Levels and factors that influence record keeping on selected dairy farms in Kyangyenyi sub county Sheema district western Uganda

Abstract

Record keeping is the important tool in the agricultural sectors especially among dairy farmers, it facilities good accountability of the farm produces and productivity .In developed countries like U.S.A and Louisiana dairy farmers adopted proper record keeping system which have enabled them to make their dairy farms of high stardards,increase of their income, productivity and helped them to make proper accountability and decision making due to proper handling of record kepings,and failure to keep records accurately results to poor accountability and bad decision making on dairy farms. However poor record keeping can influence performance of dairy farming projects in Uganda. The study concerns factor that influence record keeping. The study was carried out on selected dairy farms in Kyangenyi sub county Sheema district western Uganda. The main objective of the study was to establish levels and factors that influence record keeping on selected dairy farms in Kyangenyi Sub County. The study was carried out on 50 respondents on 50 dairy farms and with the help of self-administered questionnaires and personal interviews, primary and secondary data was collected using questionnaires and reviewing the existing literature. The findings revealed that record keeping practices and process increase the costs of production thus affecting the performance and growth. However, the study also revealed that record keeping is a vital practice in business management because it facilitates accountability process, proper management and decision making. Recommendations made include; A basic record keeping system, whether on paper or an off- shelf computer software program, should be simple to use, easy to understand, reliable, accurate, and consistent and designed to provide information on a timely basis.