DETERMINANTS OF YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN POULTRY FARMING PROJECTS IN ONGATA RONGAI, KAJIADO COUNTY

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to establish the determinants of youth participation in poultry farming projects in Ongata Rongai ward, Kajiado North County. The study adopted the Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) and the diffusion of innovation theory. The study used the cross-sectional research design and the target population was youth poultry farmers and the study used 180 registered youth poultry farmers in Ongata Rongai ward, comprising of Ole-kasasi and Ongata Rongai sub-locations. Quantitative and qualitative primary data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS. The study also used analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test the hypotheses. The results of the study were; demographic factors were significant to youth participation in poultry farming projects in Ongata Rongai, the p-value of 0.0001 was less than 0.05. A ccess to credit was not a significant factor in youth participation in poultry farming projects in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County. The H 0 was rejected because the Anova F static was 32.983 and the p value was 0.001 less than 0.05. Information Communication technology was not a significant factor to youth participation in poultry farming projects in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County. The H 0 was rejected because after Anova F static was 16.314 and the p value was 0.001 less than 0.05 meaning information communication technology was significant to youth participation. The study concluded that demographic factors, access to credit and information communication technology affect youth participation in poultry farming projects in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado North County. T he study recommended that other factors should be considered for further studies such youth perceptions and attitudes in regards to poultry farming projects, access to land, increasing innovative financing and interest free loans to encourage entrepreneurship. Key Words: Demographics, Personal Characteristics, Youth Participation, Access to Credit, ICT, Poultry Farming