Determinants of Small Holder Dairy Farmers Milk Production and Supply to Market in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue IV, April 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Determinants of Small Holder Dairy Farmers Milk Production and Supply to Market in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Elly Kiptanui Kurgat¹, Sharon Jebiwott Keror², Harrison Kimutai Yego^2*, Mathew Kipkoech Bartilol^2
1County Government of Nandi, Kenya
²Moi University, Department of Agricultural Economics and Resource Management, P.O BOX 30900, Eldoret, Kenya
Corresponding author: Harrison Kimutai Yego

Abstract: – This study aimed at analyzing the determinants of small holder dairy farmers’ milk production and supply to market in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. A Cobb Douglas production function was used to determine the factors influencing the quantity of milk produced while a supply function was used to determine factors influencing the quantity of milk marketed. Results of this study indicated that farmers are doing dairy farming for commercial purpose (79%) which is a clear step towards improving productivity and marketing. Factors which significantly affected milk production included milk price, training on animal husbandry, access to AI services, total farm size and group membership whereas sex of household head and the duration of keeping dairy cattle did not significantly influence milk production. The variables which significantly influenced the quantity of milk sold to the market were amount of milk produced and amount of milk consumed at home whereas household size and average price of milk did not significantly affect amount of milk supplied to the market. Given the results of this study the government should invest more in dairypolicies geared towards price stabilization, provision of AI services and training on dairy farming. Farmers should also be encouraged to join farmer dairy groups.

Key words: Cobb-Douglas, Commercialisation, Demand, Milk productivity, Market, Supply

I.INTRODUCTION

A general agreement exists that agriculture is the cornerstone to economic growth in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, contributing about 70% of total employment and over 30% of GPD (Rahman and Manprasert, 2006) [1]. Nearly 80% of Kenya’s population of over 40 million live in the rural areas where three quarters engage in agricultural activities (GOK, 2009) [2]. The Livestock sector alone contributes 10 percent of total GDP and 30 percent of agricultural GDP, out of which the dairy sub sector (excluding live animals) contributes 4% GDP and 30 percent of livestock GDP (FAO, 2011) [3]. Smallholder dairy in Kenya is one of the most successful in Africa (Staaletal., 2008) [4].Commodity production and trade have substantial bearing on sustainable livelihoods of the poor, as well as on the exports and growth of a number of commodity-dependent developing countries.
Kenya’s dairy production is largely smallholder. According to Conelly 1998, [5] it was not until 1954 after the Swynnerton plan that the native population were allowed to engage in commercial agriculture. By 1963, when Kenya attained independence, the dairy herd had increased to about 400,000 exotic cattle largely in the hands of the settlers.Smallholder dairy farmers produce over 80% of the marketed milk with production concentrated in Central and the Rift valley regions. The productivity per animal is however lower than the global leaders like the EU countries, USA, South Africa and New Zealand (Staal et al, 2008) [4].

Read More