Hindrances to and extent of adoption of artificial insemination technology on dairy herds in Soroti Municipality, Soroti district.

Abstract

This was across sectional survey carried out in Soroti Municipality, Soroti district. The main objective the study was to determine the hindrances to the adoption of A.I technology by dairy farmers in Soroti Municipality as an alternative breeding technology. The specific objectives of the study were to identify the extent of adoption of A.l in the Municipality and to find the factors limiting the utilization of A.I technology by the dairy farmers in the Municipality, artificial insemination is one of· the most effective tools available to cattle producers to improve productivity and profitability of their cattle operations and it confers several advantages over natural mating. Its use has been of enormous economic benefit through genetic improvement of animals for milk production and the control of venereal diseases, despite its presence in Uganda for over 60 years; less than 10% of the country's herd has-been bred using this technology. Data was collected from 50 randomly-selected respondents using questionnaires with both closed and open ended questions and was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social scientists (SPSSs) version 16.0 and results presented using frequency tables and pie charts. The study revealed that only 24% of the dairy farmers in the Municipality were using A.I technology while the majority (76%) preferred using natural mating system. The results also showed that (4%) of the farmers were totally Ignorant about. AI, and those who sought that the technology was expensive because they could access natural mating free of cost. The study. further identified the limiting factors to the utilization of A.I in Soroti Municipality which included: A.l, facilities if place but sometimes there is lack of liquid nitrogen, A.I. equiprnents being very expensive, insufficient or no budget allocation for A.I. in the District, Semen facilities may be far, inadequate trained A.L technicians, farmers failing on proper heat detection and farmers not reporting animals on heat on time. It is therefore concluded that Soroti Municipality is experiencing very many constraints to the adoption of A.I. technology, which constraints need immediate attention to enhance dairy productivity in Soroti Municipality. Basing on the above mentioned factors limiting the use, of A.I. it is recommended that farmers should be sensitized more about the advantages of A.I. Government to come in to subsidize the cost of A.I.to encourage more farmers to use the technology the relevant Authorities should train additional A.l. technicians and to properly facilitate. and motivate the technicians.