Factors affecting small holder sheep and goats production in Nyero sub-county, Kuma district.

Abstract

This study was undertaken in Nyero Sub. County, Kumi district from March to April 2015 with the aim of assessing the factors limiting sheep and goat production among small holder farmers. The parameters surveyed included sex, age, marital status and level of education, experience. Others were goat and sheep breeds kept, management practices used and the limiting factors and the farmer's mitigation measures, Data was collected from 100 small holder farmers by the use of structured questionnaires. The study found out that 54% of the farmers were males and 46 females. 6% of the farmers were aged <18 years, 18-34year were 24% and 70% >35 years, among these, 10% were illiterate, and a majority (64%) only attained primary education. Most of the respondents were married (75%). The most common breeds of goats and sheep kept was the Small East African for the goats (86%) and Maasai breed for sheep (70%). Livestock farmers (26%) practiced various management systems with a majority (94%) tethering their animals and a few (4%) and (2%) practiced tethering and mixed (tethering and free-range) farming respectively and none (0%) practiced paddocking. Among the constraints identified were: lack of technologies (37%), lack of extension services (25%), lack of clean and safe water (9%), diseases and parasites (5%), theft (3%) and labour shortage (5%)~ Among diseases as a constraint: ticks and tick borne diseases constituted the biggest bottleneck, followed by diarrhoea (33%), loss of body condition (13%), abortion (10%) and the least being pink eye (2%).The majority of the respondents (80%) reported that they receive. extension services, and (20%) had never received extension services. there was inadequate extension provision as half (50%) was provided by unqualified technical staff of the animal health service delivery and only (15%), by qualified veterinary officers and (35%) from the animal husbandry officers. However, the results indicated that there is need to develop the sheep and goats production sub-sector by putting in place appropriate government policies to encourage the participation of youths and women and promote commercialization so that the farmers can increase their present holdings not improved livelihoods.