Factors affecting the distribution of dairy products: a case of Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society Limited

Abstract

In many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, there has been increasing desire to institute policy and institutional reforms to raise sectoral productivity and income growth. These concerns include the need to encourage private sector participation in providing farm inputs, financial and marketing services, and technical support (Nyariki and Thirtle, 2000). The reforms in the dairy sector in Kenya, for example, were aimed at meeting the dairy production requirements through the use of improved technologies, increased input use and creation of an enabling economic and institutional environment, with favourable dairy development policies. The' general objective of this study was to establish the factors that affect the distribution of dairy products in Kenya. The research design that was used in this study was descriptive design. In this regards, since this study was investigating the factors that affect the distribution of dairy products, descriptive research becomes the most appropriate. The target population of this study included employee 41emplyees of Githunguri Dairy Farmers Co-operative societies from various level of management, 200 Distributors and 10 sales representatives. From the above population a sample of 30% from within each group in proportions that each group bear to the population as a whole was taken using stratified random sampling which gave each item in the population an equal probability chance of being selected. Therefore, a total sample of 75 respondents was selected for this study. The study used primary data collected through questionnaires to carry out the study. The coded data was then analyzed using statistical measures such as percentages, mean scores and standard deviations. The researcher used data with an aim of presenting the research findings in respect to the factors affecting the distribution of product of Githunguri D.F.C.S. The study revealed that market availability affects the distribution of dairy products, the study also found that market availability affects the distribution of dairy product to great extent. The study established that the nature of the product produced by the company affects the distribution of its product, the study found that the nature of the product affects the distribution of the products to great extent. The study further revealed that packaging affects the distribution of dairy products to great extent. It was further established that infrastructure affect the distribution of dairy products to great extent. The study further revealed that infrastructure affects the distribution of dairy products through various distribution channels, road network and various types of distribution methods.