CONSTRAINTS TO SMALLHOLDER CATTLE PRODUCTION IN FOUR DISTRICTS OF KENYA. Emongor RA1, Ngichabe CK2, Mbithi FM2, Ngumi PN2 and Soi RK2 1 Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, National Veterinary Research Centre, P. O. Box 32 Kikuyu. Tel 0154-3206/7,32703,33411 FAX: 32450 E-mail [email protected] / [email protected] 2 Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Biotechnology Centre, P. O. Box 57811 Nairobi. Tel 02-440113/447983 E-mail [email protected] Introduction. The Kenyan agricultural sector contributes 26.2 % of GDP and employs 80 % of the labor force either directly or indirectly in related activities (GOK, 1997). The livestock sub-sector plays an important role in the livelihood of millions of Kenyans. Livestock accounts for about 10 % GDP and 30% farm gate value of agricultural commodities (GOK, 1997). It contributes products such as milk, meat, eggs, hides and skins and manure for home consumption and surplus products are marketed earning farmers income and therefore contributing to household food security. The livestock sub-sector employs 50% of the agricultural labor force and raw materials for local dairy and meat processing industries. In the mixed crop–livestock production systems in the high and medium potential areas of Kenya, livestock provide manure used to improve soil fertility resulting in better crop yield. Traction power from cattle is useful in land preparation, weeding and transportation. In the pastoral production systems there is total dependence on livestock (cattle, sheep, goats and camels) by the pastoral households. The current study focuses on the constraints faced by cattle producers because cattle has been ranked the top livestock species kept by farmers in most parts of Kenya (Emongor et al, 1999). The objectives of the study were: 1. Determine the constraints facing smallholder cattle producers in the study area. 2. Generate data and information, needed to formulate policy on animal health biotechnology research in the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). Materials and methods Sampling and data collection To meet the objectives of the study, cross sectional surveys were carried out in the four Districts. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was performed. Two hundred and fifty cattle producers were sampled across the four Districts but only 248 farmers responded. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire administered to farmers by trained enumerators. Data Analysis. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance using Proc GLM of Statistical Analysis System (SAS) programme package. Multiple comparisons of treatment means done using the Least Significant difference (LSD) at p=0.05. Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, 2000 1 Available at www.sciquest.org.nz Results The major constraints to cattle production were diseases, lack and /or poor artificial insemination (AI) services, lack of feeds and problems of provision and delivery of livestock services. Cattle diseases were a significant constraint in the four Districts, however there were variations in the severity of the constraint across the four Districts. The main diseases mentioned by farmers were tickborne diseases (TBDs) such as East Coast Fever (ECF), Anaplasmosis and Heartwater, trypanosomosis mainly found in Machakos, Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), helminthiasis and blackquater. Comparisons between the Districts showed that Machakos, Lugari and Mumias/Butere had significantly higher disease ranking compared to Vihiga. Lack of cattle feed was a significant constraint across the four Districts and most limiting in Machakos District. Poor and/or lack of artificial insemination (AI) services was important in all the four Districts, however there was no significant difference between Vihiga, Machakos and Mumias/Butere Districts. Provision and delivery of livestock services was a more serious constraint in Machakos District compared to the other Districts. There was no difference between Machakos, Mumias/Butere and Lugari Districts as shown in Table1. Table 1: Major constraints to cattle production in Machakos, Mumias/Butere, Lugari and Vihiga. District Disease Cattle feed AI Livestock services Machakos 3.84a 2.72a 2.16b 2.83a Mumias/Butere 3.06a 1.35b 1.76b 2.69a Vihiga 2.00b 1.56b 2.28b 0.32b Lugari 3.53a 1.79b 3.19a 2.66a Significance **** **** *** **** Data is mean ranking of constraints to cattle production where 4-5 =very important, 2-3= important, 1= moderately important and 0= completely not important. *, **, ***, ****, significant at p= 0.05, 0.01, 0.001 or 0.0001, respectively. Means separated