Access and Use of Dairy Agricultural Information by Small-Scale Young Farmers in Murang’a County, Kenya
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Date
2018-08
Authors
Thuo, Martha Wanjiku
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Access to agricultural information influences the farming practices adopted by farmers.
Information centres are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that there are adequate,
relevant and up-to-date information resources for all. Dairy farmers need frequent access to
information on nutrition, breed, health status, environment, and among others to cope with
modern dairy farming practices. Inefficient access and dissemination of dairy agricultural
information can negatively affect the production level of dairy products. This study sought to
investigate access and use of dairy agricultural information by small-scale young farmers in
Murang’a County, Kenya. The area has experienced low dairy agricultural productions despite
its high potential in dairy farming. The study aimed at understanding how farmers get
information on dairy farming for improvement in dairy farming production. The study’s specific
objectives were; to assess the information needs and seeking behavior of young farmers
venturing in dairy farming; to find out the various information sources used in accessing dairy
agricultural information by young dairy farmers; to find out the technologies employed by young
dairy farmers in accessing dairy agricultural information and finally investigate the challenges
encountered by small-scale dairy farmers in access and use of dairy agricultural information. The
study used descriptive survey research design. A sample size of 152 respondents were selected
from a target population of 250 young dairy farmers and 12 extension officers who are located in
Kangema, Kiharu, Kigumo and Mathioya constituencies in Murang’a County. Simple random
and purposive samplings were used to select 152 small scale dairy farmers and 12 extension
officers. Questionnaires, interview guides and observation schedules were used as instruments of
data collection. A pilot study was conducted in Maragwa constituency to enhance the reliability
and validity of the instruments. Data was analyzed by use of quantitative and qualitative
methods. Description and thematic analysis was used for qualitative data analysis while
descriptive and inferential numeric analysis was used for quantitative data. Frequency tables, bar
graphs, percentages and pie charts were used to present analyzed data. The study established that
all the young dairy farmers required dairy agricultural information however; factors such as lack
of exposure, lack of confidence, illiteracy, lack of funds and technical difficulties in information
access negatively affected their information seeking behavior. The key source of dairy
agricultural information used by majority of the farmers was radio, others being other dairy
farmers and television. Majority of the farmers never used technologies such as computers,
CD/DVD and social media to access dairy agricultural information. Three quarters preferred
using other sources over technology. Among the most common challenges faced by farmers were
inadequate funds, inadequate extension services, lack of information services, lack of support by
the government and poor infrastructure in rural areas. The study concluded that there are gaps in
access and use of dairy agricultural information. The researcher therefore recommended that the
government should; recruit more extension officers within Murang’a County to ensure improved
extension services, set up agricultural resource centers with qualified information providers to
assess, select and acquire useful agricultural resources, improve infrastructure and set up cyber
cafes within the sub counties and also educate dairy farmers on the use of technologies in
accessing agricultural information
Description
A Research Project Submitted in Partial/Fulfillment of the Degree of Master of Library and Information Science of Kenyatta University.