Assessing the adoption of Artificial Insemination technology among pig farmers in Wakiso and Buikwe Districts, Uganda

Abstract

This study was aimed at assessing the adoption of artificial insemination technology among pig farmers in selected areas of Buikwe and Wakiso Districts. The specific objectives included identifying farmer characteristics, knowledge, and practices that contribute to A.I technology adoption, the drivers of the adoption of pig artificial insemination technology, as well as comparing the farrowing rate and average litter size of pigs served with processed semen through A.I and those served through natural service. A well-designed questionnaire was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from the pig farmers and SPSS was used for data analysis where descriptive statistics were obtained and presented as frequencies and percentages. A chi-square test was done to determine farmer characteristics, knowledge, and practices that contribute to A. I adoption. Farmer characteristics such as location, gender and off-farm employment were found to have a statistical significance with adoption. Pig farmer’s trial of A. I technology, Record-keeping practice and the ability to confirm standing heat also had a statistically significant relationship with the adoption of A. I technology. Drivers against A. I adoption included: the high cost of A. I service, access to boar, lack of sufficient A. I information and peer effect while drivers for adoption included genetic upgrading and inaccessibility to natural breeding services in the community. The farrowing rates and average litter size with AI using processed semen were found to be low with statistically significant differences compared to natural means after running a t-test. There is therefore still a need to improve on access and dissemination of quality AI information among pig farmers to increase the adoption rates for sector development