The impact of dairy farming on household income of dairy farmers: a case study of Dwaniro Sub-county Kiboga district

Abstract

This study was conducted in Dwaniro Sub County, Kiboga district. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of dairy farming of household income of dairy farmers in Dwaniro sub-county Kiboga district. The research methodology for the study was descriptive cross-sectional research design. The sample size was 80 dairy farmers and 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 analyzed SPSS version 20. The study findings indicated that majority of the respondents (59%) were aged above 45 years, and only 9% were aged below 25 years. Results indicated that 39% of the respondents sold 1500 – 3000 litres, 34% of the respondents were selling 3001 – 6000 litres and only 8% of the respondents were selling above 6000 litres of milk per month. The study findings indicated that majority of the dairy farmers in Dwaniro sub county were selling at least 1500 litres of milk per month. The study found out that quantity of milk sold per month has a significant influence on income from dairy farm in Dwaniro sub county at 0.05 level of significance (p-value = 0.003). The study findings indicated that 55% of the respondents were selling between 51 to 100 cows per year, 26% were selling between 10 and 50 cows per year while only 1% were selling below 10 cows per year. The study findings indicated that since p-value = 0.000 was less than 0.05, then cattle sales have a significant influence on income from dairy farm in Dwaniro sub county. The more the cattle sales, the more the income earned from dairy farming and the greater the impact on household expenditure. The study findings indicated that 53% of the respondents were selling 10-30 kilograms, 21% were selling below 10 kilograms per month and 13% were selling 35-50 kilograms. The study also found a significant relationship using chi-square test of association between butter sales and impact on household expenditure at 0.05 level of significance (p-value = 0.000). The study concluded that quantity of milk sold, cattle sales and butter sales significantly affect the income obtained from a dairy farm. The study recommended that dairy farmers should adopt good marketing practices like use of cooperatives so as to increase the quantity of milk sold and at a higher price so as to increase the income obtained from dairy farming and Farmers should rear high breeds of cattle to increase milk sales and butter since milk of such breeds has high fat content and increased cattle sales because of high demand of such breeds and thus increase household incomes.