Characterizing small-holder dairy farms: a multivariate approach
Abstract
In the recent past numerous papers have used mathematical programming methods to analyze the
smallholder farming systems problems. Unfortunately the existence of heterogeneity amongst
smallholder farmers in any area is not given its due recognition in most of the papers. The
current study uses principal component and cluster analysis to construct classification of
Smallholder farms in two regions in Senegal. The main sources of differences amongst the
clusters obtained is grazing systems and marketing methods of dairy products. Asset ownership
and feeding group of farmers was distinct. This is an important result, as the constructed asset
indices were significant in classification and may form basis of analysis of the development
policies for the region
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Description
Thesis