Characterizing small-holder dairy farms: a multivariate approach

Abstract

In the recent past numerous papers have used mathematical programming methods to analyze the smallholder farming systems problems. Unfortunately the existence of heterogeneity amongst smallholder farmers in any area is not given its due recognition in most of the papers. The current study uses principal component and cluster analysis to construct classification of Smallholder farms in two regions in Senegal. The main sources of differences amongst the clusters obtained is grazing systems and marketing methods of dairy products. Asset ownership and feeding group of farmers was distinct. This is an important result, as the constructed asset indices were significant in classification and may form basis of analysis of the development policies for the region