Evaluation of Factors Affecting Pig Production By Small Scale Farmers In Gatanga Sub County Murang’a County

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish factors affecting small scale pig farming in Gatanga Sub County Muran’ga County. Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya economy accounting about 70% of gross domestic product. Pig is among the animals that contribute to this GDP and also among farming that can solve food crises in the Country. There is little research conducted in Gatanga among factor affecting pig farming and this necessitated this study. The study was conducted with the help of the following objective. To access the extent to which extension services affect pig production, to evaluate effects of costs of inputs on production and to determine how availability of credit services affect pig production in Gatanga Sub County Muran’ga County. The empirical review is well included in this project. The conceptual framework showing factors affecting pig farming is also included in the project. Resource based theory was used as a guiding theory. Cross section survey was used as a research design. The target population of this study was all pig farmers in the Gatanga Sub County. The data was collected by use of questionnaires. The data was analyzed by use of SPSS and assessed by use of Karl Pearson correlation coefficient and presented in frequent tables and percentages. The finding of all the result show positive correlation between the variable indicated to might be affecting pig production. The results of all specific objectives were found to be positively correlated and hence proved that production of pigs is affected by those factors. The males were the majority who conducted pig farming. There several conclusions made at the end of the study. Therefore the study recommends the County government of Murang’a through the help of the ministry of Agriculture to provide extension services that will train farmers on how to improve the production rate of pig. The Ministry of Agriculture should make arrangement with banks to be providing farmers with affordable loans of low interest rate and educate them on terms and condition of such loans.