Assessment of agricultural sector development support programmed financing on productivity of dairy farmers in Meru county

Abstract

Dairy farming is a significant contributor to rural livelihoods and agricultural economies worldwide. Enhancing the capacity of dairy farmers through targeted programmed is essential for improving productivity, profitability, and sustainability. Support programmed tailored for farmers play a critical role in enhancing agricultural productivity, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. One of the main obstacles to the commercialization of the agricultural sector was identified as low productivity, which was typified by low production levels and irregular supply of traded commodities along the value chain. ASDSP financing aimed to address this issue by providing interventions to help value chain actors in the prioritized value chains become more productive It was against this background that this study investigated the impact of Agricultural Sector Development Support Programmed (ASDSP) financing on the productivity of dairy farmers in Meru County. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of capacity building on dairy farmers’ productivity, evaluate the impact of subsidies on dairy farmers’ productivity, assess the influence of marketing strategies on dairy farmers’ productivity, and evaluate the effect of production resources on dairy farmers’ productivity. The study was conducted in Meru County and targeted dairy farmers who benefitted from ASDSP financing. It was anchored in the Production Theory and the Resource Dependency Theory. The study adopted stratified sampling to select farmers’ groups, simple random sampling to select dairy farmer representatives, and purposive sampling to select ASDSP financing officers, Dairy Officers, and Livestock Development Officers from each sub-county in Meru County. The sample size comprised 98 respondents selected from a population of 130 individuals. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews. The quantitative and qualitative data collected were analyzed and presented in tables according to the study objectives. The study employed a mixed-methods design, targeting 98 respondents, with a final response rate of 92.86% (n=91). Key findings indicated that capacity building significantly enhanced dairy management knowledge and practices, with over 80 respondents affirming improvements in feed optimization and hygiene. Subsidies enabled access to high-quality inputs, with over 70% of farmers noting improved milk yields and herd health. Marketing strategies increased price stability and market access, while production resources such as milking machines, storage, and water systems notably improved operational efficiency. Regression results showed that capacity building (β = 0.319) and production resources (β = 0.295) were the strongest predictors of productivity. Conclusions affirmed ASDSP's effectiveness, while highlighting challenges in subsidy access, equipment maintenance, and market sustainability. The study recommends enhancing post-training mentorship, streamlining subsidy systems, and sustaining infrastructural investments to ensure long-term productivity and equitable impact among small-scale farmers.