| dc.description.abstract | Food security forms a basis of the realization of the social and economic pillars of the Kenya Governments growth blue print, the Kenya Vision 2030. This study was motivated by the need to find means of increasing milk supply in Kenya in order to meet an expected rise in demand. The study was concerned with the analysis of performance of smallholder darry cattle milk production in Githunguri and Gatanga districts. The purpose of this study was to analyze the performance of small holder dairy cattle milk production in Githunguri and Gatanga Districts.
The study has five specific objectives; the first was to establish the relationship between fodder utilization and the performance of small holder dairy cattle milk production in Githunguri and Gatanga Districts. The second was to determine relationship between breeding stock and the performance of small holder dairy cattle milk production in Githunguri and Gatanga Districts. The third objective was to determine relationship between access to credit and the performance of small holder dairy cattle milk production in Githunguri and Gatanga Districts. The fourth was to establish the relationship between access to extension service and the performance of small holder dairy cattle milk production in Githunguri and Gatanga Districts. The fifth was to determine relationship between milk marketing and the performance of small holder dairy cattle milk production in Githunguri and Gatanga Districts.
The research design for the study was mixed method research design using quantitative and qualitative techniques of data collection; the quantitative technique answered occurrence, while the qualitative technique sought to answer the 'why?' aspect of the study. The quantitative technique involved use of questionnaire, while the qualitative technique involved use of key informant interview (interview guide). The target population was the small holder dairy cattle farmers in Gatanga and Githunguri districts. The sample size for the study was 162 which was based on the Krejcie and Morgan sampling table. The main sampling technique for the study was purposive and proportionate to size (PPS) sampling approach.
The data collection instrument that was used was a questionnaire for farmers and an interview guide for livestock extension officers. In order to validate the instrument, it was given to peers and other experts and their comments were used to make adjustments to the instruments. Reliability of instruments was established through the use of a correlation coefficient. The split-half reliability method was used. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data that was collected. Most of the data that was collected was either in the nominal or ordinal scales. Descriptive analysis was through frequencies, percentages and modes.
Data collected was coded, then summarized and analyzed through SPSS. From the discussions of the findings, the study has demonstrated that fodder availability, access to credit, access to improved breeding stock, access to extension service and milk marketing are important components of dairy cattle milk production. The study recommends that fodder, credit, extension service, improved breeding stock, organized milk markets and better milk prices and formation of cooperatives should be done in order to increase milk production. Suggestions for further research are to do a study to establish how veterinary services influences milk production, to replicate the comparative study in other areas and to establish how other factors like policies influence milk production. | en_US |
