Browsing by Author "Okello, D."
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- Determinants of utilization of agricultural technologies among smallholder dairy farmers in KenyaOkello, D.; Owuor, G.; Larochelle, Catherine; Gathungu, E.; Mshenga, P. (2021-12-01)Utilization of agricultural technologies plays a crucial role in enhancing the productivity and income of smallholder dairy farmers. However, the uptake of these technologies is low among majority of smallholder farmers especially in developing countries. Using survey data from 682 households in Murang'a County in Kenya, this study examines determinants and intensity of use of artificial insemination, deworming, vaccination, curative treatment, improved feeds (hay, silage) and pregnancy diagnosis. We applied a multivariate probit model for the simultaneous multiple utilization decisions, and ordered probit models for assessing the intensity of utilization. The study results revealed that education level of household head, number of cows owned, livestock type, milk yield, land size, access to contract, price of milk, access to credit, access to business plan training, membership to dairy cooperatives, type of service providers, receiving of remittance, distance to veterinary and output market were the major factors that affect the likelihood of utilizing dairy agricultural technologies among smallholder farmers in Kenya. The intensity of utilizing dairy technologies was influenced by number of cows in the household, livestock type, land size, access to contract, access to credit, membership to dairy cooperatives and type of service providers. In conclusion, utilization of agricultural technologies is influenced by different household, farm, market and transaction cost characteristics, which could hinder or facilitate the uptake of these technologies. The findings will equip agricultural policy makers and agribusiness service providers in addressing the major barriers facing smallholder dairy farmers in making informed utilization decisions of dairy technologies.
- Effect of agribusiness support services on choice of dairy cooperative market channel in KenyaOkello, D.; Owuor, G.; Larochelle, Catherine; Gathungu, E. (African Journals Online (AJOL), 2020)Kenya is witnessing an immense increase in number of smallholder dairy agripreneurs sourcing income from the dairy sub-sector. Smallholder dairy agripreneurs who dominate the production sector are forced to sell milk to informal buyers such as middlemen/women, who exploit them by paying less than the market price. As a result of this, the Kenyan Government has made significant efforts to upgrade dairy cooperatives to link the dairy agripreneurs with consumers. In spite of this, milk marketing is still dominated by traditional informal outlets. This study sought to determine the effect of provision of agribusiness support services on choice of dairy cooperative market channel. Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of 682 respondents from Muranga County in Kenya, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results revealed that provision of business plan training, group marketing, pregnancy diagnosis and deworming support services had significant and positive effects on the choice of cooperative market channel. In contrast, access to vaccination services and supply of feeds had negative effectson the choice of cooperative market channel. This study recommends strong coordination among the agribusiness support service providers and the dairy cooperatives in order to increase adoption of the cooperative marketing channel. In addition, dairy cooperatives need to redesign their business models to ensure that their members not only receive agribusiness support services, but also get better prices and prompt payments to increase supply of milk to cooperatives by dairy agripreneurs.