The Extent to Which Rainfall Variability has Affected Small Scale Dairy Farmers in Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya
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Date
2023-09
Authors
Nyongesa, Geoffrey Mukhebi
Makokha, George
Mbuthia, Susan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IJRISS
Abstract
Dairy farming in Kenya remains among the key wheelers to the Nations GDP contributor at about 6- 8%.
Majority of the farmers in this sector, are small scale who mostly have no knowledge and capacity to handle
challenges posed by rainfall variability that causes frequent droughts, impacting on water and pasture supply
to their animals. Objective of study was: To assess the extent to which rainfall variability had affected small
scale dairy farming in Uasin-Gishu County in Kenya between years 2010-2020. Rainfall data was collected
from the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), Eldoret. While milk produce data was obtained from
Ministry of Agriculture Uasin-Gishu County. Structured Questionnaires were used to collect data from
farmers with few key respondents interviewed on the same . The questionnaire was administered to small
scale dairy farmers who were sampled in a stratified manner based on their sub counties, then randomly
within the Sub County. In total about 368 small scale dairy farmers were sampled out of which 300 (82%)
of administered questionnaire were fully responded to. Analysis of objective one was done by Pearson
correlation to establish the relationship between various rainfall characteristics and milk produce. Total
annual rainfall with total annual milk had correlation of r= 0.532, number of rainy days in a year to the
amount of milk with Pearson correlation of r =0.375, P>0.05. Onset and cessation periods had Pearson
correlation of r=0.305 and r=0,019 respectively. Average monthly rainfall to milk had Pearson correlation
indicating a negative relationship of r= -0.424, P= 0.169, meaning months with high rainfall amounts had
lower milk produced while dry ones had higher milk produced. The researcher therefore failed to accept the
null hypothesis and adopted the alternative one that rainfall variability has had significant impact on small
scale dairy farming in Uasin –Gishu County. Research recommended that farmers should keep more of
cross breed animals which cope with climate variability unlike exotic ones. There was also need for farmers
to join and strengthen cooperative societies to assist them adapt, this is besides use of digital methods of
sharing challenges and solutions to rainfall variability
Description
Article
Keywords
Milk production, dairy farmers, Rainfall variability, onset and ceasation
Citation
Nyongesa, G. M., Makokha, G., & Mbuthia, S. (2023). The Extent to Which Rainfall Variability has Affected Small Scale Dairy Farmers in Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 7(10), 1319-1338.