Factors influencing livestock marketing in Central Division. A case study of Isiolo County, Kenya

Abstract

In Kenya, it is estimated that over 70% of the land is Arid and Semi Arid (ASAL). This large chunk of land is occupied by the pastoralists who carry out Livestock keeping as a source of their Livelihood. The ASALs host about 70 national livestock herd with an annual slaughter of about 1.6 million tropical livestock units, which is equivalent to about 14 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Indeed, pastoralist supports 30 percent of Kenya's population. The research endeavored to determine factors influencing Livestock Marketing by considering factors like Socio economic characteristics, demographic, land use and marketing livestock products. The objective of this research intends to analyze the factors that influence Livestock Marketing in Central division of Isiolo County.

This research study is significant because it provide useful knowledge to various stakeholders. Descriptive design was used where state of affairs will be described as they exist. Stratified random sampling will be adopted where homogenous sub I groups were used from the population .Research instruments to be employed included questionnaires. Both primary and secondary data was collected. The data will be checked for consistency and completeness and then analyzed by descriptive statistics and correlation. From the findings, the study concludes that majority of the respondents were using pastoralism as their system of keeping animals and that marketing channel options influenced livestock marketing in the region.

On the influence of market information on livestock marketing the study concludes that access to market information was a major factor influencing livestock marketing in Isiolo County. The study also revealed that drought affected livestock marketing to a very great extent. Weak animals were bought at a throwaway prices. The study also concludes that loading ramp was a major factor followed by fence and watering and feeding troughs. This study therefore recommends that the association of livestock keepers, community elders and government officials should join hands and improve the infrastructures and the management of the market places. This study therefore recommends that livestock keepers in Isiolo region should form or join the already formed livestock market groups. This study therefore recommends that marketing groups, government officials as well as livestock keepers associations should ensure that livestock keepers get regular information on information on prices, information on sales volume, disease status and national and international demand.