Evaluation of an intensive dairy farming system among small scale farmers in Nakuru District

Abstract

This study was undertaken to identify differences in income, milk availability, labour involvement and the nutritional status of pre-school children among F.S.K (Farming Systems Kenya) households and non-F. S.K households in Nakuru district. The study involved collection of data using a cross-sectional survey which started in October 1992 and ended in February 1993. Data were collected from a comprehensively sampled F.S.K group and a comparative group of non-F.S.K farmers. The results from this study show that the total cash income among F.S.K households per year is, on average, significantly higher than that among non-F.S.K households although almost half (45.0 percent) of the cash income among F.S.K households is from milk sales. F.S.K households have more milk available for home consumption ,as a result of the fact that, 63.5 percent of the milk produced by these households is reserved for home use. The introduction of the dairy project by F.S.K in the area served to increase the involvement of women in on-farm activities. contrary to expectations, the project has not shifted labour involvement of mothers from crop production activities. However, mothers within F.S.K households are less involved in household work as was anticipated. Households with high cash incomes and high available calories from own production, include children with higher levels of nutritional status relative to the rest of the study population.