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

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.