The influence of privatization of veterinary services on service delivery to farmers in Mwala district, Kenya

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of privatization of veterinary services on service delivery to farmers in Mwala district. The study had three major objectives; to investigate the influence of privatization of artificial insemination (A.I) services on service delivery to fanners, to establish the influence of privatization of clinical treatment of livestock on service delivery to farmers and to determine the influence of privatization of dipping services on service delivery to farmers. The research study adopted a survey design to get information from a target population of 380 farmers, 14 ministry of livestock staff and 12 private veterinary practitioners in Mwala District.

The sample size was 38 farmers selected through stratified random sampling technique (probability sampling technique), the 14 ministry of livestock staff and the 12 private veterinary practitioners both of which were selected through non-probability technique of sampling; the purposive sampling technique which involves studying the entire population of some limited group. Two types of research instruments were used; an interview guide for the farmers and two sets of questionnaires for both the 14 ministry of livestock staff and the 12 private practitioners. The raw data was coded and analyzed by use of statistical package for social scientists (spss) and presentation was done in frequency tables and percentages ..

The study found out that there is sharp deterioration on the A.I and dipping services with very high cost. Clinical services were found to be adequate to the farmers. The study concluded that although most of the farmers are getting artificial insemination services the quality of the service is poor. The study also concluded that there is sharp increase in tick bone diseases due to collapse of the dips. The study further concludes that farmers are adequately receiving clinical services from the private practitioners. The study recommends that the ministry of livestock development should take over the provision of artificial insemination and provision of dipping services. The study further recommends that the government through ministry of livestock development should give loans and subsidies to the private practitioners in order to strengthen their clinical private practice.