Factors Affecting Adoption of Napier Grass by Dairy Farmers in Uganda: A Case Study of Nyabushozi County, Kiruhuura Districte University

Abstract

This study was conducted in Nyabushozi County, Kiruhuura district. The objective of the study was to establish how demographic, economic and institutional factors associated Napier grass adoption by dairy farmers in Nyabushozi County.The research methodology for the study was descriptive cross-sectional research design. The sample size was 199 dairy farmersand stratified sampling technique was applied in selecting the respondents who were included in the sample. The researcher used questionnaires to collect data and data was analysed SPSS version 20.The research findings indicated that majority (67.21%) of the respondents were males while 32.79% were females. Since the P-Value (0.996) was not less than the critical value (0.05), it implies that sex of a farmer does not significantly influence a farmer to influence Napier grass.The study findings indicated that the highest percentage (47.54%) of the respondents were of secondary level while 31.69% were primary dropouts and the least percentage (4.918%) of the respondents had not finished even primary level. Education level of a farmer influences their decision to adopt Napier grass since the P-Value (0.000) was less than the critical value (0.05). Most of the respondents (45.36%) earn an average income of UGX. 1,000,000 per month, followed by those who earn between UGX. 400,000 – 1,000,000 (30.60%) while the least of them (8.74%) earn below UGX. 200,000 per month. Income earned from dairy farming influences farmer’s decision to adopt Napier grass since the P-Value (0.000) was less than the critical value (0.05).Results indicated that the majority of the respondents (51.91%) owned acres of land between 20 and 29 followed by respondents with above 30 acres (23.5%) while the least (10.93%) had less than 10 acres of land.Land size owned by a farmer influences their decision to adopt Napier grass since the P-Value (0.000) was less than the critical value (0.05).Finally, results from the study also indicated that 57.3% agreed that in trainings as dairy farmers, they are usually encouraged to adopt new fodders to increase feed availability. Since the P-Value (0.000) was less than the critical value (0.05), it implies that study tours by a farmer significantly influences Napier grass adoption. The study concluded that both young men and women participate in dairy farming in Nyabushozi County while a majority of them have undergone basic education that education level influences Napier grass adoption. It also concluded that farmers obtaining a lot of income from dairy farming can easily adopt Napier grass. The study recommended that the government should focus on sensitizing dairy farmers about the benefits of Napier grass as fodder so as to increase food security in dairy farming.