Factors hindering adoption of improved dairy cattle breeds by small scale farmers in Bukhulo sub-county, Sironko district.

Abstract

This study was about determining the factors hindering adoption of improved dairy cattle breeds in Bukhulo sub-county. The study objectives included establishing the socio economic factors, finding out technological factors, and determining the institutional factors hindering adoption of improved dairy cattle breeds by small scale dairy cattle farmers in Bukhulo sub-county. The study sampled 66 respondents’ adopters and non-adopters, an adopter was defined as a farmer at least who has kept one improved dairy cattle breed and a non-adopter was the one with zero improved dairy cattle breed. Study findings under socio economic factors hindering adoption of improved dairy cattle breeds by small scale dairy farmers, in Bukhulo sub-county indicated that majority of farmers has little land. This is because land has to be divided amongst all the male children of the family and nowadays including the female children in cases of inheritance. In addition most small scale dairy farmers have limited capital in terms of money to purchase more pieces of land so as to enlarge their dairy farms. The other factors also included source of funding and culture. Under technological factors hindering adoption of improved dairy cattle breeds by small scale dairy farmers, It was found out that its expensive to purchase improved dairy breeds of cattle, the breeds are so expensive that even maintaining them calls for much more than a mere purchase. The study indicated that the farmers who did not attend extension services didn't adopt the improved dairy cattle breeds since they had no information on management practices under institutional factors hindering adoption of improved dairy cattle breeds by small scale dairy farmers in Bukhulo sub-county. It was therefore concluded that little land, improved dairy cattle breeds being expensive, failure of farmers to attend extension trainings has hindered adoption of improved dairy cattle breeds by small scale dairy farmers in Bukhulo sub-county. It's recommended that farmers need to adopt family planning methods and avoid polygamous families, attend extension trainings and carryout cross breeding in Bukhulo sub-county.