| dc.description.abstract | This study was carried out in Bwambara in Rukungiri District with the aim of finding out the socio-economic factors affecting cattle keeping. The specific objectives of the study were; to determine the socio-economic factors that are affecting cattle keeping and to assess the contribution of cattle keeping on household incomes. The study used a cross-sectional research design to obtain data from 50 cattle keepers. The results indicated that there was a significant contribution of livestock keeping towards the household incomes of farmers. In addition, livestock diseases, lack of water & pasture, cost of drugs and vet services plus poor marketing and thefts were the main socio-economic factors that affected cattle keepers. Most farmers could easily afford basic needs like sugar, soap among others. A few of them had some funds saved and a considerable number of them did not have newly purchased livestock. However, on the negative side many farmers could not easily afford the costs of veterinary services. Basing on the findings, it was recommended that the government should prioritize the investing in the livestock sector as the engine to poverty alleviation and that this should be manifested in the planning and budgeting process. The study also suggested that government should adopt price legislation for cattle and all its products so as to discourage exploitation of farmers on the market. | en_US |