using T-tests (LSD) at p= 0.05; means followed by the same letter(s) within columns are not significantly different. The minor constraints to cattle production included lack of water, low genetic potential, low fertility, lack of labor and marketing of livestock as shown in Table 2. Table 2: Minor constraints to cattle production in Machakos, Mumias/Butere, Lugari and Vihiga. District Low genetic Low fertility Labor Marketing Water potential Machakos 1.05c 0.60b 1.32a 0.90b 1.39a Mumias/Butere 1.92b 0.73b 1.26a 1.10b 0.57b Vihiga 0.04d 1.30a 0.22b 0.00c 0.02b Lugari 3.28a 1.06a 0.57b 2.17a 0.26b Significance **** ** * **** **** Data is mean ranking of constraints to cattle production where 4-5 =very important, 2-3= important, 1= moderately important and 0= completely not important. *, **, ***, ****, significant at p= 0.05, 0.01, 0.001 or 0.0001, respectively. Means separated using T-tests (LSD) at p= 0.05; means followed by the same letter(s) within columns are not significantly different. Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, 2000 2 Available at www.sciquest.org.nz Discussion The survey results show the existence of various constraints among smallholder cattle producers in the study area. Cattle diseases were more important in Machakos District. This could be because it is more arid and borders other Arid and Semi-arid lands (ASAL) Districts such as Kitui and Kajiado which are very extensive in area. In these areas livestock movement controls are difficult to enforce. Due to these uncontrolled movements among the pastoralists contagious disease are easily transmitted. The dry and hot climate in Machakos District enable various types of disease transmitting vectors such as tsetse flies and ticks to thrive and the incidence of diseases related to this vectors are very high in the area. Lack and/or poor AI services was an important constraint in Lugari, Vihiga and Machakos Districts. The availability of these services is limited because most of the AI services are located in areas near towns and most farmers find difficulty in accessing them because they have to travel long distances to get this services. Provision and delivery of livestock services (which include veterinary and extension services) is a pre-requisite for disease control and improved cattle production (Holden, 1999 and Mcdermott et al; 1999). Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) studies in the area showed that smallholder farmers find it increasingly difficult to access veterinary services because of high cost of drugs, exorbitant fees charged by veterinarians and low incomes of farmers ((Emongor et al ;1999). Availability of livestock feeds especially in the dry season has been shown to result in low yields of milk and other cattle products on the farm. Studies carried out in Kiambu District indicate that two major constraints lowering milk production in smallholder dairy production systems were limited availability of feed (Omore et al; 1994) and poor reproductive management (Odima et al; 1994). Of the two constraint the most important was lack of available feed (Omore et al; 1994). The results of the present study concurs with the findings of Omore et al; (994)and Odima et al; (1994) meaning that availability of cattle feed limits milk production on smallholder farms. References 1Emongor, R. A., Ngichabe, C. K., Soi, R. K., Ngumi, P. N. and Mbithi, F. M. (1999). Feasibility study report for animal health biotechnology project in Kakamega and Machakos Districts. KARI, Research report. 2Government of Kenya (1997). National Development Plan (1997-2001). Office of the Vice President and Ministry of Planning and National Development. Government Printer, Nairobi, Kenya. 3Government of Kenya (1995). Economic Survey. Central Bureau of Statistics. Government Printer, Nairobi, Kenya. 4McDermott, J.J., Randolph, T.F. and Staal, S.J. (1999). The economics of optimal health and productivity in smallholder livestock systems in developing countries. Rev. Sci., tech. Off. int. Epiz., 18(2), p399-424. 5Odima, P.A., McDermott, J.J. and Mutiga, T.R. (1994). Reproductive performance of dairy cows on smallholder dairy farms in Kiambu District, Kenya. Design, Methodology and development considerations. The Kenya Veterinarian, 18 (2) p 366-368. 6Omore, A.O., McDermott, J.J. and Carles, A. B.(1994). Comparison of productivity of cattle grazing systems in dairy farms in Kiambu District, Kenya. The Kenya Veterinarian, 18 (2) 121-123. 7Holden, S. (1999). The economics of delivery of veterinary services. Rev. Sci., tech. Off. int. Epiz., 18(2), 425-439. Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, 2000 3 Available at www.sciquest.org.nz.