The Role Played by Mobile Phone Communication in the Diffusion of Dairy Goats Rearing in Kitui County, Kenya

Wesonga P S,Serykhan N W,Adongo J M

doi:10.13189/ujar.2019.070404

Abstract

The study investigated how farmers used mobile phone communication in dairy goat rearing to improve their livelihoods. The targeted farmers were widows, caregivers and orphans in Kitui County, Kenya. The two types of goats reared were Toggenburg and Galla. Sampling was done in two stages: proportional to get five clusters and random within a cluster to get a sample size of 100 respondents. The study found women consisted 71% of the sampled farmers. Forty two percent of farmers used their dairy milk for home consumption. Average goat milk production was 2.6 litres and retailed at KES70.00 per litre. The result suggests high adoption of mobile phone use as evidenced by eighty six percent of farmers who have owned their mobile phone for more than one year. Farmers (69%) called Livestock extension officer and Veterinary officer, both of whom are instrumental in the general management and disease control of the dairy goats. Ownership and access of mobile phones have increased communication contacts amongst farmers, sellers, buyers and extension agents. We recommend that mobile phone communication be embedded in the programming of projects by policy makers.

Highlights

The rapid spread of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in developing countries over the past decade offers a unique opportunity to transfer knowledge via private and public information systems
This study aims to investigate the roles of Mobile phone communication in the diffusion of rearing of dairy goats
By understanding and documenting the contribution of mobile phones to rate of diffusion of rearing of dairy goats in Kitui County, the study offers significant contribution to the development of dairy goat rearing in Eastern province and the adjoining areas

Summary

Introduction

The rapid spread of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in developing countries over the past decade offers a unique opportunity to transfer knowledge via private and public information systems. As of 2009, over half of thepopulations in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America had access to mobile phone coverage, representing 60, 67 and 77 percent, respectively [1]. Mobile phone coverage has greatly exceeded investments in other infrastructures in these countries, namely,electricity, roads and landlines. Coinciding with this increase in mobile phone coverage has been an increase in mobile phone adoption, even in some of the world’s poorest countries. As of 2008, there were about 4 billion mobile phone subscribers worldwide, with 374 million subscriptions in Africa, 1.791 billion in Asia and 460 million in Latin America. While initial adoption was primarily by the wealthy, urban and educated residents, mobile phones are currently being adopted by the rural poor in some of the world’s poorest countries [2]

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