Factors Influencing Performance of Dairy Farming Projects in Cherangani Sub County, Trans-nzoia County, Kenya

Abstract

Dairy farming remains the economic backbone of livestock farmers in high potential areas. Milk and dairy products forms a vital source of nutrition, livelihoods (food security and poverty alleviation) opportunities for farmers and other stakeholders. However, in many farms, milk productivity per animal is low compared to other parts of the world despite the technological advances in animal breeding and value addition. This has created both economic and nutritional challenges while the demand and value for dairy products is projected to increase in the world. Thus, the purpose of the study was to examine the factors influencing performance of dairy farming projects in Cherangany, Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to: determine how institutional factors influence performance of dairy farming projects in Cherangany, Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya, examine how socio-economic factors influence performance of dairy farming projects in Cherangany, Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya, establish how dairying profitability influence performance of dairy farming projects in Cherangany, Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya and ascertain how dairy production influence performance of dairy farming projects in Cherangany sub-county, Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya. It adopted descriptive research design with a target population of 388 persons comprised of the 348 small scale dairy farmers, 10 officials from Kenya Dairy Board and 30 officials from the Ministry of Agriculture. The sample size of 198 persons was determined from a target population of 348 using the Krejcie & Morgan Table (1970). The data was collected using questionnaires and interviews guides. Reliability of the instruments was determined through a pilot study where Cronbach alpha coefficients of 0.721, 0.771, .821 and 0.736 were obtained for the instruments on institutional management, socioeconomic, profitability and dairy production respectively. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, and presented in graph and tables, while qualitative data from interviews was organized into themes and sub-themes. The study established that institutional management factors, socio-economic factors, profitability and dairy production influence the performance of the dairy farming projects. The study therefore recommended that for sustainable millennium development goals, the policy makers, the government and other agricultural stakeholders should consider factors such as institutional management factors, socio-economic, profitability and dairy production to enhance performance of dairy farming.