The role of social capital in technology adoption and livestock development.

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted to establish the role of social capital in livestock development. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect data. Using a structured questionnaire, data was collected from 107 livestock farmers from five sub counties purposively selected based on a high livestock population. Qualitatively, five focus group discussions and key informant interviews with livestock development stakeholders were conducted. Results indicated eleven social groups (networks) and the major ones were faith groups, groups linking social networks to institutions, farmer groups, and family groups. These social groups and networks contributed to acquisition of knowledge (40%), skills (32.2%) and technologies (17.1%%) for livestock development, influenced choice of livestock enterprises (75.7%), determined access to labor (76.6%), influenced work (50%) and enhanced access and utilization of financial services (87%,). The study has shown that a network of friends, relatives and neighbours influenced labour productivity (52.7%), time to start and leave work (32.1%), gender roles or division of labour (12.9%) and time spent on leisure (4.3%). However the influence on labor productivity was more pronounced among people of the same religion (P=0.04) and ethnicity (P = 0.00). The networks influenced farmers mainly as role models (44.2%), decision on income generating activities (32.6%) and source of seed stock (16.3%). Level of education determined the number of extension advisors on a livestock enterprise (P=0.02). Similarly, the more a farmer diversified livestock enterprises the more he/she engaged extension workers in providing trainings and or advisory services resulting in significant adoption of livestock technologies (P=0.00). The most adopted technologies were; disease control (30.6%), breeding (25.9%) and tick control (22.1%). The major extension approaches were farmer group (53.9%) and farm visit (25.1%). Mobile phones enhanced social networks and dissemination of livestock related information (97.2%). Social networks were enhanced through regular meetings of network members, exchange visits and rearing animals together. The study established that social capital plays a key role in livestock development,technology adoption, dissemination and participation in extension activities.