Small Ruminant CRSP - University of Missouri
ANNUAL REPORT, 1996
Kenya Dual Purpose
Goat Component (KDPG)
Narrative Summary
Three general activities were the focus of research by KARI and
University of Missouri researchers in sociology and economics with this
year of funding. The first area, the impact assessment of the Kenyan Dual
Purpose Goat at the household level focused on the economic performance
of the KDPG enterprise, its role in household income, gender domains of
the technology, and flexibility of the KDPG to adapt to different agroecologies,
production systems and ethnic groups. Climatic conditions are not considered
good for the years the KDPG has been introduced, and the technology appears
to be performing. Research findings on performance during 1995 are encouraging,
in that the enterprise shows positive returns in all clusters at the Coast
(3) and Machakos (2). The relative importance in household agricultural
income varies according to the production system and level of household
wealth. At the cluster level analysis we find that the Coast cluster are
relatively poorer than the Machakos clusters, therefore the relative importance
of the KDPG is higher in the former. We also find at the Coast that the
clusters had higher rates of pass on, and better relative performance.
This is the case for both Kilifi and Vuga when compared to Kitanga and
Kimutwa in Machakos. Matuga is the only Coast cluster that did not perform
well. The multiplication of the KDPG, a second research activity this year,
focused on analysis of the small holder multiplication system. Upgrading
practices were observed as introduced by small holder producers owning
KDPGs. The third activity focused on community and social networks developed
by each cluster, Vuga, and Matuga in Kwale, and Kilifi at the Coast, and
Kitanga and Kimutwa in Machakos. Community organization, social networks
and social capital were studied combining PRAs and actor oriented research,
to understand the positive externalities created by the pass on of the
KDPG, and the conditions that make possible this type of multiplication.
All cluster members were interviewed and a study completed. This is the
basis for further research on the role of social capital, community organization
and nongovernmental organizations in the success of development projects.
A Resource Management Gender and Labor questionnaire was developed to study
gender income and labor domains at the household level, and credit and
income transfer mechanisms available in each cluster, as well presence
of credit systems and other networks in the area. This was applied in all
clusters and is currently being analyzed. During year 18, 1997, we will
concentrate on further analysis of the data at both the household and community
levels. This has been the first year of full and stable funding for the
impact assessment and it has raised interesting questions that will be
pursued in 1997. A World Wide Web site has been developed for the Social
Sciences SR-CRSP. Reports and publications can be requested through this
site. Our address is:
http://srcrsp.missouri.edu
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