The impact of the collapse of Kenya Co-operative Creameries on smallholder dairy farmers' income: a study of Chepkorio Division - Keiyo

Abstract

The focus of the research is on the smallholder dairy farmers. It studied the consequences of the collapse of Kenya Co-operative Creameries on the farmers' income and how this has impacted on their welfare, their diversification of farm activities and the dairy farming improvement. The study was undertaken in Chepkorio Division, which has a total of 13,393 households. There are 8 dairy co-operative societies in the Division. The sample units were obtained by use of probability sampling techniques. More specifically the study used the multistage cluster sampling procedure. 80 dairy farmers and 2 key informants were sampled as a representative of the population. Structured interviews were used in collecting data both from the sampled dairy-farming households and key informants. The impacts of the collapse of KCC on farm households are the units of analysis. The units of observation were the dairy farmers of Chepkorio Division. The collected data has been analyzed by use of social statistical techniques, both inferential and descriptive and then presented by use of percentages, frequencies, charts, graphs and tables. The study is important on the basis that it is the beginning to the process of poverty alleviation in the rural areas where farming is the major economic activity. It will highlight other farming opportunities that exist as sources of income apart from dairying. Hopefully it will also pave way for diversifying the sourcing of raw milk by the new milk processors.