constraints in dairy cattle production. Its ultimate goal was to raise milk production and improve small scale dairy cattle farmers’ levels of living. A study to determine the extent of relationship between the LDP programme’s packages: upgrading of Zebu cows, fodder production and disease control may not have been done. The research determined the extent of relationship between the packages and dairy cattle production in the study area. The study adopted a descriptive and correlation design. Study locations were selected purposively because they implemented the programme. Target population was all dairy cattle farmers in Homa Bay and Ndhiwa sub-counties while accessible population was 1044 LDP dairy cattle farmers who implemented the programme. Sample size was 151 small scale dairy cattle farmers and 12 extension agents from Department of Livestock Production. Respondents were selected through proportionate then random sampling. Interview schedules and questionnaires were applied while reliability was ascertained by use of Cronbach’s alpha whose obtained coefficient value was 0.7. Data collected has hopefully added to existing knowledge in dairy cattle production in the study area and in Kenya. The data was gathered from LDP dairy cattle farmers and Department of Livestock Programme extension agents in Homa Bay and Ndhiwa sub-counties through face to face interview. It was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression that was measured at 95% of confidence interval. There was a significant relationship between upgrading of Zebu dairy cows that was measured by number of crosses and run against daily milk yield and current income from milk. There was a significant relationship when fodder production practices measured by acreage allocated for fodder production and number of varieties grown were run against daily milk yield and current income from milk. There was a significant relationship between disease control practices measured by regularity in disease control, adoption of disease control that were run against daily milk yield and current income from milk. These findings indicated that respondents adopted LDP packages and income from dairy cattle production increased. They were able to take their children to school, improve their housing structures and dairy units. Department of Livestock Production should continue sensitizing dairy cattle farmers to enhance productivity in the study area.