Assessment of factors affecting goat production in Kyankwanzi District - Uganda
Abstract
Livestock production in Uganda contributes 5.25%and 17% to total GDP and agricultural GDP respectively. Despite efforts to improve and increase goat production, most farmers are still keeping very few goats. This research assessed factors affecting goat production in Kyankwanzi district. The study was conducted on a cross-section of 50 goat farmers from Kyankwanzi district of central Uganda. Data was analyzed using econometric approaches. Specifically, the regression model was used to assess factors that influence level of goat production, while, descriptive statistics like frequencies, percentages were used to analyze farmers’ characteristics, constraints to goat farming and strategies to mitigate the challenges. Results showed that about 66% of the farmers were male, 62% had access to credit and had bought land at the time of the study. Goat production was significantly influenced be farmers’ level of education (P≤0.1), access to credit (P≤0.05), experience (P≤0.05) and distance to the nearest market (P≤0.05). Disease infestation was the most commonly identified constraint to goat farmers in the study area 60%, followed by theft at 26%, , lack of farm records, Drought, inadequate of feed, transport and lack of farmer information .The study recommends focus on less experienced goat farmers who are willing to expand their goat production. Additionally, there is need to improve input access and extension visits so as to increase goat production.