ECONOMICS OF SMALLHOLDER DAIRY IN THE MARGINAL ZONES OF KENYA

Agriculture is the mainstay of the people in the
marginal zones.But it is unreliable and food
deficits are often experienced. There are no cash
crops or off-farm employment activities. Over 60 %
of the people live below the poverty line.Thus,
reduction of poverty remains a key challenge.
Alternative agricultural activities with a promise
of higher return to resources, expectation of
future growth, and suitable for this zone are
needed.Market oriented dairy has filled this
need.Farmers in this zone have diversified from
subsistent food crops to market oriented smallholder
dairy.There is potential for increased demand and
higher prices for dairy products especially within
the townships. Dairy production is labour intensive
and offers employment.Payments from dairy products
are distributed throughout the year; with
cash receipts constituting a monthly salary, and
increased incomes.Dairy has potential to enhance
food security and improvement of livelihoods. Thus,
smallholder dairy is a catalyst for rural
development.This book can be recommended to policy
makers, students and organizations grapling with
development in rural areas of LDCs.

Autorentext

Kavoi M Muendo is currently the Director of School for Human Resources & Development at JKUAT. He obtained MSc. at University of Nairobi in 1992 and PhD. in Agricultural and Resource Economics in 2007 at Colorado State University . His research work has been on Agricultural Production & Policy and is widely published in various journals.

Klappentext

Agriculture is the mainstay of the people in the marginal zones.But it is unreliable and food deficits are often experienced. There are no cash crops or off-farm employment activities. Over 60 % of the people live below the poverty line.Thus, reduction of poverty remains a key challenge. Alternative agricultural activities with a promise of higher return to resources, expectation of future growth, and suitable for this zone are needed.Market oriented dairy has filled this need.Farmers in this zone have diversified from subsistent food crops to market oriented smallholder dairy.There is potential for increased demand and higher prices for dairy products especially within the townships. Dairy production is labour intensive and offers employment.Payments from dairy products are distributed throughout the year; with cash receipts constituting a monthly salary, and increased incomes.Dairy has potential to enhance food security and improvement of livelihoods. Thus, smallholder dairy is a catalyst for rural development.This book can be recommended to policy makers, students and organizations grapling with development in rural areas of LDCs.