Gender and Transaction Costs in Use of Zero Grazing Net for Tsetse Fly and Trypanosomiasis Control in Stall Feeding Systems in Kenya

Jared Isaboke Mose

doi:10.5539/enrr.v7n3p96

Abstract

Trypanosomiasis is a widespread constraint in livestock production, mixed farming and human health in Africa. Several technologies have been developed to ameliorate the effects of the disease but delivery of these technologies to farmers has been undertaken on trial and error basis without a proper strategy leading to more failure than success and wastage of scarce resources. The purpose of this paper was to carry out an analysis of transaction costs incurred in accessing and using insecticide treated net in tsetse and trypanosomiasis control among smallholder cattle farms in Busia County, Kenya. The study utilized cross–sectional survey design and was guided by the New Institutional Economics approach and utilized stratified and simple random sampling technique to get 211 respondents for the study. Data was collected by use of structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Conjoint analysis results for zero grazing net showed that cost was the most important factor influencing farmers’ decision, accounting for 38.52% of the total while durability and availability each accounted for 25% and retreatability accounted for 10% of the decisions. Further t-test results showed that there were significant differences between men and women with respect to attribute scores (at 99 d.f. and alpha = 0.05%) suggesting that men and women face different transaction costs in accessing T&T control technologies. Therefore there is need for gender sensitive strategies in T&T technology design and dissemination. Tsetse fly and Trypanosomiasis control by use of low cost technologies such as insecticide treated zero grazing net should be promoted by government and other development partners. The net should be affordable, available at supply outlets close to farmers, long lasting and re-treatable for famers to take it up.

Highlights

Trypanosomiasis is one of the most economically important diseases of man and livestock in Africa (GOK, 2011)
The results of conjoint analysis for zero grazing net are reported in table 1
The results indicate that design and dissemination of insecticide treated zero grazing net for Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis (T&T) control should take into account cost, availability, durability, and re-treatability

Summary

Introduction

Trypanosomiasis is one of the most economically important diseases of man and livestock in Africa (GOK, 2011). Tsetse flies (Glossina species) infest 37 African countries covering an area of approximately 11 million square kilometers. In Kenya, the coverage is about 138,000 square kilometers, which is approximately 23 % of the country and in 38 out of 47 counties (see map in appendix I). The social and economic consequences of Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis (T&T) are serious with losses in livestock and agricultural productivity in Africa estimated at US $1.3 billion a year (GOK, 2011). The animal resource industry in Kenya is estimated at Kenya Shillings 250 billion worth with T&T infestation leading to 20% drop in productivity. One can estimate annual losses of between Ksh 20 to Ksh 50 billion attributable to livestock disease especially trypanosomiasis based on epidemiological trends

Objectives

Methods

Results