Knowledge and adoption level of improved dairy farming practices among rural women

Abstract:

In Nakuru County's peri-urban villages, women manage most dairy operations yet adopt improved practices at rates far below their knowledge levels. This research measured knowledge and adoption of improved dairy farming practices among 240 rural women across 16 villages in Nakuru County, Rift Valley, Kenya, from February to July 2023. A pre-tested schedule covering six domains feeding, breeding, health care, milking hygiene, housing, and calf rearing was administered through face-to-face interviews. Overall knowledge was moderate (mean 57.4%) while adoption was lower (mean 34.5%), creating a gap of 22.9 percentage points. Health care had the highest knowledge (68.4%) but feeding showed the widest gap (24.2 points). Extension contact, education, and herd size were the strongest adoption predictors (path coefficients 0.71, 0.62, and 0.54). Veterinary officers and fellow farmers were preferred information sources (74.3% and 68.7%). Results indicate that targeted, hands-on veterinary training narrows the gap more effectively than mass media.