Project design factors, utilization of indigenous knowledge, project leadership and sustainability of dairy goat projects in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

Abstract

Evidence from the literature indicates that sustainability of development projects such as dairy goat projects is seldom realized, especially where sustainability predictors are not scrutinized. Dairy goat projects have been designed and implemented in different areas in Kenya, to promote dairy goat subsector, however, their sustainability has been an area of concern. This study examined the project design factors, utilization of indigenous knowledge, project leadership and sustainability of dairy goat projects in Tharaka Nithi County. The following seven objectives guided the study; to establish how project beneficiary selection process influence the sustainability of dairy goat projects, to assess the extent to which community capacity influence the sustainability of dairy goat projects, to establish how institutional linkages influence the sustainability of dairy goat projects, to establish the extent to which dairy goat projects infrastructure influence the sustainability of dairy goat projects, to examine the extent to which the combined project design factors influence the sustainability of dairy goat projects and to establish how combined project design factors influence the sustainability of dairy goat projects. Also to establish how utilization of indigenous knowledge and project leadership moderates the relationship between the combined project design factors and sustainability of dairy goat projects. Guided by the pragmatic paradigm, this study used descriptive cross sectional survey and correlation design supported by the mixed mode approach of data collection, analysis and presentation. The study was anchored on the structural-functional theory, diffusion of innovations theory and collective action theory. Using a combination of multiphase or sequential sampling, stratified random sampling technique, and purposive sampling procedure, a sample size of 196 respondents was selected from a total population of 391 dairy goat farmers. Questionnaires with Likert-type interval scale anchored on a five-point scale was used to collect data. A total of thirteen (13) key informants sub county livestock officer, veterinary officer, social services officer and project officials were selected purposively and interviewed. Six self-help groups were sampled randomly from for focus group discussions. Descriptive statistics were computed for all variables and frequencies, percentages, arithmetic mean and standard deviation presented. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (r), simple regression, multiple regression and stepwise regression (R squared), F-tests were used to test hypotheses. Results indicates that for objective one, r = 0.224, P=0.002<0.05, F (1,186) =9.850 therefore H01 was rejected, objective two r = 0.096, P=0192<0.05, F (1,186) = 1.718) hence H02 was accepted, Objective three r = 0.179, P=0.014<0.05, F (1,186) =6.146 therefore H03 was rejected. For objective four, r = 0.322, P=0.000<0.05, F (1,186) =21.482 therefore H04 was rejected, objective five; r = 0.389, P=0.000<0.05, F (1,183) =8.176 hence H05 was rejected, objective six, r = 0.104, 0.489, P=0.000<0.05, F (4,184) =1.856, F (1,187) =6.490, therefore, H06 was rejected and finally objective seven; r = 0.494, 0.671, and 0.111, P=0.000<0.05, F=5.271, F=108, F=1.763 thus H07 was accepted. From the findings of this study, it can be concluded that project design factors are important in the sustainability of dairy goat project and recommend the integration of authentic selection of project beneficiaries and building their capacities to sustain dairy goat projects. Further components of dairy goat projects require proper linkages to key support institutions and development of the necessary infrastructure for dairy goat’s projects. At the same time, the effect of the utilization of indigenous knowledge and project leadership cannot be ignored. Based on the findings of this study, further study is suggested to establish the influence of youth participation in dairy goat projects as well as a study on gender perspectives in dairy goat’s project management.