Evaluation and effectiveness of breeding and production services for dairy goat farmers in Kenya

Abstract

This study evaluates the provision of services; veterinary services (VS), extension services (ES), marketing services (MS), performance recording (PR), monitoring and evaluation of dairy goat breeding activities (ME) and provision of water (WT) and determines the effectiveness of applying these services in dairy goat production systems in Kenya. A household survey was conducted with 311 farmers participating in three dairy goat projects (Dairy Goat Association of Kenya (DGAK), Higher Education Links-Egerton University Community Dairy Goats Project (HEL-EUCDGP) and Heifer Project International (HPI)) to assess farmers' willingness to pay for provision of these services. Ranking these services revealed that MS was the most important service in priority order for goat keepers. Farmers with and without experience were willing to pay significantly more for provision of VS. Variables such as satisfaction with project activities, system of production, social benefits, flock size, participation in the projects, farm visits, market linkage and information, and experiences on the services significantly influenced willingness to pay (WTP). The decision to pay or not was not necessarily affected by those not willing to pay because of the inter-linkage probabilities with the ability to pay. Projects should take a broader responsibility of providing these services or link farmers to agents to provide the services. The poor farmers should be supported in a cost-sharing manner to avoid undesirable practises or the services left to those who can afford to pay. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.