Information Access and Rating of Delivery Pathways by Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Central Kenya

A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a researcher administered structured questionnaire involving 344 smallholder dairy households in Limuru and Nyandarua South Districts in Central Kenya. The objective of the study was to establish information access and preferences in delivery pathways by smallholder dairy farmers. Information collected were number of information providers, number of dairy topics accessed, information pathways used and farmers’ preference of the pathways in dissemination. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics and analysed using analysis of variance. Pair-wise comparison was applied to establish degree of difference in preference. Results show that local language radio stations were most accessible providers. In peri-urban Limuru, milk cooperative societies and government extension were the main sources of information while in rural South Kinangop, local language radio stations, Agricultural training centres and other progressive farmers were the main information providers. . Ttest indicated significant difference (p<0.05) in rating of all the four information pathways. Direct contact pathway was most preferred and was not significantly (p<0.05) influenced by any of the socio-economic factors investigated. Education level of the farmers significantly influenced the number of dairy topics accessed and significant differences established between farmers with non-formal education compared to adult literacy, primary, secondary and tertiary training. The study recommends that information targeting and packaging should consider gender concerns, education level in the dairy farming system paying special attention to farmers with no formal education. Extension should use local language radio in sensitisation and dissemination of new dairy technologies. This should be complemented by direct contact in field days, farmer field schools and use of progressive farmers to train their contemporaries.