Influence Of Post-Privatization Management Practices And Monitoring And Evaluation Strategies On Quality Of Artificial Insemination Services In Cattle In Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract

Privatization of some Government functions has meant that Governments have lost their monopoly as sources of technical information as well as their direct control of the quality of services including the practice of artificial insemination in Nyeri County, Kenya. This research sought to investigate the influence of post-privatization management practices and monitoring and evaluation strategies on quality of artificial insemination services. The five objectives pursued in the study were to: establish to what extent artificial insemination capacity building influences quality of artificial insemination services; determine the influence of technology application on quality of artificial insemination services; determine how legal status of service providers influences quality of artificial insemination services; establish the combined influence of post-privatization management practices on quality of artificial insemination services and; establish the moderating influence of monitoring and evaluation strategies on the relationship between post-privatization management practices and quality of artificial insemination services in Nyeri County. The investigation was carried out through a combination of a survey and key informant interviews. The study targeted a total of 8 Veterinary Officers in charge of artificial insemination services, 75 artificial insemination service providers and 204 farmers. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected using questionnaires and interview guides. The data was analysed using statistical tools aided by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 22 and summarized using Tables. Conclusions were made from the data after analysis using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation, Chi Square, ANOVA and Multiple Regression. It was found that 71.9% of AI service providers had received post-qualification training on AI related issues and 74.5% of farmers were able to receive AI information whenever they needed it. The use of sex-selected semen and oestrus synchronization was practiced by 33.51% and 10.11% of farmers respectively. None of the farmers had practiced embryo transfer. The study showed that 89.5% of AI service providers in the study were private, 7% were from cooperative societies and 3.5% were from farmer self-help groups. The results of the hypothesis tests found that there is no significant relationship between capacity building and quality of artificial insemination services for both AI service providers and farmers; Technology application has no significant influence on quality of artificial insemination services for AI service providers but has a significant influence for farmers; There is no significant relationship between the legal status of AI service provider organization and quality of AI services for service providers but there is for farmers; Post-privatization management practices have no significant combined influence on quality of artificial insemination services for AI service providers but they have for farmers and; The strength of the relationship between post-privatization management practices and quality of artificial insemination does not depend on monitoring and evaluation strategies for AI service providers but it does for farmers. The recommendations made from the study were that there is a need to strengthen extension services, incorporate quality and monitoring and evaluation in the training curriculum for service providers and conduct more research in areas relating to quality of artificial insemination services. The findings of the study will be useful to the staff of State Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, County Departments in charge of Livestock, AI service providers, farmers and stakeholders in making quality decisions.