The role of record keeping and maintenance in enhancing decision making among smallholder dairy farmers in Gitugi Ward in Murang’a County, Kenya

Abstract

Dairy farmers are expected to maintain farm records for aiding decisions making. However, the extent to which farm records inform decision making is not clear in Gitugi Ward in Murang’a County, Kenya. This study aimed to determine the role that record keeping and maintenance play in enhancing decision making of smallholder dairy farmers in that area. Descriptive survey research design was used to examine 175 smallholder dairy farmers. Simple random sampling technique was used in getting a sample size of 118 subjects. Data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to test the underlying proposition. Most smallholder dairy farmers have adequate experience in dairy farming and have minimum basic education, although not sufficient for making complex computations and interpretations for key decision making. The kind of decisions made based on dairy farm records statistically and significantly affect output in dairy farming businesses. Livestock Extension Officers should embark on advocacy programs, sensitization workshops, mentorship and training programs on record maintenance practices to ensure dairy farm records are preserved and utilized in supporting decision making. The findings of this study contribute to improvement of dairy farming information management practices and in making data-supported decisions among dairy farmers in Gitugi Ward, Mathioya Sub-County and in other geopolitical regions.