Factors influencing farmers' choice of method for controlling east coast fever in Kiruhura District

Abstract

The study investigated the factors influencing the farmers’ choice of method for controlling the East Coast Fever in Kiruhura district. The independent variable of the study was factors influencing the farmers choice of method measured in terms of farmer’s knowledge of ECF control measures and socio economic factors while as the dependent variable was farmers’ choice of method of controlling ECF disease. The target population was 196 respondents and a sample size of 96 respondents (Kish Leslie formula for single proportion) was selected using stratified and systemic sampling as the sampling techniques. Data was collected using questionnaires. Both quantitative and qualitative were collected. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression, people and ANOVA while as qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The overall response rate was 100%, the study established a weak positive relationship between a farmer’s knowledge of ECF control measures and choice of method of ECF control with a correlation of 0.390, the R2 was 15.2% and P-value of 0.000. The study as well established a moderate positive relationship between socio economic factors and choice of method of ECF control with a Pearson’s correlation of 0.596, the R2 was 35.6% and the P-value was 0.000. The study concluded that there is a positive relationship between knowledge of farmers about ECF control measures, socio economic factors like of services and distance to service centers and the choice of the method of ECF control. The study therefore recommended that farm owners should put more emphasis on understanding the ECF control measures and the socio economic factors associated with each method of control as measures to improve their chances of choosing the right method of ECF control.