Influence Of Dairy Farming Practices On Households Income In Kenya

Abstract

The dairy subsector is important in attaining the development goal of vision 2030. It is dominated by smallholders who produce over 80% of the domestic milk and sale raw milk directly to consumers, not only do poor smallholder dairy farmers earn steady incomes from milk, the dairy sector also creates demand for wage labour in the farm and creation of mobile milk traders. Kenya’s dairy sector has the potential to generate growth and employment opportunities, which benefits the poorest of the rural and urban populations despite the growth in dairy farming over the years, there is a lot of imbalance in income as compared to dairy production in inputs which is costly and labour intensive. Majority of farmers still fail to understand the connection between dairy productivity in terms of income and farming practices. Without careful analysis of the patterns of benefits reaped from good farming practices, we cannot accept at the face value that dairy farming can be both fulfilling and satisfying. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of dairy farming practices on income in Bungoma County. The study sought to establish the extent to which milk production, animal husbandry, technology and feeding management influences household income. Descriptive survey design involving both quantitative and qualitative method of data collection was used, primary data was collected from target population of 2740 of which 335 was the determined sample size determined from Krejcie and Morgan table. Data collected was analysed using SPSS for mean, frequency and percentages. The findings were milk production, animal husbandry, technology; feed management to a very great extent influenced the improvement of household income. The study concluded that the breed of the animal and nutrition is essential in turn influence the level of milk produced, animal health, housing and welfare to a very great extent influence the improvement of household income and the use of suitable and well maintenance of milking and storage equipment, and adoption of a good mating system will enhance the standards when handling the cows were aspects of production that influence improvement of household income. The study recommended that the project or ministry of livestock devise strategies on how to reach the dairy farmers who desire to expand in dairy farming but are frequently faced with challenges ranging from financial, knowledge and skills towards growth and profit.