The Extent to Which Rainfall Variability has Affected Small Scale Dairy Farmers in Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

Dairy farming in Kenya remains among the key wheelers to the Nations GDP contributor at about 6- 8%. Majority of the farmers in this sector, are small scale who mostly have no knowledge and capacity to handle challenges posed by rainfall variability that causes frequent droughts, impacting on water and pasture supply to their animals. Objective of study was: To assess the extent to which rainfall variability had affected small scale dairy farming in Uasin-Gishu County in Kenya between years 2010-2020. Rainfall data was collected from the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), Eldoret. While milk produce data was obtained from Ministry of Agriculture Uasin-Gishu County. Structured Questionnaires were used to collect data from farmers with few key respondents interviewed on the same . The questionnaire was administered to small scale dairy farmers who were sampled in a stratified manner based on their sub counties, then randomly within the Sub County. In total about 368 small scale dairy farmers were sampled out of which 300 (82%) of administered questionnaire were fully responded to. Analysis of objective one was done by Pearson correlation to establish the relationship between various rainfall characteristics and milk produce. Total annual rainfall with total annual milk had correlation of r= 0.532, number of rainy days in a year to the amount of milk with Pearson correlation of r =0.375, P>0.05. Onset and cessation periods had Pearson correlation of r=0.305 and r=0,019 respectively. Average monthly rainfall to milk had Pearson correlation indicating a negative relationship of r= -0.424, P= 0.169, meaning months with high rainfall amounts had lower milk produced while dry ones had higher milk produced. The researcher therefore failed to accept the null hypothesis and adopted the alternative one that rainfall variability has had significant impact on small scale dairy farming in Uasin –Gishu County. Research recommended that farmers should keep more of cross breed animals which cope with climate variability unlike exotic ones. There was also need for farmers to join and strengthen cooperative societies to assist them adapt, this is besides use of digital methods of sharing challenges and solutions to rainfall variability