Factors associated with the number of cattle reared in Uganda
Abstract
Cattle rearing is still low in the country because of poverty and the always rising demands for human food brought on by population growth. Additionally, the amount of cattle produced has decreased because of difficulty in accessing veterinary care and widespread cattle diseases. The study sought to find out the demographic and socio-economic factors that influenced the number of cattle reared. Secondary data was used and was obtained from surveys conducted in 2019 by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). A linear regression model was used to investigate the effect of demographic and socio-economic factors on the number of cattle reared.
Results indicated that most of the cattle was kept in the western region (36.4%), with minority in central (11.5%). Most cattle keepers were above 50 years (44.8%) and the minority were 34 years and below (16.2%). Majority had primary education (56.1%), and minority with above secondary education (4.6%). Majority did not belong to farmers’ groups (83.8%). Majority accessed and acquired credit and loans from the self-help groups (95%), and minority from commercial and public credit providers (0.8%). Most farmers’ other economic activity was agriculture (83.6%) and minority had household work (0.8%). Majority were 3 to 5 kilometers far away from the veterinary facility (80.4%) and minority were more than 15km (1.1%). The main factors highly associated with the number of cattle reared were farmers’ other economic activity i.e., paid job outside cattle rearing (p=0.000) which implied that on average, those with paid jobs outside cattle rearing kept 0.62 cattle less than those engaged in agricultural activity, level of education i.e., above secondary education (p=0.000) which implied that on average farmers above secondary education kept 2.35 more cattle than those with no formal education and age of the farmer i.e., above 50 years (p=0.003) which implied that those above 50 years kept 0.47 more cattle than those below 34. Belonging to farmer group was also significant (p=0.042).
Findings showed that farmers’ other economic activity, level of education, age and belonging to farmer group influenced the number of cattle reared. The study recommended that farmers should be encouraged to join farmer groups such that they can obtain various inputs and marketing services and also educating farmers about the good practices of cattle rearing which may increase the number of cattle reared.