Influence of Socio-Economic Factors in the Production of Sheep and Goats among Pastoralists’ in Wajir County

Abstract

In North Eastern part of Kenya,pastoralism is the main economic activity for most of the households with livestock kept as their main means of livelihood.As the inhabitants in these areas increase in population,the contribution to food security of large ruminants lessens and small ruminants that have less competition for arable land predominate.Lack of new-fangled and context-specific knowledge of the ménages on production and marketing of goats is many times a major limitation to productivity enhancement in small ruminants.The main objective of the study was to find out the influence of socio-economic factors on the production and marketing of goat and sheep in Wajir County.The study utilized descriptive survey research design specifically targeting the County since its population predominantly depends on pastoral nomadism for livelihood.The study’s target population consisted of 90,108 pastoral households.A sample size of 384 households’ was selected using systematic sampling.Stratified sampling ensured that all households had a chance of being included in the sample.An ordinary least squares regression model was used to determine the Socio-economic factors affecting productivity of sheep and goats.A significant regression equation was found (F6, 375) =130.325,p<0.05, with an R2 of 0.676.Infrastructure of the area,education of the household head, extension service provision and condition of the road were found to be significant.The study recommended that having seen the importance of long standing customary social networks, policies should address the need to revive such linkages, either through measures to help end the conflict with the neighboring tribes or through allowing a greater degree of movement of people and stock across borders.Substantial investment in key infrastructure such as roads,trekking routes and markets is also needed.Apart from diversifying the pastoral economy,policy-makers should pursue development policies to penetrate the rural areas in the County where the majority of pastoralists live and to also improve on the extension service delivery.